For the first time, chlamydia infection has been found in the testicular tissue of men with idiopathic infertility, Queensland researchers report. 

They found chlamydia was present in almost half of 95 samples tested, with “profound implications” for the study of idiopathic male infertility. 

“Our findings demonstrate for the first time that replicating Chlamydia trachomatis is present in human testicular tissue and may be associated with moderate to severe spermatogenic impairment,” wrote the authors from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT).

“We utilised highly specific DNA and protein markers to diagnose an unexpectedly high prevalence of chlamydia infection in two distinct populations of infertile men.”