Characteristics of younger and older men with urethral chlamydial infection.

This study examined some characteristics of male clinic attenders with urethral chlamydial infection. The prevalence of urethral chlamydial infection among heterosexual men (men who have sex with women [MSW]) was 446 (17%) of 2684 men. Men aged 16-34 years were more likely to have chlamydiae than older men with only casual partners (chi2 = 16.08; P = 0.001). Infected younger men with casual partners had more partners than uninfected men (median 2.0 [interquartile range [IQR] 1.0] versus 1.0 [IQR 1.0]) (P<0.05). However, this was not true of older men (median number of partners 1.0 [IQR 1.0] versus 1.0 [IQR 1.0]) (P>0.05). Consistent condom use by younger but not by older men was associated with a lower prevalence of chlamydial infection compared with those whose use of condoms was inconsistent (chi2 = 19.75; P<0.001). Our results suggest that chlamydia testing should be offered to any MSW, irrespective of his age, who has had a new partner.