Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease caused by the
bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae, which infect the lining of the
urethra, cervix, rectum, and throat or the membranes that cover
the front part of the eye (conjunctiva and cornea). In the
United States, the number of gonorrhea cases reported each year
has decreased by 75% since it peaked at nearly 900,000 in 1985.
However, the number appears to have leveled off for about the
last 10 years, with about 360,000 cases reported in 2006.
Gonorrhea is almost always spread through sexual contact. After
one episode of vaginal intercourse with an infected person, the
chance of spread from women to men is about 20%. The chance of
spread from men to women may be higher. If pregnant women are
infected, the bacteria can spread to the eyes of the fetus
during birth. However, in most developed countries, infection is
prevented because all newborns are routinely treated after
delivery with medicated eye ointment. Many people with gonorrhea
have other sexually transmitted