Urethral syndrome in women.

Dysuria remains one of the most common symptoms experienced by adult women. In the past, women with dysuria were generally classified as having cystitis or the acute urethral syndrome based on results of quantitative urine cultures. Recent studies indicate that this terminology is misleading and that the majority of dysuric women have infections with E. coli and S. saprophyticus detected by cultures of midstream urine. Urethritis caused by C. trachomatis or N. gonorrhoeae and vaginitis can also produce symptoms of urinary infection. Proper management of dysuric women requires evaluation for these illnesses and treatment directed at the specific cause of infection.