Behavioral factors and urinary tract infection.
Voiding and sexual habits of 84 female university students with a history of recurrent urinary infection were compared with those of a control group. There was one highly significant difference between the two groups: 61% of the patients but only 11% of the controls gave a history of regular voluntary deferral of micturition for periods of one hour to longer than six hours. Sexual practices among patients and controls were remarkably similar. A behavioral regimen stressing regular, complete bladder emptying was shown to be effective in preventing reinfection in the patient group. Voluntary urinary retention may play a pathogenic role in women with recurrent urinary tract infection, and its correction may play an important part in the management of urinary tract infection.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D012008:Recurrence; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D013997:Time Factors; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D014554:Urination