Absence of chlamydial deoxyribonucleic acid from testicular and epididymal samples from men with obstructive azoospermia.
OBJECTIVE
To identify Chlamydia trachomatis DNA by polymerase chain reaction in the upper genital tract of men with obstructive azoospermia compared with men seeking vasectomy reversal.


METHODS
Case-control study.


METHODS
Tertiary referral center, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen, United Kingdom.


METHODS
Cases were men with idiopathic obstructive azoospermia, and controls were men with azoospermia secondary to vasectomy.


METHODS
Chlamydia trachomatis-specific DNA test by polymerase chain reaction on testicular and epididymal biopsy samples, as well as epididymal aspirate.


METHODS
Presence of Chlamydia trachomatis DNA.


RESULTS
We did not detect the presence of Chlamydia trachomatis-specific DNA by polymerase chain reaction in the epididymis or testis of 36 asymptomatic men with obstructive azoospermia (14 cases, 22 controls).


CONCLUSIONS
Our hypothesis that unrecognized, asymptomatic chlamydial infection will lead to complete bilateral obstruction of the male genital tract remains unproven.
Sripada
Sreebala
S
Aberdeen Maternity Hospital, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, United Kingdom. ogy302@abdn.ac.uk
Amezaga
Maria Rosario
MR
Hamilton
Mark
M
McKenzie
Hamish
H
Templeton
Allan
A
Bhattacharya
Siladitya
S
D000328:Adult; D053713:Azoospermia / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D001706:Biopsy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D004822:Epididymis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013737:Testis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D014659:Vasectomy
D004269:DNA, Bacterial