Korean J Urol.  2013 Feb;54(2):73-77.

Chlamydia and Male Lower Urinary Tract Diseases

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Urology, Samsung Changwon Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Changwon, Korea.
  • 2Department of Urology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. ksleedr@skku.edu

Abstract

Of the chlamydia species that can cause infections in humans, C. trachomatis is responsible for lower urinary tract diseases in men and women. C. trachomatis infections are prevalent worldwide, but current research is focused on females, with the burden of disease and infertility sequelae considered to be a predominantly female problem. However, a role for this pathogen in the development of male urethritis, epididymitis, and orchitis is widely accepted. Also, it can cause complications such as chronic prostatitis and infertility. This review summarizes C. trachomatis infection in the male genitourinary tract, including urethritis, epididymitis, orchitis, and its complications, and addresses the microbiology, epidemiology, screening, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment.

Keyword

Chlamydia; Chronic prostatitis; Epididymitis; Infertility orchitis; Urethritis

MeSH Terms

Chlamydia
Epididymitis
Female
Humans
Infertility
Male
Mass Screening
Orchitis
Prostatitis
Urethritis
Urinary Tract
Urologic Diseases

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