Abstract

In Britain and the USA about 50% of non-specific urethritis (NSU) is due to Chlamydia trachomatis types D to K.^1–4 In England and Wales NSU is the commonest sexually transmitted disease: 74,000 cases were reported by venereology clinics in 1976. A high percentage of female sexual partners of males with chlamydial urethritis have Chlamydia in the cervix and urethra.^{2 4 5} Rectal^{2 6 7} and throat⁸ cultures may also be positive in females and homosexual males.⁷ It is not surprising that C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae are commonly found together in both male and female genital tracts. Concurrent infection with Chlamydia was found in 22–65% of reported gonococcal cases.^{3 9 10} C. trachomatis is a major cause of non-gonococcal epididymitis in young men.¹¹ Its importance in the urethral syndrome and abacterial pyuria is unclear.¹² The results of chlamydial cultures from the fallopian tube and of serology suggest that C. trachomatis is a major cause of acute salpingitis.^{13 14}