title: Chlamydial infection and male infertility: an epidemiological study.
abstract: Chlamydia-positive genitourinary infections are common causes of male and female infertility. Semen abnormalities are often associated with Chlamydia infections. A large population of male patients, admitted to our clinic for genitourinary infection, were examined for genitourinary pathogens, including Chlamydia, and for semen abnormalities. There were higher abnormalities semen in Chlamydia-infected patients than either non-Chlamydia-infected or healthy controls. Chlamydia therapy by antimicrobial agents improved semen characteristics. Chlamydia infection contributes to seminal fluid abnormalities and probably to male infertility. A search for chlamydial infection is warranted whenever semen abnormalities are noted. An antimicrobial therapy improves semen quality when effective in eradicating Chlamydia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Custo
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lauro
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Saitto
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Frongillo
mesh_terms: D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D012661:Semen / Q000502:physiology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology