Ureaplasma is a gram-negative bacterium that is harmful to the human body because it can cause a disease called ureaplasmosis.

The disease does not pose a threat to human life, but it can cause unpleasant symptoms, and if left untreated, leads to complications.

Ureaplasma parvum (lat. Ureaplasma parvum ) is one of the most common varieties of this bacterium. In the past she called "biovar parvo." This outdated term may appear in old reference books on urology or microbiology.

Interestingly, newborn children are often infected with ureaplasma (during childbirth). Girls are infected much more often than boys. Additionally, boys are more likely to self-heal. As a result, among girls who have never had sexual intercourse, from 5 to 22 percent are carriers of this bacterium, and among young men - a fraction of a percent.

If a bacterium is detected in tests?

If ureaplasma is detected in tests, it is best don't ignore this problem, and start treatment. This needs to be done for two reasons:

  • Infection of the urinary and genital tract leads to a weakening of the body’s defenses (the composition of the microflora changes, and it is easier for pathogens to penetrate the mucous membrane);
  • If left untreated, ureaplasma can lead to various complications. Complications can affect both the reproductive and excretory systems.
Moreover, ureaplasma can be transmitted sexually, which means that re-infection from a sexual partner is possible.

The possibility of transmitting ureaplasma during sexual intercourse forces both partners to be treated at once. Therefore, if a couple practices unprotected sex, if ureaplasma is detected in one of the partners, the second should be notified about this.

How to treat?

Treat ureaplasma with antibiotics. The choice of drug and dosage is within the competence of the doctor, and self-medication can only cause harm. Typically, drugs based on josamycin and doxycycline are used. Less effective are the drugs erythromycin, clarithromycin, etc. Ureoplasma has not yet developed resistance to antibiotics, so there are no drugs yet that would be 100% useless against it.

Tetracyclines (especially doxacycline) also remain effective.

The high sensitivity of the bacteria allows you not to use several drugs at once, but to limit yourself to one. In addition to taking antibiotics, there is also local treatment ureaplasmosis. For this, various creams, suppositories, etc. are used. An example of such a drug is Terzhinan.

They also use drugs that strengthen the immune system and restore the natural microflora of the genital organs.

What consequences?

If ureaplasma is not treated, the consequences can be quite severe, especially for women. First of all, these are adhesions in the uterus. The uterus is a hollow organ that, during pregnancy, houses the fetus and its protective membranes. But with ureaplasmosis, bridges of connective tissue can form inside the uterus, which will prevent the organ from increasing in volume. Thus, adhesions become the cause of infertility.

In addition to adhesions, there are other forms of complications - genitourinary system infections.

Ureaplasma disrupts the normal balance of microorganisms, and pathogenic bacteria settle on the mucous membrane of the genital organs or inside the urinary tract. Gradually, the infection can rise higher and higher until it reaches the kidneys and causes pyelonephritis.


In men, ureaplasma causes prostatitis, sexual dysfunction, and negatively affects the viability of sperm.

Bacteria norm

Unfortunately, ureaplasma occurs in a huge number of men and women, but the presence of this microorganism does not lead to diseases in everyone. Therefore, the concept of normal ureplasma content on the mucous membrane of the genital organs was introduced. This figure is 10 to the 4th power (that is, 10,000) bacteria per milliliter of mucus.

However, it should be borne in mind that this indicator is approximate, it was determined experimentally, and even if the ureaplasma content is lower, this does not mean that the person is safe: the number of bacteria can increase sharply at any time, and a disease will begin.

The norm is the same for men and women, regardless of age.

Ureaplasmosis in women

Ureaplasmosis is a disease that can last for a long time don't show yourself at all V female body. There is no pain, no cycle disturbances, or any discharge. But when the body weakens, which occurs, for example, with vaginal dysbiosis, the first signs of ureaplasmosis appear. Usually the first thing to appear is a small, clear vaginal discharge. There is no smell at the first stage. Then the disease rises higher, covering the uterus. At the same time, cutting pain begins in the lower abdomen.

The discharge intensifies and appears bad smell(usually this indicates that ureaplasma is no longer the only causative agent of the disease, and another infection has joined it).

Pain during sexual intercourse, burning during urination, and itching often occur. To avoid experiencing all these symptoms, it is advisable to start treatment before they appear, immediately after receiving the test results.

Danger of disease during pregnancy

In pregnant women, ureaplasma can cause premature birth.

In addition, ureplasma contributes to the development of other diseases, such as gardinellosis. Together, these infections pose a serious danger, as they can cause complications during childbirth or be transmitted to the baby.


Treatment of ureaplasmosis is also complicated, since the antibiotics usually used for this disease contraindicated for pregnant women. Therefore, it is advisable for both partners to be tested for ureaplasma before pregnancy, and undergo a course of treatment if the bacterium is detected.

Infection in men

In men, the symptoms of ureaplasma do not appear immediately, and if they do appear, they are very vague, nonspecific, and without analysis it can be very difficult to determine the diagnosis. In addition, in men this infection is even less common than in women; it occurs “on its own”, more often as a companion to other diseases.

Symptoms are usually the following:

  • Pain when urinating;
  • Burning;
  • Clear discharge (mucus) from the urethra.

Mild forms of the disease go away on their own, but if you have unprotected sex, you can infect your partner during the illness, and then re-infect yourself from her. In addition, the infection can become latent several times and return again when the immune system weakens.

It happens that the symptoms of ureaplasma go away without treatment, and the man considers himself cured, but six months later he begins to develop prostate or urolithiasis - direct consequences of ureaplasmosis, which are much more difficult to treat than the infection itself.


Therefore, if urealapsma is detected in tests, it is better to undergo a course of antibiotic treatment and not take risks.

Conclusion

If left untreated, ureaplasma in women causes adhesions in the uterus, which leads to infertility. In men, this bacterium can cause prostatitis and impotence. The bacterium causes inflammation in both sexes Bladder, kidney and urolithiasis.

Therefore, if the amount of ureaplasma exceeds 10,000 bacteria per milliliter of mucus, you need to start a course of treatment. If the indicator is lower, treatment is usually not prescribed, but the potential threat remains.

Many people are interested in, if ureaplasma parvum is detected, what does this mean? After all, such a mark can be seen quite often in the results of tests performed. Most often, this diagnosis can be heard by adult women of childbearing age. However, this does not mean that men or children are immune from this. So what is it? How could ureaplasma parvum get into your body? And most importantly, what could this ultimately threaten?

  • Bacteria norm
  • Ureaplasmosis in women
  • Treatment
    • What could this mean?
    • Consequences of ureaplasmosis
  • Symptoms
  • Diagnostic methods

Bacteria norm

During evolution, this bacterium has lost its membrane and, since it is small enough, it can penetrate any tissue or organ, while destroying everything that gets in its way.

It’s worth clarifying right away that this is not fatal and you have no reason to fear for your life. Some doctors even consider the presence of this microflora to be pathogenic bacteria. After all, it is found in every fourth woman. But the detection of this microorganism in the body does not bode well. This can cause chronic inflammatory diseases.

Ureaplasmosis in women

Ureaplasma parvum in women can cause a noticeable deterioration in a woman’s health. It all starts with the appearance of seemingly harmless discharge from the vaginal mucosa. In most cases they are white or transparent with a slightly unpleasant, rotten odor. Then abdominal pain, pain in the pelvic organs, and disruption of the menstrual cycle may appear. Vaginitis, cystitis and cervicitis may appear along with ureaplasma. It is imperative to get tested for the presence of bacteria when planning a pregnancy. Next we will look at how to treat ureaplasma parvum.

Ureaplasma is somewhat similar to chlamydia or mycoplasma, but they have some differences, for example:

  • Transmitted sexually;
  • Considered pathogenic microorganisms;
  • They should be classified as gram-positive and spread in the urinary system;
  • They do not have their own DNA.

Treatment

The need for treatment of ureaplasma parvum in women may arise only when, through diagnostics, it is possible to find out that the number of bacteria in the body is higher than the acceptable norm. Preventive treatment procedures can only be prescribed to women who are planning to become pregnant in the near future.

Treatment should be carried out on an outpatient basis. This bacterium is characterized by the fact that it quickly adapts to the effects of antibiotics. In some cases, even several courses of treatment are not enough, since it is not possible to find a suitable antibiotic. That is why sowing of ureaplasmas with inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary system is carried out. This is necessary in order to determine sensitivity to certain medications.

If a woman is not pregnant, tetracycline medications may be prescribed. During pregnancy, the use of macrolides is permissible. Immunomodulators (drugs that can improve immunity) can also be additionally used. The use of fluoroquinolonol immunomodulators or tetracycline drugs is strictly contraindicated during pregnancy.

The entire duration of treatment is necessary:

  • Try to abstain from sexual intercourse (if this is not possible, then at a minimum you must use a condom);
  • Follow a diet (not recommended, eat fried, spicy, salty);
  • You cannot drink alcoholic beverages.

