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Infection and Male Infertility

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Male Infertility

Abstract

The role of infection in infertility is often neglected. Worldwide, infection is the most frequent preventable cause of human infertility. In sub-Saharan Africa bilateral Fallopian tube occlusion accounts for 40% of cases of primary female infertility (Table 14.1; (WHO 1987). In a study of 1895 black men attending for investigation of suspected infertility there was a history of urethral discharge in 879 (45%) (Schulenberg et al. 1993). Chlamydial infections are now the most prevalent sexually transmitted pathogen in industrialized countries (Smith and Winship 1987, Eggert-Kruse et al 1990). The scale of the problem is such that progress will only be made by a co-ordinated combination of education of at risk groups, increased use of barrier methods of contraception, making available confidential and cheap treatment and development of new methods such as antichlamydial or anti-HIV vaccines.

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© 1994 Springer-Verlag London Limited

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Farid, M., Hargreave, T.B. (1994). Infection and Male Infertility. In: Hargreave, T.B. (eds) Male Infertility. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-1029-3_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-1029-3_14

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-76216-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-1029-3

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