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Infections and Inflammation of the Seminal Ducts and Accessory Sex Glands

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Abstract

Infections and inflammation of the genital tract are among the most frequent causes of male infertility. Urethritis, prostatitis/prostato-vesiculitis, epididymitis/epididymo-orchitis, and orchitis are distinct entities. While acutely symptomatic clinical entities can be clearly diagnosed, the majority of patients in fertility consultations are asymptomatic and have subclinical or primarily chronic courses or only sequelae of a previous disease. Diagnosis is accordingly difficult and relies primarily on the detection of pathogens, elevated leukocyte counts, and/or inflammatory mediators in the ejaculate, prostatic secretions, and urine samples. If pathogenic bacteria are detected, antibiotic therapy appropriate to the pathogen and resistance is indicated, but this does not exclude the development of permanent fertility disorders. This is probably caused by persistent pathological immune responses in the genital tract.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Conservative Andrology, Department of Urology, Pediatric Urology and Andrology, University Hospital Giessen and Marburg GmbH, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany

    Hans-Christian Schuppe

  2. Department of Urology, Pediatric Urology and Andrology, University Hospital Giessen and Marburg GmbH, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany

    Adrian Pilatz

  3. Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany

    Andreas Meinhardt

  4. Center for Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, University Hospital Halle (Saale), Halle (Saale), Germany

    Hermann M. Behre

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Correspondence to Hans-Christian Schuppe .

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  1. Center for Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany

    Eberhard Nieschlag

  2. Center for Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, University Hospital Halle (Saale), Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany

    Hermann M. Behre

  3. Center for Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany

    Sabine Kliesch

  4. Center for Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany

    Susan Nieschlag

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Schuppe, HC., Pilatz, A., Meinhardt, A., Behre, H.M. (2023). Infections and Inflammation of the Seminal Ducts and Accessory Sex Glands. In: Nieschlag, E., Behre, H.M., Kliesch, S., Nieschlag, S. (eds) Andrology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-31574-9_26

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