Two weeks after the end of the course of treatment, a re-diagnosis is carried out in order to find out how successful the course of treatment was. If the analysis does not show the presence of bacteria, then after another month it must be repeated again.

If a bacterium is detected in tests

Detecting the bacteria can be difficult because conventional blood or urine tests are not always able to detect it. Especially if the bacterium is in the stage of so-called quiescence (this is the name of the period when ureaplasma is in the body without any symptoms). Some scientists believe that this organism is at a kind of intermediate stage between a virus and a bacterium. The virus can only become active if conditions are favorable for this, for example:

  • Deterioration of immunity;
  • Chronic gynecological diseases;
  • Diseases transmitted through sexual contact;
  • Increased overall stress on the body, such as pregnancy.

If after tests DNA of ureaplasma parvum was detected, this indicates that there is this infection in the body. And although this can be considered the norm (as already written above), ureaplasma parvum is also more pathogenic and can threaten inflammation of the genitourinary system

Regarding transmission routes, the following points can be highlighted:

  • During sexual contacts. These bacteria thrive on the vaginal epithelium and on the surface of sperm;
  • During pregnancy. Everything can be passed on from the mother to the child;
  • In the process of childbirth. As the fetus passes through the birth canal, everything can be passed from mother to child. This is a purely mechanical transmission.

It is unlikely that any mother will want to transmit this bacterium to her child at the beginning of life. Therefore, in any case, it is better to get medical treatment.

Ureaplasma parvum - what is it?

Identifying this bacterium can be quite difficult. This is because standard tests (for example, urine or blood) are not able to detect it.

Ureaplasma parvum detected: what does it mean?

Before treatment, it is necessary to undergo a series of diagnostic tests.

Laboratory diagnostic results help the doctor make a reliable diagnosis. Therefore, after the initial examination, the doctor will prescribe a number of mandatory studies.

It happens that the result is written: ureaplasma parvum detected.

What could this mean?

If Ureaplasma parvum DNA is detected in the analysis, then it will be a question of the presence of a sexually transmitted infection pathogen in the body.

Is this microorganism dangerous to health?

In most situations, this microorganism is not dangerous to health and is considered a normal variant in the analysis.

Upon examination, ureaplasma can be detected in every third female representative. This is a sign of carriage of the disease. But being a carrier also brings a lot of troubles.

It is known that ureaplasma can have an asymptomatic course. A chronic process develops. In addition, the woman is a carrier of the disease.

Ureaplasma parvum can be transmitted:

  • During childbirth;
  • Transplacental;
  • Through mucous membranes, during sexual contact.

Sexually transmitted infections cause a lot of harm.

To prevent consequences, you should undergo annual preventive examinations.

They usually check for ureaplasma when planning pregnancy and registering for pregnancy. This allows timely detection and treatment of the pathological process.

Tests for ureaplasma must be prescribed if there is a suspicion of an inflammatory process of the genitourinary organs. Such studies help to establish the cause of damage to the genitourinary system.

After unprotected sexual intercourse, research is carried out on venereal diseases. One of these sexually transmitted infections is ureaplasma urealyticum and parvum.

It should be noted! You should not refuse testing for sexually transmitted infections; this will help you maintain the health of yourself and your sexual partner.

If ureaplasma urealyticum and parvum are detected, but there are no symptomatic manifestations, then we can talk about carriage of the infection.

Ureaplasma is a conditionally pathogenic microorganism. Active reproduction and pathological process can appear after the body is weakened. Additional infections may occur, causing serious infectious diseases. The addition of other infections contributes to:

  • Complicating the diagnosis;
  • Blurring of the clinical picture;
  • Makes treatment difficult.

To make a diagnosis, PCR tests are performed. Using this diagnostic method, it is possible to accurately determine the type of ureaplasma that contributed to the emergence of the infectious process.

By detecting the DNA of the infectious agent, an effective course of treatment can be prescribed. If a positive result appears, there will be a mark on the form: “detected”, ureaplasma parvum. In this case, you should consult a doctor.

If necessary, the specialist will prescribe a number of additional laboratory research.

If the results are reliable, he will prescribe a course of treatment. If you do not receive treatment in time, the microorganism can lead to diseases such as:

  • Pyelonephritis;
  • Vaginitis;
  • Urethritis;
  • Cervicitis.

There is no need to risk your health and delay treatment. Visit a doctor at the slightest suspicion of ureaplasmosis.

Consequences of ureaplasmosis

If left untreated, the disease may pass at times, then reappear when exposed to factors such as emotional or physical stress, excessive alcohol consumption, colds And so on. In 80% of all cases, this disease occurs without any symptoms, but some consequences are possible.

For example, diseases such as cystitis, inflammation of the uterus, pyelonephritis, urolithiasis and urethritis (in men) can occur on the basis of ureaplasma.

As a result, if the disease is severely neglected, it can cause infertility. This applies to both men and women.

Symptoms

Symptoms may differ depending on who exactly is sick, man and woman. The most dangerous thing is that in most cases this disease occurs without any symptoms, or they are minor and are not given importance. Typically, patients come to doctors not with primary symptoms, but with complications.

The main signs of the disease include:

  • A slight burning sensation during urination, but they are not given any importance because they do not last long and pass very quickly;
  • Severe pain usually appears in later stages;
  • Pain in the area of ​​the ovary, urethra. The pain can be both strong and weak;
  • The need to urinate increases;
  • Difficulty urinating accompanied by unpleasant sensations.

Everything will depend on the state of the immune system. If it is weakened, then the disease may appear within a few weeks; if the immune system is normal, strong, then after a few months.

Diagnostic methods

To diagnose the presence of this disease, you need to take tests several times. Today, our medicine has four methods for detecting the virus:

  1. A smear taken from the cervix. The main disadvantage of such diagnostics is the cost, which is slightly higher when compared with other methods.
  2. The polymer chain reaction method is considered one of the most effective. It allows you not only to find out whether there is a bacterium in the body, but also to determine whether it is within normal limits. At the same time, in terms of price, it is more affordable. You can get results within three days. The disadvantage is that it is difficult to determine sensitivity to antibacterial substances.
  3. The following method is designed to detect antibodies in the blood to ureaplasma. The results are approximately accurate. But antibodies can remain in a woman’s body even after she has already gotten rid of ureaplasma.
  4. Direct immunofluorescence technique. Reminds me of the previous point. Does not give accurate results. The cost of such diagnostics is quite cheap, but its accuracy is only 60%

Based on the diagnostic results, doctors can decide which treatment should be prescribed. After the recovery course, you should definitely take tests again to find out whether the treatment brought the desired result.

Ureaplasma parvum in women: symptoms and treatment

If ureaplasma is detected, symptomatic signs will not always appear.

The first symptoms most often appear as a result of the addition of an additional infection. In all other cases, the disease often occurs latently.

Sometimes ureaplasma may have clinical manifestations characteristic of gonorrhea. In this case, discharge of a mucous consistency and purulent nature will be observed. Blood may be present in such secretions. In this case, swelling of the genital organs is observed, and an inflammatory process begins to develop.

Ureaplasma parvum is accompanied by burning and itching of the genitals. There is pain in the lower abdomen. Women experience bleeding between periods.

Note! If you experience discharge or an unpleasant odor emanating from the genitals, you should visit a doctor and undergo an examination.

Such symptoms are the result of damage to the body by ureaplasma.

Treatment regimen for ureaplasma parvum in women

Ureaplasmosis most often has an asymptomatic course. In some cases, the microorganism is able to live in the body for many years without symptomatic manifestations.

When exposed to any factors, growth occurs and a pathological process develops. The disease should not be started.

When ureaplasmosis appears, it is very important to detect the infection in time and prescribe the correct course of therapy.

When the body is damaged, the infection provokes an inflammatory process. As a result, transparent discharge appears. During urination, painful sensations and pain appear.

Lack of therapy leads to complications.

Is it necessary to treat ureaplasma parvum in women?

Under the influence of certain factors, ureaplasmosis begins to develop. Inflammatory processes of the genital organs appear.

To begin treatment, it is necessary to undergo a series of laboratory tests. Treatment of ureaplasma in women is prescribed in the following cases:

  • If the diagnosis revealed the presence of inflammation;
  • At the moment of planning a child;
  • Manifestations of clinical signs of the disease.

The appearance of inflammation in the genitourinary organs will be indicated by an increase in the level of leukocytes (more than 15). If signs of ureaplasmosis appear, treatment should be started immediately.

Remember! The course of therapy is prescribed by the attending physician.

What drugs are used to treat ureaplasma parvum in women?

The treatment regimen will include antibacterial drugs. They can be prescribed in tablets or suppositories. Several groups of antibiotics are used for therapy. These include:

  • Tetracyclines;
  • Fluoroquinolones;
  • Macrolides.

The course of use of these funds is prescribed individually for each person. This takes into account the individual tolerance of the drug and the degree of infectious damage to the body. The course of treatment is usually a week.

Of the macrolides, the most commonly used drug is Azithromycin. It should be taken orally once. The dosage is 250 milligrams per day.

From the group of fluoroquinolones, you can use Avelox. The duration of taking this drug can be up to 3-5 days. The dosage of the drug will be 200 milligrams.

From the group of tetracyclines they can prescribe Doxycycline. The duration of treatment will be 3-5 days.

In addition to the treatment regimen, there will be drugs that stimulate the immune system and probiotics.

Local antifungal agents in the form of suppositories may be prescribed.

Ureaplasma parvum: control tests after treatment

Control studies should be carried out two to four weeks after discontinuation of antibacterial therapy.

One month after treatment, PCR tests for ureaplasma are carried out using a quantitative method. If the test after treatment is positive, treatment is re-prescribed. In this case, bacteriological studies will be carried out to determine the sensitivity of the microorganism to antibiotics.

Ureaplasma parvum: complications

A prolonged inflammatory process can lead to various complications. Miscarriages may occur.

The infectious process quite often leads to infertility.

Joint lesions are often a consequence of the activity of ureaplasma parvum. Arthritis develops, which is difficult to respond to conventional treatment.

Avoiding complications is quite simple: it is important to undergo timely diagnosis and treatment.

Ureaplasma parvum, which doctor treats it?

If unpleasant signs of the disease appear, female representatives should visit a gynecologist, venereologist or urologist. Men visit a urologist more often.

The specialist will conduct a full examination and, based on the results of the analysis, prescribe drug therapy.

Ureaplasma in women is classified as opportunistic microorganisms. Often the disease does not have characteristic manifestations, and accordingly, mandatory antibacterial treatment is not carried out. Ureaplasma 10 to 4 degrees is the physiological concentration of bacteria in the body. This indicator indicates the possibility of an inflammatory process.

Ureaplasma, as a rule, affects the mucous membranes of the genitourinary system. To determine the presence of uraliticum and parvum, and to find out their titer, you need a smear with microflora culture.

Before taking a smear, you need to stop taking medications that could affect the test result.

Scientists became aware of these bacteria in the mid-20th century. At that time, parvum and uraliticum were considered exclusively female bacteria, but in the 60s it became known that they were also present in the stronger sex.

In the process of various studies of pathogenic microflora of the urethra and vagina, it became known that more than half of middle-aged people have these bacteria in their bodies. Thus, there was a need for diagnostic methods that could determine titers.

Important! Bubnovsky: “An effective treatment for ureaplasmosis exists! The disease will go away in a week if..”

New scientific works aimed to study the risk of developing the disease at different titers. Scientists have discovered that ureaplasma 4 CFU/thump or more to the tenth power is a certain threshold, overcoming which the bacterium becomes pathogenic and ureaplasmosis begins.

Before taking a smear, you need to stop taking medications that could affect the test result.

In representatives of the fairer sex, with indicators of 10 to the fourth degree, inflammation begins in the fallopian tubes. To determine ureaplasma urealyticum 10:4 CFU/tamp, you need to take a smear from the vagina or urethra in men, after which the bacterium is placed in a nutrient medium and the titers are calculated.

When results above 10:4 are obtained, cultures should be tested for sensitivity to various antibiotics and therapy should be prescribed. If indicators are less than this value, treatment can be prescribed by a doctor only if there are obvious manifestations of inflammatory processes.

Ureaplasma with a titer of 10 4 CFU/tamp can be detected on early stage carrying a child. In this case, treatment, which could potentially be harmful, is postponed until 20-22 weeks of pregnancy to avoid pathology of fetal development. Some doctors prefer to start treatment immediately to eliminate the possibility of progression of the pathology.

Normal indicators

Quantitative detection of ureaplasma levels is optimally carried out using PCR and a bacterial smear. It is unwise to completely refer to a single source, since there is a high probability of error, which is associated with incorrect collection of biomaterial. Also, preparation for analysis may be insufficient or other factors may influence it.

There is a widespread opinion that it is necessary to ambiguously evaluate the criteria for the norm of ureaplasma, since it is not possible to determine exactly the number of bacteria in the human body.

According to the latest medical information, it is necessary to immediately undergo a therapeutic course if:

  • the volume of ureaplasma significantly exceeding the norm;
  • pronounced clinical manifestations;
  • pregnancy and planned operations;
  • concomitant infections.

If tests show less than 10 per 4 copies in the sample, then in this quantity the bacterium has no clinical significance and antibacterial treatment is not required. Sometimes indicators of 10 degrees are detected, which requires additional tests.

