Intimate infections in men appear as often as in women, although they consult a doctor less often than women. However, venereal diseases should not be underestimated, not only because of the general state of male health but also because of his partner’s health. This article describes the most common male bacterial infections.

Chlamydia

Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) is a bacterium that is not very symptomatic for many people. When symptoms develop, they often include pain or discomfort during sex or urination, green or yellow discharge from the penis and pain in the lower abdomen.

Untreated chlamydia can cause:

• infections of the urethra, prostate or testicles,
• pelvic inflammatory disease,
• infertility,
• painful infections of the anus with possible bleeding,
• throat infections in oral sex with pain, cough and fever.

An extreme case of chlamydia infection is Lymphogranuloma Venereum (LGV), in which inflammation of the rectum or rectum and colon, imitating colitis, occurs. It is worth emphasising to future fathers that if the infection is passed on to a pregnant woman, she may pass it on to the child during childbirth. An infected child may eventually develop pneumonia or eye infections leading to blindness.

On the other hand, the good news is that there are effective antibiotics that can easily treat chlamydia infections (e.g. azithromycin). Importantly, the sexual partner should also undergo treatment to prevent the recurrence of infections. Diagnostic recommendations include the detection of bacterial genetic material by PCR, also in the case of determining an asymptomatic carrier. Preventive examinations are recommended once a year.

Mycoplasma

An intimate infection caused by the bacterium Mycoplasma genitalium/hominis manifests itself similarly to the chlamydia infection described above. In men, this infection is usually asymptomatic, but if left undiagnosed and untreated, it can lead to epididymitis or prostatitis, and even impair fertility.

Ureaplasma

Ureaplasma urealyticum/parvum is a bacterium that is transmitted mainly through sexual contact, although we can also get infected through saliva or blood. Symptoms of ureaplasma are typical for urogenital infections, and if left untreated, it can lead to many complications and make it difficult for a man to conceive a child.

Syphilis

Syphilis is an intimate infection caused by a bacterium called Treponema palidum. Initially, during the latent period, the infection develops asymptomatically and may last up to several months. During this period, the spirochetes penetrate through the damaged skin or mucosa and then penetrate the blood and lymph vessels. The first noticeable symptoms are erosions, lumps or ulcers that can develop on the genitals, anus or mouth. These changes are usually painless, but contact with ulcer secretions is very contagious. Later in the course of the disease, a rash on one or more parts of the body develops. These changes reflect the spread of bacteria in the body. The rash may disappear and recur by itself, but it may also be associated with:

• tiredness,
• fever,
• headaches and joint pain,
• weight loss,
• hair loss.

Importantly, the disappearance of symptoms does not cure the infection, but only the transition to a latent form or a late stage of the disease. Untreated late-stage syphilis can lead to complications from the nervous, cardiovascular, and osteoarticular systems, as well as the skin and mucous membranes. In extreme cases, death occurs as a result of damage to internal organs.

Syphilis detected early is easy to cure with antibiotics, which prevents complications that are often irreversible. In the case of this infection, future fathers should also take care of their partners and future offspring, as congenital syphilis (an infection in the womb) can lead to severe and irreversible physical and intellectual disability. It is worth remembering that the use of a condom is effective in reducing the risk of infection, but is not sufficient protection when ulcers occur outside the protected area. Even when you kiss, you can get infected. The passage of infection does not mean the acquisition of full immunity and does not exclude the possibility of reinfection.

Gonorrhoea

Gonorrhoea is another common bacterial sexually transmitted disease. It is caused by gram-negative gonorrhoea (Neisseria gonorrhoea). In 10% of cases, the course may be asymptomatic, and when symptoms occur, they may manifest as:

• pain or discomfort during sex or urination;
• urethritis;
• purulent discharge from the penis;
• tenderness or swelling of the epididymides;
• inflammation of the glans;
• itching around the genitals;
• sore throat.

Untreated gonorrhoea can lead to inflammation of the urinary tract, prostate gland and testicles and thus contribute to infertility. As with chlamydia, the mother may pass on her newborn baby during labour. That is why many doctors encourage pregnant women to undergo diagnostic tests. Gonorrhoea can be successfully treated with appropriate antibiotics, but only under the supervision of a specialist, so as not to lead to chronic infection and complications. Appropriate diagnosis of intimate infections is very important in the process of selecting the treatment.

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