You can get gonorrhea by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has gonorrhea. A pregnant woman with gonorrhea can give the infection to her baby during childbirth.
How can I reduce my risk of getting gonorrhea?
The only way to avoid STIs is to not have vaginal, anal, or oral sex.
Risk factors for developing a gonococcal infection include:
- a new sex partner
- more than one sex partner
- a sex partner with concurrent partners
- a sex partner who has an STI
- inconsistent condom use among persons who are not in mutually monogamous relationships
- previous or coexisting STIs
- exchanging sex for money or drugs
- Living in a high-morbidity area, e.g., southern region of the U.S., Alaska and DC
If you are sexually active, you can do the following things to lower your chances of getting gonorrhea:
- Being in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and has negative STI test results
- Using latex condoms the right way every time you have sex.