Gonorrhea is caused by Neisseria gonorrhea, a bacterium that grows and multiplies quickly in moist, warm areas of the body such as the cervix, urinary tract, mouth, or rectum.

About 2.5 million cases of gonorrhea occur annually in the U.S..

In women, the cervix is the most common site of infection. However, the disease can spread to the ovaries and fallopian tubes, resulting in pelvic inflammatory disease (PID); this can cause infertility and other serious problems.

In a man, gonorrhea can cause ur...