Sexually transmitted infections in men

The diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) is a common problem in primary care practice; however, newer diagnostic and therapeutic alternatives require physicians to be aware of evidence-based guidelines that are continuing to evolve. The treatment of STDs in men, in particular, is an area of evolving evidence because much of what is known is based on the treatment of STDs in women. For men, there are unique challenges in diagnosis, evaluation, and follow-up that need to be considered in the treatment of urethritis, epididymitis, herpes genitalis, condyloma, prostatitis, and other syndromes. Screening for asymptomatic STDs currently is not recommended in the general population, but selected criteria can be used to identify a target population for screening in high-risk areas.