A sexually transmitted disease, or STD, is a disease that is acquired through sexual contact. These diseases can have many symptoms or lie dormant for many years. It is important to talk about STDs with your doctor and get tested if you have had unprotected sex.

Gonorrhea is an STD caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The bacteria infect the genital tract, the mouth, or the rectum. In women, the cervix is the first place of infection. If left untreated, the bacteria can spread to the uterus and fallopian tubes, resulting in pelvic inflammatory disease, or PID. PID affects more than one million women in the United States alone each year. Infertility and ectopic pregnancies are some of the risks. In 2000, 358,995 cases of gonorrhea were reported to the CDC (Center for Disease Control). Out of those people, 75% of the cases occurred in people between the ages of 15-...