The disease can affect all parts of the body, although it usually shows up first in the genital areas.
Gonorrhea is caused by bacteria and is highly contagious.
Gonorrhea is most frequently transmitted through sexual intercourse. The bacteria can infect the throat and rectum after oral and anal sex. A baby can be infected during childbirth if the mother has gonorrhea. When the baby passes through the birth canal, the bacteria can get into and infect the baby's eyes. You can have gonorrhea without having any obvious symptoms.