Community study of urinary pH and osmolality.

In a previous communication (Asscher, Sussman, Waters, Davis, and Chick, 1966), it was shown that urine obtained from females supports the growth of E. coli, the commonest urinary pathogen, better than that from males. This difference was dependent on a sex difference in urinary pH and osmolality, the urines of females being significantly more often at suitable pH and osmolality for the growth of E. coli than those of males. This paper describes the detailed results of the community study which led us to conclude that a sex difference in urinary pH and osmolality exists.