URINARY SYMPTOMS, SEXUAL INTERCOURSE AND SIGNIFICANT BACTERIURIA IN MALE-PATIENTS ATTENDING STD CLINICS

Objective: To assess the relationship between sexual behaviour, urinar y symptoms, urinalysis and bacteriuria in men attending STD clinics. D esign: A prospective study recording sexual behaviour, urinary symptom s and collecting midstream urine specimens. Setting: Two West Midlands STD clinics, UK. Subjects: 1086 new male patients. Results: 704 patie nts had had sexual intercourse (SI) within 14 days of testing, 424 had urinary symptoms and 122 had pyuria. All 13 patients with positive cu lture had SI < 14 days before testing, urinary symptoms and pyuria. No association was found between sexual orientation, type of SI, number of sexual partners, condom usage and bacteriuria. Conclusion: Bacteriu ria does not behave as an STD but SI may be a factor in acquiring bact eriuria. Dysuria with or without urethral discharge is the most predic tive symptom of bacteriuria. Pyuria has a high sensitivity for predict ing bacteriuria among males.