Gonorrhea Causes
The causative bacterium
The main causative agent behind gonorrhea infection is known as Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Gonorrhea is one of the commonly occurring sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among men and women. The transmission of gonorrhea causing bacteria happens through sex. In fact, a man does not have to discharge inside his partner during intercourse in order to spread it to the partner. (5)
There are a couple of ways of sexual contact that can lead you to encounter gonorrhea causing bacteria which includes the following:
- Vaginal intercourse
- Anal intercourse
- Oral intercourse (both receiving and giving)
Just like the other microbes, you can encounter the bacteria that cause gonorrhea infection just from contracting an infected area on someone’s body. If you touch the mouth, anus, penis, or vagina of someone suffering from gonorrhea, you can get it. Women who suffer from gonorrhea have the ability to pass the infection to their baby while they deliver the baby through the vagina. On the other hand, babies born with C-section deliveries cannot get gonorrhea from their infected mothers. The bacteria causing gonorrhea cannot thrive very long once it is outside the human body. Therefore, you cannot get gonorrhea by coming in contact with clothes or toilet seats that are in use by an infected person.
The N. gonorrhoeae bacterium is responsible for causing gonorrhea. These bacteria love to thrive in moist, warm environments and the infection might develop in any of the mucous membranes of the body including the ones in the rectum, eyes, mouth, genitals, and throat. Gonorrhea is highly contagious that it can transmit from person to person through sexual activities that involve the anus, mouth, vagina, or penis. In addition, there is no need for male ejaculation to contract or transmit the infection. Gonorrhea is most commonly present among young adults and adolescents who engage in unprotected sexual activities. Pregnant women suffering from gonorrhea can also pass it along to their newborns during vaginal delivery.