RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 The prevalence of dysuria in women in London JF The Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners JO J R Coll Gen Pract FD British Journal of General Practice SP 411 OP 415 VO 33 IS 252 A1 Mary Walker A1 J. A. Heady A1 A. G. Shaper YR 1983 UL http://bjgp.org/content/33/252/411.abstract AB 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.