Background:
Infertility Prevention Programs (IPP's) have historically focused screening efforts on “at-risk” females without thoroughly examining the role that males may play in the cycle of infection.

Objective:
To determine what benefit, if any, is gained from screening males for chlamydia infection.

Method:
Historical data was obtained from STD*MIS and IPP Databases to determine the approximate number of males tested for chlamydia and their results at a specified facility (Sedgwick County Health Department) during a ten-year period. The outcome of female partners was evaluated; focusing on those found to be infected and brought to treatment or preventively treated. The STD Prevention formulas and cost savings figures published in the January 1992 STD-HIV Interchange have been adjusted to 2004 levels, by adjusting the original citation by an inflation factor of 3% per year. The goal of the project was to calculate the potential monetary benefit gained by screening men, while taking into consideration the cost of male screening and disease intervention activities during the ten year time period.

Result:
There appears to be an overall benefit to screening men in this specific situation. There were 392 females preventively treated for chlamydia and 425 infected females identified as a result of their male partners being screened and resulting disease intervention activities performed on positive males. After accounting for the cost of screening males and performing disease intervention, there was an overall monetary benefit of $2,543,256 over the ten-year period.

Conclusion:
While this study is not scientific in nature, it does provide an idea of the benefits that may be gained from routine male screening in specific circumstances.

Implications:
The Kansas STD Program will consider the positive effects of screening males in an environment where DIS are stationed to provide aggressive follow-up of female partners as a method to reduce the incidence of chlamydia and associated complications and costs.