Pathological concentration of ureaplasma

In women with similar indicators, inflammation begins in the fallopian tubes. A large number of pathogenic bacteria can lead to the following ailments:

  • endometritis,
  • inflammation inside the fallopian tubes;
  • cervical erosion;
  • cystitis;
  • decreased reproductive function.

Doctors are still arguing whether ureaplasmosis should be treated. Many studies suggest that therapy should begin as early as 8-10, especially during pregnancy.

Ureaplasma negatively affects the development of the fetus. If a natural birth occurs, the child becomes infected in 60% of cases.

A large number of doctors decide to rely on the immediate destruction of the bacteria. This is justified by the fact that there is a high probability of infection of the child during childbirth. If ureaplasma is 10 to 4 degrees or more, then mandatory therapy using various medications is required.

Diagnostics

To identify the microorganism, a smear is made from the vagina, cervix and urethra. It's about about such analyses:

  • Real-time PCR: expensive and not very common test. Allows you to determine the quantity and presence of the pathogen;
  • A cultural study is the inoculation of microorganisms on nutrient media. A week later, the colonies are counted, if there are more than 10 to the 4th degree CFU per ml, then a conclusion is made about pathology;
  • PCR allows you to determine the DNA of ureaplasma, does not show the volume;
  • PIF and ELISA.

Serological reactions are based on a blood test and determination of antibodies to ureaplasma. Reactions determine the degree of immune response to pathology.

Treatment

The structure of treatment for the disease is practically the same in both sexes. Therapy is usually carried out using tablets. The following medications may be prescribed:

  • Doxycycline;
  • Josamycin;
  • Azithromycin.

During treatment, you must abstain from alcoholic beverages and sexual activity. Therapy for pregnant women must be performed under the supervision of an obstetrician-gynecologist.

  • Genferon candles for women. They have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects that have a positive effect on the immune system;
  • Hexicon candles for men. They have an antiseptic effect and contribute to the active elimination of ureaplasma. Suppositories are used rectally.

In addition, the doctor may prescribe suppositories with an immunomodulatory effect. In addition, vitamin complexes are shown that increase the body's resistance.

After a certain time after the end of treatment, several tests are indicated to completely exclude the disease. If the tests are negative, the person is considered healthy.

Conclusion

It is important to remember that in case of any failure in immune system or infection enters the body, the pathological process develops quickly. To prevent this from happening, you should consult a doctor in a timely manner, eat right, avoid severe stress, and avoid unprotected sex.

Ureaplasma in women last years has become commonplace. Medical statistics show: over the past few years, the lines “ureaplasma normal” or “conditional normocenosis” have become less and less common in patient test results forms, and the number of detected diseases caused by opportunistic microorganisms is growing year by year.

The frequency of diagnosis of “ureaplasma infection” reaches 20% in relatively healthy women. Ureaplasma in a smear taken from women at risk is detected even more often - in 30% of cases of the total number of subjects examined.

The data from pediatricians is also impressive: every fifth child becomes infected while passing through the birth canal.

In men, ureaplasma urealiticum is detected in increased quantities much less frequently than in the fairer sex. Early detection of the causative agents of the disease and proper treatment guarantee complete relief from the disease.

Read about how to recognize the disease, what indicators of ureaplasma in women are considered normal, and what the lack of adequate therapy can lead to.

In modern medicine, diseases of infectious origin are not uncommon; one of such diseases is ureaplasma parvum. The disease belongs to a group of pathologies that have a long-term hidden latent form of existence.

Treatment of ureaplasma parvum also takes a long time. It can occur in both sexes, but is most common in women.

The infection can settle in the body and cause significant harm to it. The patient may not realize what is the impetus for the development of secondary ailments.

  1. Etiology of the disease
  2. Causes of the disease
  3. How does ureaplasmosis manifest?
  4. Diagnostics
  5. Treatment of bacterial infection

Etiology of the disease

What is ureaplasma parvum every modern young man should know in order to protect himself and his partner from a serious illness. Ureaplasmosis is a bacterial infection characterized by a unique microbial environment. Scientists have not yet figured out the etiology of these microorganisms; in medicine they occupy a borderline state between viruses and bacteria. But it was possible to prove that not all types of ureaplasma, of which there are about 14, are capable of causing bad influence per person.

Only the following two types can cause various genitourinary dysfunctions:

  • Ureaplasma parvum;
  • Ureaplasma urealiticum.

