The prevalence of dysuria in women in London

A postal questionnaire was used in a survey of dysuria in women aged 20-54 years in four London general practices. Twenty per cent of all women reported dysuria in the previous year (recent dysuria) and half of these women suffered at least one further episode in the same year. The prevalence of recent dysuria showed a decline with increasing age, a small increase with increasing number of pregnancies, no social class effect and no difference with marital status. Frequent recent episodes were more likely in women whose first reported episode of dysuria occurred before the age of 20 years. The risk of dysuria occurring in any pregnancy was about 12 per cent, and a small group - about 6 per cent of those who had had more than one pregnancy - reported dysuria in every pregnancy. Comparison of the practice records of non-responders and responders suggested that the true prevalence of recent dysuria was over-estimated by about one third. The routine use of a few specific questions in clinical and epidemiological practice may help to identify those women at increased risk from urinary tract infection, particularly in pregnancy.