Gonorrhea (also gonorrhoea, sometimes referred to as 'the clap'[1]) is a common sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae (also called Gonococcus, which is often abbreviated as "GC" by clinicians). In the US, its incidence is second[2] only to chlamydia among bacterial STDs.[3] In both men and women if gonorrhea is left untreated, it may spread throughout the body, affecting joints and even heart valves.