Establishing the Prevalence and Incidence of Asymptomatic Urethritis and Urethritis Associated STIs in a Cohort of Young Men (The Quantifying Urethral Inflammation, Etiology, and Timing [QUIET] Study)

Study of Asymptomatic Urethritis and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Young Men

Primary Investigator
S

Stephen Jordan

Primary Investigator

Enrolling By Invitation
18 years - 26 years
Male
Phase N/A
100 participants needed

Brief description of study

Acute urethritis (i.e., inflammation of the male urethra) affects millions of men within the United States annually. STI management has proven challenging due to the prevalence of asymptomatic infections and because men often fail to seek STI care until they experience pronounced symptoms. To date, very little is known about asymptomatic urethritis, and we don’t know what infections cause it and how long it lasts. Key questions that need answering are: (1) How common is asymptomatic urethritis? (2) What causes asymptomatic urethritis besides gonorrhea and chlamydia? (3) How often does asymptomatic urethritis resolve without antibiotics?

THIS STUDY IS ENROLLING BY INVITATION ONLY - Potential participants will be recruited by researchers and contacted directly by e-mail, mail, phone, appointment or via clinician referral.

Detailed description of study

All enrollment and 3-month visits will take place at the IU Hospital Clinical Research Center. Participants are asked to attend two in-person study visits, each lasting approximately 30 minutes, and to provide urine samples and two 9 mL blood samples. subjects also provide a urine samples and complete questionnaires at each weekly visit. Procedures performed at this location include recruitment, consent, completion of the enrollment and follow up questionnaires, and collection of blood and urine specimens. All weekly visits will take place at the Van Nuys Medical Science Building. Procedures performed at this location include collection of urine and completion of the weekly diary.  At each location, all visits will take place in a private room to protect the participants privacy. Blood collection will occur within that same private clinical room. To collect urine, participants will be provided a private bathroom with a lockable stall to ensure their comfort and privacy.

Eligibility of study

You may be eligible for this study if you meet the following criteria:

  • Conditions: Urethritis
  • Age: 18 years - 26 years
  • Gender: Male

Inclusion Criteria
•    Biological Males aged 18 to 26
•    Identify as heterosexual or bisexual[PC4.1][SJ4.2]
•    Indiana University Indianapolis or Indiana University School of Medicine Students, Staff, or live near the IUI campus

Exclusion Criteria
•    History of genital surgery (except for circumcision) 
•    History of use of cross-sex hormones
•    Current urogenital symptoms at the enrollment visit
•    Known HIV positive 
•    Unable to provide urine and bloods specimens.
•    Unable to travel to the IU campus study sites (CRC for enrollment and 3-month visits and the Van Nuys Med Sciences building for the weekly visits). 
•    Unable to text and email with study personnel
•    Prior enrollment in this study

The purpose of this research study is to learn how common asymptomatic urethritis is in young men. Asymptomatic urethritis means inflammation of the urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the body) without noticeable symptoms. The study also aims to learn what infections may cause it and how long it lasts, including whether it sometimes goes away without antibiotics.

This study is enrolling by invitation only. Participants will attend 2 in-person visits at the IU Hospital Clinical Research Center (an enrollment visit and a 3-month visit). Each of these visits lasts about 30 minutes. At these visits, participants will provide urine samples and 2 blood samples.

Participants will also have weekly in-person visits at the Van Nuys Medical Science Building. At each weekly visit, participants will provide a urine sample and complete questionnaires (including a weekly diary). All visits take place in a private room, and urine collection is done in a private bathroom.

Who can participate:
This study is enrolling by invitation only.
Biological males ages 18 to 26 may be able to participate if they:

  • Identify as heterosexual or bisexual
  • Are an Indiana University Indianapolis or Indiana University School of Medicine student or staff member, or live near the IUI campus

Study timeline and visits:
There are 2 in-person visits at the IU Hospital Clinical Research Center (enrollment and a 3-month visit), and weekly in-person visits at the Van Nuys Medical Science Building.

Updated on 29 Sep 2026. Study ID: 30120
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Interested in the study?

This study is accepting only persons who receive care at a certain clinic or doctor or who are part of an invited group. Questions about this study can be directed to the study team listed in the description or contact your doctor to see if you are eligible.

Accepting Referrals by Invitation Only