Evaluation of the efficacy of sexual intercourse on distal ureteral stones in women: a prospective, randomized, controlled study.

AIM To evaluate the efficacy of sexual intercourse in the expulsion of distal ureteric stones in women. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of seventy woman patients with distal ureteral or intramural stone were randomly divided into two groups. Group 1 included 35 patients who were advised to do sexual intercourse 3-4 times/week with the administration of symptomatic treatment, and group 2 (control group) included 35 patients receiving symptomatic treatment only and were instructed not to do sexual intercourse or masturbation during the study. After 4 weeks follow up; the expulsion rate, need for analgesic and ureterorenoscopic lithotripsy were compared for each group. RESULTS The mean ages of the patients in groups 1 and 2 were 36.4 ± 10.8, 37.1 ± 12.4, respectively. The mean stone size was 7.01 ± 1.6 in group 1, 6.67 ± 1.4 mm in group 2 (p: 0.3). Stone expulsion rate, in the first 2 weeks for group 1 was 80% (28/35), while 51.4% (18/35) in group 2 (p < 0.001). In the 4th week, the expulsion rate for group 1 was 85.7%, but 60% in group 2 (p < 0.001). The mean expulsion time was shorter in group 1 (12 ± 4.2 days) than group 2 (16.1 ± 6.4 days) (p < 0.01). The analgesic needs in groups 1 and 2 were found to be 1.9 ± 0.7, 2.6 ± 0.8 times/a day respectively, and were significantly lower in group 1 (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION At least three or four sexual intercourses per week seem to increase the spontaneous passage for distal or intramural ureteral stones in women. Furthermore, sexual intercourse reduces the need for analgesics.