ABSTRACT

This chapter argues that the male urinary and reproductive systems and these are described together because one important anatomical feature, the urethra, is shared by both. The two systems are often collectively known as the genitourinary system (GUS). The chapter describes the microbes that inhabit the GUS reside in the urethra. It examines various regions of the GUS previously considered to be sterile, such as the bladder and prostate, are thought to support resident microbiotas. Studies of the urethral microbiota have been based on the analysis of single urethral swabs, semen samples, and samples taken from the first episode of urination in the morning. Swabbing offers the possibility of sampling at different lengths along the urethra but is not popular with volunteers because of the associated discomfort. Both culture-dependent and -independent studies of the urethral microbiota have shown that its composition varies considerably from person to person and also fluctuates with time.