Methods for determining the frequency of sexual intercourse and activities of daily living in young women.

Abstract

To determine whether the frequency of sexual intercourse and other activities of daily living could be reliably measured in a population of women with or without prior urinary tract infections, a prospective pilot, case-control study was undertaken in a family practice clinic. Intensive self-recording of daily activities for one week was consistent with data collected for five more weeks spaced one month apart. Frequency of sexual activity was significantly higher on weekends. Control and bacteriuric subjects reported episodes of sexual intercourse about twice as frequently during the week of intensive recording than during the rest of the month when recording was only once a day. Although individual variation between weeks was minimal, considerable variation was observed among subjects. Voiding patterns were similar in both groups except for significantly higher rates prior to intercourse for controls. It is estimated that a sample size of at last 67-79 pairs will be required to ascertain whether there is a significant differences in frequency of sexual intercourse between cases and controls.