Sexual behavior and urinary tract infection.
A study to identify factors which put young, sexually active women at risk to develop a urinary tract infection (UTI) was done. Reported here are differences in sexual behaviors in the study and control groups. All subjects were currently sexually active. Study subjects had a urine culture of greater than 10(5) single pathogen species. Control subjects were healthy women seeking preventive health care services. Both groups completed a self-administered questionnaire consisting of demographic data, past personal and family history, health status, habits of daily living and sexual activity and behaviors. Data analysis results showed that women who develop a UTI were more sexually active than their counterparts who did not. The data also indicate that increased coital activity preceded a UTI, and that the female superior position was used more frequently. Other coital activities and related sexual behaviors tested were not significantly different in the two groups, nor were they associated with the onset of a urinary tract infection. The results of this pilot study indicate a potential need to review the content of current preventive health teaching about UTIs. The validity of these findings must be further investigated before a conclusive statement or recommendations can be made.
D000328:Adult; D003075:Coitus; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011187:Posture; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D014521:Urethra / Q000293:injuries; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology