It is the most common reportable sexually transmitted infection in the United States. Gonorrhea is spread by direct person to person contact. It is almost always transmitted through sexual contact.
Gonorrhea can occur in the reproductive organs, urethra, rectum and throat.
The most common sites are the urethra in males and the genital tract in females. It is also possible for pregnant women to pass the bacteria to their infant during birth. Because symptoms are not always present, you may be infected with gonorrhea and not know it. You can be tested for gonorrhea at Student Health Services. To test for gonorrhea, the physician will use a cotton swab to collect cells from your genitals.