International Journal of STD & AIDS > Volume 19, Number 12 > Pp. 821-823

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Original research articles

Foreskin length in uncircumcised men is associated with subpreputial wetness

N O'Farrell MD FRCP ^*  , C-K Chung RCN ^* and H A Weiss PhD 

^* Pasteur Suite, Ealing Hospital; Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Unit, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK

Correspondence to: Dr Nigel O'Farrell, Pasteur Suite, Ealing Hospital, Uxbridge Road, London UB1 3HW, UK Email: nigel.o'farrell{at}eht.nhs.uk/nigel.ofarrell{at}lshtm.ac.uk

This study was performed to identify possible factors associated with penile wetness, defined as the observation of a diffuse homogenous film of moisture on the surface of the glans and coronal sulcus, in men attending a sexually transmitted infection clinic. Genital examination was undertaken in 422 uncircumcised men and any degree of subpreputial wetness observed was recorded. The degree of visibility of the urinary meatus on direct inspection was also assessed. Subjects were asked whether they retracted the foreskin while urinating and how long since they had last passed urine. Penile wetness was observed in 13.0% of the men and was more common in those whose foreskin covered the urinary meatus on direct inspection (17.4% vs. 4.9%) and those with balanitis (33.3%). On multivariate analysis, penile wetness was independently associated with balanitis, non-specific urethritis/chlamydia, reporting sex with another man and having a visible urinary meatus on direct inspection. Penile wetness was not associated with retracting the foreskin while passing urine or duration since last passed urine. Men with a foreskin covering the urinary meatus on direct observation should be advised about the benefits of good genital hygiene if penile wetness was observed.

Key Words: genital hygiene • male circumcision • penile wetness • STDs

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