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, women 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 risk for gonorrhea include:

• Age. Gonorrhea is most prevalent among sexually active people under age 25, especially African-American women. In 2005, the overall gonorrhea rate was highest among 20- to 24-year-old males and females, more than four times higher than the national gonorrhea rate, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• Sexual activity. Women who engage in unprotected sex, have multiple partners or who have sex with people who have multiple partners or high risk partners are more likely to contract gonorrhea.
• History of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Women who have had other STDs are at greater risk for contracting gonorrhea.