Etiology of symptomatic urethritis in men and association with sexual behaviors

Gonorrhea and chlamydia are sexually transmitted infections (STI) that are the most common causes of urethritis in men. The role of specific sexual behaviors and presentation of urethritis is often overlooked.

Data was retrospectively reviewed on all men presenting at the major STI clinic in Providence, Rhode Island. Predictors of gonorrhea and chlamydia infection were modeled using a generalized model assuming a binary distribution.

Of the men with urethritis, 27% had chlamydia, 13% gonorrhea, 3% both, and 63% neither (non-gonococcal, non-chlamydial urethritis). MSM were more likely to test positive for gonorrhea than MSW (25% of MSM versus 6% of MSW; p<0.01).

MSM with urethritis were much more likely to test positive for gonorrhea which may be due to increased risk behaviors and spread within concentrated sexual networks. A large number of both MSM and MSW had non-gonococcal, non-chlamydial urethritis, which suggests the need for improved diagnostic testing. [Full article available at http://rimed.org/rimedicaljournal-2016-06.asp, free with no login].