Gonorrhea is primarily a sexually transmitted disease caused by infection with the Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacterium. The main transmission routes include sexual contact, close living contact such as sharing bathtubs and toilet seats, and mother-to-child transmission. After infection, the symptoms of gonorrhea differ between males and females. Males typically exhibit signs of acute urethritis, characterized by urethral pain and discharge; females, on the other hand, generally show no symptoms, or only mild signs of cervical inflammation.