Chlamydia could affect male fertility

Chlamydia, which is often known as the silent disease because it has few symptoms, is better known for making women infertile if left untreated.

But new research carried out in Spain shows men who have the infection are also risking their chances of parenthood.

Dr Allan Pacey, senior lecturer in andrology at the University of Sheffield and Secretary of the British Fertility Society, said more needed to be done to target young men.

He said: "The message is that we might think of chlamydia as a disease that damages female fertility, but we need to think again. It does damage female fertility, but it appears to damage male fertility too.

"The thing that drives most men to sexual health clinics is symptoms, and chlamydia is often symptom-free.

"Chlamydia is getting out of control. We have got to encourage men as well as women to go for screening, but men are more reluctant to do this if they don't have symptoms."

Dr Pacey said men aged 18 to 25 age group were most at risk.

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