Macrophages in semen are indicative of chronic epididymal infection.

Chronic unspecific genital infections cause unexplained male fertility disorders. The andrologist in clinical practice is referred to the significance of macrophages in the seminal fluid and to an abnormal staining of the spermatozoal flagella during the Papanicolaou' and Shorr' techniques. These two criteria may be helpful in diagnosing chronic unspecific genital infection and in differentiating chronic epididymal inflammation from chronic prostatitis, whereas the influence of bacteria is still controversial.