Gonorrhea is spread primarily through sexual activity, including vaginal, oral and anal sex. Risk factors are elements that increase the risk of developing a disease. However, people with one or more risk factors may not contract the disease and those without any risk factors may develop the disease. Factors known to increase the risk for gonorrhea include:

• Age. Gonorrhea is more prevalent among sexually active people under age 30. In 2004, more than 75 percent of the cases reported to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were among people age 15 to 29.
  
  
• Sexual activity. People who engage in unprotected sex, have multiple partners, or who have sex with people who have multiple sexual partners or high risk partners are more likely to contract gonorrhea.
  
  
• History of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). People who have had other STDs are at greater risk for contracting gonorrhea.
  
  
• Illicit drug use. Using illicit drugs, especially those taken intravenously (into a vein), increases the risk of contracting STDs such as gonorrhea.