Chronic prostatitis, chlamydia trachomatis and infertility

Seventy-one infertile men were studied for the presence of seminal leucocytosis, and for the levels of acid phosphatase activity and Chlamydia trachomatis antibodies of IgA class using a novel method of solid-phase radioimmunoassay. The findings were compared with those of 56 fertile men. Chlamydial IgA antibodies were found in the semen of 51.1% of infertile men with seminal leucocytosis and decreased seminal acid phosphatase activity, i.e. those defined as having asymptomatic chronic prostatitis. This frequency was significantly higher than among fertile men (23.2%, P less than 0.01) and those infertile men who had no signs of chronic prostatitis (26.9%, P less than 0.05). It is concluded that Chlamydia trachomatis seems to be a common cause of prostatitis and may also interfere with fertility.