Low prevalence of penile wetness among male sexually transmitted infection clinic attendees in London.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of penile wetness among STI clinic attenders in London. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 480 consecutive men were examined clinically to detect whether penile wetness, defined as the clinical observation of a uniform diffuse layer of moisture on the surface of the glans and coronal sulcus, was present. RESULTS: Penile wetness was observed in 30 (6.3%), including 29 (8.3%) of uncircumcised and 1 (0.8%) of circumcised men (Relative risk 10.54 (95% CI 1.45-76.6, P = <0.001) (Fisher's Exact test) and in 14/34 (41.2%) of men with balanitis. Penile wetness was observed in 9.2% Asian, 7% Caucasian, 3% of black men, and 6.3% of homosexuals, and in 14/34 (8.2%) of men with clinical balanitis compared with 8/244 (3.3%) with no STI diagnosis (P =