What Is Ureaplasma?

WHAT IS UREAPLASMA UREALYTICUM/PARVUM?

Ureaplasma is a bacterium that can be transmitted through sexual contact but is not considered a classic sexually transmitted infection (STI) because of its low potential to cause disease. It has two species: Parvum and Urealyticum.

It is estimated that quite a large proportion of the sexually active population is infected with Ureaplasma, but this does not cause any problems. According to our own laboratory data, we question the claims that more than 60% of the population carries this infection.

UREAPLASMA SYMPTOMS

Most people have no symptoms, and for those who are asymptomatic there is no evidence of long-term health consequences of Ureaplasma. When symptoms are present, they include:

1. Burning sensation when urinating
2. Urethral irritation
3. Abnormal vaginal discharge in women
4. Urethral discharge in men

Sometimes we see female patients with chronic cystitis/urinary tract infections whose cultures show no bacterial organism. When we test the urine for Ureaplasma by PCR, we find that this bacterium is present; for this reason we believe that Ureaplasma may play a role in such cases.

SHOULD I BE WORRIED ABOUT UREAPLASMA?

The advice is that Ureaplasma is nothing to worry about and does not require treatment. This is the latest guidance of the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH).

There is still no definitive evidence on whether Ureaplasma can lead to long-term problems.

CAN I BE TESTED FOR UREAPLASMA?

It is possible to test for Ureaplasma using a urine sample or a vaginal swab. The urine sample or swab is subjected to a PCR test that looks for the bacterium's DNA. This test will give a positive result as long as the bacteria are present in the urine sample or swab (they will be present if you are infected and collect the sample as instructed). Processing of Ureaplasma test results usually takes 48-36 hours. Please note that the genetic laboratory that processes this panel usually does not work on Saturdays and Sundays. Any sample collected at the weekend is processed on the next working day. If you have symptoms, we recommend a broader screen, such as the Full STI screen, which tests for 11 infections that can cause the same symptoms as Ureaplasma.

HOW IS UREAPLASMA TREATED?

Recent guidelines state that Ureaplasma does not require treatment. Routine testing and treatment for Ureaplasma are not recommended; gonorrhea, chlamydia, M. genitalium, trichomonas and bacterial vaginosis are investigated first. Please consult your doctor.