Urinary symptoms after a routine pelvic exam

Abstract

Purpose: To determine if urinary symptoms are more common in women during the 4 weeks after a routine pelvic examination. Methods: This was a 4-week, prospective, observational cohort study in a Family Medicine residency clinic at an urban university. Participants included women ages 18 to 40 years who identified themselves as sexually active and who presented for a routine pelvic examination. Controls were women presenting for other health maintenance with no pelvic examination. Independent variables included age, pelvic examination/no pelvic examination, intercourse frequency, and condom use. Dependent variables included dysuria and urinary frequency. Relative rates of dysuria and frequency were compared using χ2 analysis. Mean rates of dysuria, frequency, intercourse, and condom use were compared using 2-tailed t tests. Results: Sixty-three subjects and 87 controls completed the study. More subjects had days with dysuria (17% vs 7%; P < .01), days with frequency (27% vs 14%; P < .01), days with both dysuria and frequency (13% vs 3%; P < .01), and days with either dysuria or frequency (32% vs 17%; P < .01). Subjects had less intercourse than controls (1.6 times per week vs 2.2 times per week; P < .01) and used condoms less frequently (33% vs 41%; P < .01). Conclusions: Dysuria and urinary frequency are more common among sexually active women during the month after a routine pelvic examination.