Chlamydia infection can cause pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility in women, although serious outcomes in men are rare. Previous research has suggested that half of people are unaware that they have chlamydia infection, and screening among young women is now encouraged.
Gordon Scott from Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, UK, and colleagues investigated the prevalence of chlamydia in around 800 army recruits (the majority of whom were aged younger than 25 years) undergoing basic training near Edinburgh. All men agreed to have their urine screened for the presence of Chlamydia trachomatis as part of their routine medical examination. The study was undertaken as part of Healthy Respect, a Scottish health-awareness programme promoting positive sexual health and the avoidance of unwanted pregnancies.
9.8% of the men tested positive for chlamydia, of whom nearly 90% had no symptoms, a far higher proportion than previously reported. Infected men were no more sexually active than the average young male population, reporting on average one sexual partner over the previous six months.
Gordon Scott comments: "Our finding that the rate of asymptomatic infections was higher than that usually cited (50%) shows the importance of involving men as well as women in opportunistic testing for chlamydia. We will continue to seek settings for testing men in other studies as part of Healthy Respect."
Contact: Dr Gordon R Scott, Department of Genito-Urinary Medicine, Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, Level 1, Lauriston Building, Lauriston Place, Edinburgh EH3 9YW, UK; T) (c/o Rosie Hewitt, Press Office) +44 (0)131 242 3310; F) +44 (0)131 536 2110; E) gumedin@hotmail.com
Journal
The Lancet