(194) Dyspareunia as a Sign of UTI

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Dyspareunia has been defined by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists as pain with sexual intercourse. While dyspareunia has been described as only a part of the symptomatology spectrum of interstitial cystitis, it has never been used as a primary symptom to diagnose uncomplicated or complicated UTIs. Dyspareunia and lower abdominal pain are the most common symptoms followed by dysuria, urodynia, pollakiuria, urgency, nocturia, tenesmus, headache and fever. Increased awareness of the association of dyspareunia with UTI’s will improve the diagnosis of UTIs. Objective UTI’s are under-diagnosed in emergency rooms, as clinicians increasingly rely on urinalysis rather than symptomatology. The presence of dyspareunia is rarely inquired during an evaluation of the patient. The objective of this research is to inform clinicians that dyspareunia is a common symptom of urinary tract infections. By increasing awareness of the association between UTI’s and dyspareunia, clinicians will include it in the assessment of a patient, rather than relying solely on a urinalysis. Additionally, our objective is to educate the patient population that dyspareunia is not normal, and it is a medical condition that can be resolved and investigated. Methods In 2009-2010, a review of 3,000 charts was conducted to determine the sexual attitudes and behaviors of the female Latin American community in South Florida. Analysis of the data shows a correlation between dyspareunia and urinary tract infections, a finding that has not been described before. Results The association between a UTI and dyspareunia was found to be approximately 80% in premenopausal women of reproductive age. In post menopausal women, UTIs are the second most common cause of dyspareunia following vaginal dryness. Conclusions This analysis has determined that dyspareunia is a significant aspect of the semiology of a UTI, thus clinicians should be aware of this association in order to accurately diagnose UTIs in patients. Disclosure No