| A recent study has given infertile men new hope | | | | milky discharge from the penis, swollen or tender |
| of successfully conceiving a child with their | | | | testicles, rectal itching, rectal bleeding, and rectal |
| partners. The culprit may just be a silent bacterial | | | | inflammation. All of these symptoms are often |
| infection called chlamydia lurking within their bodies. | | | | disregarded by those who suffer from the |
| According to Spanish researchers, chlamydia can | | | | disease, or are mistook for other ailments |
| damage sperm quality, thus causing infertility in | | | | because they are non-specific. This bacterial |
| men. They presented their findings at the | | | | infection is commonly spread through vaginal, oral, |
| American Society for Reproductive Medicine | | | | and anal intercourse, but in rare cases may be |
| conference, based on a study done on 143 men | | | | passed on by a mother to her child through |
| infected with the infection. Using a new | | | | vaginal childbirth. |
| microscopic analysis technique, samples from the | | | | Chlamydia has already been linked to infertility in |
| test subjects were analyzed and found to have a | | | | women, but this study has conclusively proven |
| level of sperm damage more than three times | | | | using the microscopic analysis that the quality of |
| higher than in healthy men. The sperm damage | | | | sperm declines significantly if the male has the |
| includes the level of DNA fragmentation, poor | | | | bacterial infection. This is an important |
| sperm concentration, increased levels of shape | | | | breakthrough for couples who have been |
| defects and poor ability to swim quickly. | | | | unsuccessful in becoming pregnant, because |
| Chlamydia is a bacterial infection caused by | | | | chlamydia is a treatable disease. Treatment for |
| bacterium, Chlamydia trachomatis, and is among | | | | the bacterial infection is a course of antibiotics. |
| the most common sexually transmitted diseases | | | | Doxycycline is the usual drug prescribed, with one |
| in the world. It is commonly referred to as the | | | | tablet taken twice a day for a week. The most |
| "silent infection," because about three quarters of | | | | convenient treatment called azithromycin because |
| infected women and about half of infected men | | | | you take four tablets at the same time. During |
| present no symptoms. Those infected with | | | | the study, 95 out of the 143 men were treated |
| chlamydia often do not feel any symptoms until | | | | with antibiotics and reassessed after four months. |
| complications arise from the bacterial infection, | | | | Scientists found that an average of 36% showed |
| occasionally becoming the cause of permanent | | | | a marked improvement in sperm quality, and |
| damage. If symptoms do occur, they can be felt | | | | during that period 13% of the couples got |
| within one to three weeks after infection. In | | | | pregnant. After the treatment was finished, 86% |
| women, its symptoms can range from abdominal | | | | of those treated got pregnant. |
| pain, abnormal vaginal discharge, bleeding between | | | | The significance of the study goes beyond the |
| menstrual periods, cervical or rectal inflammation, | | | | infertility issue. It is also a wake-up call for many |
| low-grade fever, a yellowish discharge from the | | | | healthcare professionals to increase public |
| cervix that may have a foul odor, vaginal bleeding | | | | awareness about chlamydia amid the rising |
| after intercourse, rectal itching, rectal bleeding, | | | | numbers of people who have this bacterial |
| painful intercourse, painful urination, and the urge | | | | infection, especially in the 18-25 age group. If this |
| to urinate more than usual. In men, the most | | | | growing trend is unchecked, chlamydia maybe |
| commonly reported symptoms are pain or | | | | killing those yet to be born. |
| burning feeling while urinating, pus or watery or | | | | |