title: Low prevalence of penile wetness among male sexually transmitted infection clinic attendees in London.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of penile wetness among STI clinic attenders in London.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 480 consecutive men were examined clinically to detect whether penile wetness, defined as the clinical observation of a uniform diffuse layer of moisture on the surface of the glans and coronal sulcus, was present.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Penile wetness was observed in 30 (6.3%), including 29 (8.3%) of uncircumcised and 1 (0.8%) of circumcised men (Relative risk 10.54 (95% CI 1.45-76.6, P = <0.001) (Fisher's Exact test) and in 14/34 (41.2%) of men with balanitis. Penile wetness was observed in 9.2% Asian, 7% Caucasian, 3% of black men, and 6.3% of homosexuals, and in 14/34 (8.2%) of men with clinical balanitis compared with 8/244 (3.3%) with no STI diagnosis (P = <0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of penile wetness was low in this population of STI clinic attenders in London, much lower than in Durban, South Africa. Further studies of male genital hygiene are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Pasteur Suite, Ealing Hospital, London, U.K. ofarrell@postmaster.co.uk
authors.forename: Nigel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: O'Farrell
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Morison
authors.forename: Chee-Kuan
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene; D008131:London / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D010413:Penis / Q000473:pathology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control