Often the patient has some kind of specific type. If the patient sees a positive reaction to Ureaplasma spp in the test results, this indicates that 2 types of bacteria have been detected. The danger of the disease lies in its latent form initial stage development and in the consequences that the infection leads to. Bacteria are often the cause of infertility in modern young families. Ureaplasma parvum can disrupt spermatogenesis in men, reduce potency and cause additional inflammatory processes in the reproductive system. For women, ureaplasmosis is a disease that causes not only discomfort in intimate life, but also leads to reproductive dysfunction, miscarriages early stages, pathologies of the uterus and ovaries, postpartum endometritis.

All dangerous types of viruses, parvum and urealiticum, are present in the body of every person and are natural microorganisms that populate the microflora. Therefore, scientists classify the bacterial infection as opportunistic, that is, the unfavorable development and reproduction of ureaplasma begins under the influence of certain factors.

The question of where ureaplasma parvum comes from has been sufficiently studied, which is important in diagnosis and treatment.

Three main methods of transmission and occurrence of bacteria in the human body have been proven:

  • contact-sexual;
  • contact and household;
  • from mother to child.

In medical practice, the first and last modes of infection are the most common. Young people should take a more responsible approach to choosing a sexual partner, since the ability of ureaplasma to be transmitted through the pores of a condom if its size is more than 0.2 microns has been proven.

Causes of the disease

It has been proven that the virus appears in the human body due to a decrease in the functioning of the immune system. This is the main factor that allows the infection to settle in genitourinary system, disrupt its functionality.

There are also several other reasons that lead to infection and proliferation of bacteria:

  1. Pregnancy period if the mother is a carrier of the disease.
  2. Concomitant chronic disease of the reproductive system.
  3. Hormonal disorders.
  4. Improper genital hygiene.
  5. Unprotected sex.
  6. Contact and household path.

Visually, using a diagram, you can demonstrate which route of transmission of infection is the most common.

Doctors identify factors that contribute to the onset of the disease and are the cause of frequent relapses:

  1. When young people start early sex life. Due to inexperience and ignorance, they may avoid using barrier methods of contraception. Having contracted an infection in adolescence, a person often learns about its existence at the age of 20-25, when he begins to plan to start a family and thinks about children.
  2. Frequent changes of partners can serve not only as a cause of the development of ureaplasma parvum, but also other inflammatory processes of the genitourinary system.
  3. If a woman has a history of concomitant sexually transmitted diseases or inflammatory processes, then the likelihood of developing ureaplasma is very high.
  4. Frequent stress and periods of depression negatively affect the immune system, the body becomes weakened and attracts all kinds of infections.
  5. In women, ureaplasmosis can occur due to a violation of the vaginal microflora.
  6. Long-term use hormonal drugs. These include birth control pills, sometimes provokes the appearance of an inflammatory bacterial process.

Babies born with this pathology begin to develop complications in the first days of the postpartum process. The infection can cause a sharp decline in immunity, which plays a huge role in the first days of a baby’s life. Therefore, when a woman is thinking about whether it is necessary to treat ureaplasma parvum, she should think first of all not about her health, but about the future of the child.

How does ureaplasmosis manifest?

Often, a person discovers the presence of viruses when taking tests to confirm or refute another diagnosis. This is due to the fact that the symptoms of ureaplasma parvum at the initial stage of the disease are quite vague, or do not bring any discomfort at all. Women can find out about the presence of infection only during pregnancy or when planning it.

The incubation period of ureaplasma parvum lasts a significant period, about 3 weeks. Medical practice shows that each patient experiences the disease individually. Someone can live for years and not feel signs of ureaplasma, while someone, a week after infection, has a whole range of problems with the health of the genitourinary system. Due to the latent form, many people skip the acute stage, then the disease becomes chronic.

In women, the infection has the following symptoms:

  • vaginal discharge has a specific odor and changes its color to a light yellow or green shade;
  • nagging and uncomfortable pain in the lower abdomen and perineum during sexual intercourse and after its completion;
  • urination becomes frequent and painful, causing the woman significant discomfort.

Men may have the following symptoms:

  • discharge from the urethra becomes scanty and transparent;
  • there are unpleasant sensations in the genital organ and scrotum;
  • itching and burning;
  • discomfort during sex;
  • frequent and painful urination.

Signs of ureaplasmosis also depend on which type of bacteria attacked the body. There is ureaplasma, the types of which are combined together - Ureaplasma spp. It is possible to distinguish the type of bacterium only by molecular genetic research. This is necessary in order to understand what tactics should be adopted during therapeutic intervention.

