Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) that comes from a bacteria called Neisseria gonorrhoeae (N. gonorrhoeae). It’s also sometimes called “the clap” or “drip.” Sexually active people of any age can get gonorrhea and give it to their partners. You can also pass the infection to your baby during childbirth.

People spread gonorrhea through sexual fluids, including vaginal fluid and semen. You can get gonorrhea from intercourse, anal sex, oral sex or sharing sex toys with an infected person.

Often, gonorrhea doesn’t cause symptoms and you don’t know you have it. This makes it easy to infect your partners accidentally. Getting tested for gonorrhea if you’re sexually active and using condoms or dental dams during sex can reduce your risk of infection.

If you believe you have gonorrhea, don’t wait to seek treatment. Untreated gonorrhea can cause long-term health complications. Your healthcare provider will prescribe antibiotics to clear up a gonorrhea infection.

Gonorrhea is the second most common STI caused by bacteria — just behind chlamydia. Close to 1 million new gonorrhea infections occur in the United States every year. About half of these infections occur in people ages 15 to 24.