Gonorrhea Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease. The disease is caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhea that is a member of the family Neisseriaceae. The majority of the organisms belonging to this family are non-pathogenic or commensals, however, gonorrhea is always pathogenic. Bacteria are introduced during sexual contact. It attacks the urethra in males, the cervix (not the vagina) in females, and the throat. Because symptoms are not always present, you may be infected with gonorrhea and not know it. If present, symptoms appear within 2 to 14 days. Fifty percent of people with gonorrhea