Gonorrhea in pregnancy and in the newborn

Prevalence rates of gonorrhea in pregnancy range from 0.2 to 15 percent. Pharyngeal gonorrhea is more frequent in some prenatal populations. A degree of protection against pelvic inflammatory disease occurs in pregnancy, but there is an increased risk for disseminated gonococcal infection. Maternal gonococcal infection is associated with ectopic pregnancy, prematurity and ophthalmia neonatorum. Prompt and aggressive treatment is required for ophthalmia neonatorum.