Preventing Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea Fact Sheet (PDF
77 KB)
Transmission
Gonorrhea is usually spread through genital sexual contact. It is most
efficiently spread during vaginal or anal sexual contact with an infected
partner, but it can also be spread during oral sex, and in rare cases, from the
hand to the eye. Ejaculation does not have to occur for gonorrhea to be
transmitted. Babies can get gonorrhea during birth if the mother is
infected.
The greater the number of sexual partners a person has, the greater the risk
of infection, but anyone who is sexually active can be infected with
gonorrhea.
Risk factors for acquiring gonorrhea include:
- Being a young adult.
- Having a number of different sex partners.
- Having sex partners who’ve had a number of different sex partners.
- Not using condoms.
- Having a history of other sexually transmitted diseases.
Prevention and Control
The only sure way to prevent any sexually transmitted disease is to
abstain from all sexual contact. For those who choose to be sexually active,
being in a mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been
tested for Gonorrhea and is known to be uninfected will greatly minimize
risk.
Correct and consistent condom use can significantly reduce the risk of
transmission of gonorrhea. To avoid transmission through oral sex, use
condoms, dental dams, or other plastic barriers to reduce risk. |
