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Published on: May 8, 2021
Proteinuria on dipstick urine analysis after sexual intercourse
Liran Domachevsky1, Moti Grupper, Tzippora Shochat
1Israel Naval Medical Institute, Israel Defence Forces Medical Corps, Haifa, Israel. liranura@bezeqint.net
Sexual intercourse can cause temporary proteinuria in men, a benign condition. To ensure accurate urine dipstick tests, avoid sexual activity for at least 12 hours prior.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Nephrology
Background:
- Proteinuria, or protein in the urine, can be indicative of kidney disease.
- Identifying benign causes of proteinuria is crucial to prevent unnecessary medical investigations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate sexual intercourse as a potential cause of proteinuria.
- To determine the duration of post-coital proteinuria.
Main Methods:
- Urine samples were collected from married couples before and after sexual intercourse.
- Dipstick analysis was used to test for proteinuria in the collected samples.
Main Results:
- Post-coital proteinuria was observed in 27.3% of men studied (P = 0.008).
- No instances of proteinuria were detected in women after sexual intercourse.
- Proteinuria resolved within 12 hours in affected men.
Conclusions:
- Sexual intercourse is a confirmed benign cause of transient proteinuria in men.
- It is recommended to abstain from sexual activity for at least 12 hours before urine dipstick testing to avoid false-positive results.
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