Mycoplasmas and "non-specific" genital infection. 3. Post-gonococcal urethritis. A prospective study.

Mycoplasma hominis and T-strain mycoplasmas have been isolated (Part I: Taylor-Robinson, Addey, Hare, and Dunlop, 1969; Part II: Dunlop, Hare, Jones, and Taylor-Robinson, 1969) from the genital tract in the cases of a large proportion ofmen suffering from "non-specific" urethritis (NSU), and from an even larger proportion of their female sexual contacts. However, to show that these mycoplasmas are a cause of NSU it is important also to demonstrate their absence from a similar group of men without NSU but alike in every other respect to those with NSU. Important factors to match are age, race, and sexual behaviour. In general, volunteer groups of hospital workers are unsuitable as "controls" as are groups comprised of subjects who are not sexually active, for example schoolchildren and celibates.