Each individual type has a different nature of the inflammatory process. For example, Ureaplasma parvum most often occurs in women, infecting the urogenital tract and its mucosa. In this case, the clinical picture of the disease can be completely clear, that is, the pathology does not manifest itself in any way, the patient is considered healthy for a long time. Ureaplasma urealiticum most often causes an inflammatory process in the genitourinary system of both men and women. Ureaplasma spp is a combination of the two previous species, which is a consequence of an extensive infectious phenomenon.

She can manifest herself:

  • sharp painful sensations lower abdomen;
  • discomfort and burning during urination;
  • pain during sexual intercourse;
  • a serious change in vaginal or urogenital discharge, it becomes yellow and has an unpleasant odor.

Diagnostics

It is possible to diagnose an infection different ways. Doctors often use 4 main tests:

  1. PCR. A popular method that allows you to determine the presence of ureaplasmosis at an early stage of development.
  2. Serological analysis based on the detection of antibodies to the structures of harmful bacteria.
  3. Bacteriological culture is the most accurate way to determine the number of microorganisms and the severity of infection.
  4. PIF and ELISA. They are the final stages in diagnosis.

Bacterial culture can be used both in identifying pathology and during therapeutic treatment to monitor the success of treatment. The material for the study is a scraping that is taken from the genital tract 3 hours after urination.

Polymer chain reaction (PCR) is the most sensitive method for recognizing bacteria. It is believed that only this method can detect the most dangerous type of pathology - Ureaplasma spp. For examination, a scraping is taken from the patient’s mucous membranes of the genital organs and urinary tract.

The attending physician may not resort to ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), since it is less informative compared to bacterial culture and the PCR method. Research is necessary in order to identify pathogens through blood plasma, recognize their type, determine the body’s defenses and resistance to the infectious process. Medical practice shows that in the chronic form, the ELISA method can give a negative result, and the PCR method can give a positive result.

Ureaplasma spp is best diagnosed using all 4 methods to ensure the reliability of the result.

During a comprehensive examination, the patient may be prescribed additional general tests:

  • general urine analysis;
  • general blood analysis;
  • bacteriological blood test;
  • for HIV infection;
  • colposcopy;
  • determination of hepatitis C and B.

Data are needed in order to prescribe complete and effective therapy.

Treatment of bacterial infection

When making a diagnosis, the patient has a logical question about how to treat ureaplasmosis. Assign effective treatment Only a doctor can. Therapy usually takes a long time and involves several stages to get rid of the infectious pathology.

Like all infections, treatment for ureaplasma should begin with taking antibiotic drugs. They allow you to relieve the inflammatory process in the body and destroy pathogenic bacteria.

Antibiotics of the following groups are widely used against ureaplasma of all types, including spp:

  • tetracyclines;
  • macrolides;
  • fluoroquinolones.

Before prescribing a certain medicine, the specialist must send the patient for a test that reveals the body's susceptibility to this series medicines. If reduced sensitivity to any antibiotic is detected, ureaplasma is treated with another drug, the indicators of which indicate a high probability of effectiveness and rapid recovery.

After a course of taking these medications, medications are prescribed to optimize and restore microflora and vitamin complexes to improve immunity.

What is the best way to treat ureaplasma? Therapy largely depends on what type of bacteria is found in the body.

If ureaplasma parvum is diagnosed, treatment has a certain phase:

  1. The doctor prescribes antimicrobial drugs and drugs that restore the body's defenses.
  2. Since the process of reproduction of microorganisms destroys the natural balance of the intestinal and genital microflora, the patient is prescribed bifidobacteria and lactobacilli.
  3. At all stages of treatment, the doctor prescribes sexual rest. If an infection is detected in one partner, the other should be examined as soon as possible to rule out or confirm the disease. Ureaplasma has the ability to be transmitted through household contact.
  4. Only after the microflora is restored does the patient move on to the next therapeutic stage - the use of local drugs, rectal or vaginal suppositories.
  5. Throughout the treatment, the patient should adhere to a special simple diet and eliminate all harmful substances from his lifestyle - alcohol, nicotine, caffeine. This important and mandatory step in drug therapy must be observed by every patient.

In order to cure an infection such as ureaplasma as soon as possible, the treatment regimen and additional doctor’s recommendations must be followed by the patient unquestioningly. Then the therapy will be effective and efficient. For ureaplasma spp, treatment regimens may differ slightly in the timing and dosage of the course of medication. In this case, therapy depends on the severity of the infection.

What is it, a bacterium or a ureaplasma virus, symptoms of the disease and treatment aimed at eliminating them, in all important issues Only a doctor can help you figure it out. This is the most important thing that a carrier of infection should remember. Self-medication can lead to serious consequences for both men and women.