Association between use of spermicide-coated condoms and Escherichia coli urinary tract infection in young women.
Diaphragm/spermicide use increases the risk of urinary tract infection (UTI). To determine whether spermicide-coated condoms are also associated with an increased risk of UTI, the authors conducted a case-control study at a large health maintenance organization in Seattle, Washington. Cases were sexually active young women with acute UTI caused by Escherichia coli, identified from computerized laboratory files during 1990-1993. Age-matched controls were randomly selected from the enrollment files of the plan. Of 1,904 eligible women, 604 cases and 629 controls (65%) were interviewed. During the previous year, 40% of the cases and 31% of the controls had been exposed to any type of condom. The unadjusted odds ratio for UTI increased with frequency of condom exposure from 0.91 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.65-1.28) for weekly or less during the previous month to 2.11 (95% CI 1.37-3.26) for more than once weekly. Exposure to spermicide-coated condoms conferred a higher risk of UTI, with odds ratios ranging from 1.09 (95% CI 0.58-2.05) for use weekly or less to 3.05 (95% CI 1.47-6.35) for use more than once weekly. In multivariate analyses, intercourse frequency (odds ratio (OR) = 1.14 per weekly episode), history of UTI (OR = 2.64), and frequency of spermicide-coated condom exposure (OR = 3.34 for more than once weekly and 5.65 for use more than twice weekly) were independent predictors of UTI. Spermicide-coated condoms were responsible for 42% of the UTIs among women who were exposed to these products.
Fihn
S D
SD
Northwest Health Services Research and Development Field Program, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Seattle, WA 98108, USA.
Boyko
E J
EJ
Normand
E H
EH
Chen
C L
CL
Grafton
J R
JR
Hunt
M
M
Yarbro
P
P
Scholes
D
D
Stergachis
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D013089:Spermatocidal Agents; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D014861:Washington / Q000453:epidemiology
D013089:Spermatocidal Agents