WHAT IS UREAPLASMA?
Ureaplasma is parasitic bacteria that are commonly found in one’s urinary or genital tract, surviving on the body of their hosts (be it human or animal).
Ureaplasma bacteria belong to a class of bacteria known as Mycoplasma, therefore making its medical name “Mycoplasma Ureaplasma”.
These ureaplasma species live without causing problems or diseases, but not in all cases. This class of bacteria is made up of very tiny organisms that can reproduce asexually by duplicating themselves. They may double, triple, or multiply their numbers, thereby causing diseases that may as well result in other serious complications if possible. Ureaplasma bacteria rarely make their presence known to their hosts. They have been linked to infections in the male and female genital organs, as well as in fetuses. Apart from commonly affecting reproductive or genital organs, they can affect your skin, liver, bladder, and lungs, as well as the urinary tract (as the prefix ‘urea’ implies).
Unlike the major characteristics of bacteria, ureaplasma does not have cell walls, thereby making this class resistant to antibiotics like penicillin, because most antibiotics kill other types of bacteria by weakening those walls which act as a stronghold. However, this does not mean ureaplasma cannot be erased via other uncommon antibiotics.
The most noticeable and unique symptom of a ureaplasma infection is an odor likened to that of decayed fish, dispensing its smell from the area, via ammonia production.
TYPES OF UREAPLASMA
Medical researchers come to a final resolution that the Mycoplasma Ureaplasma class is comprised of more than 150 types of ureaplasma bacteria. However, over 97% of these organisms prove to be harmless. Only less than 3% of them have been given special consideration over their harmfulness. Among these are:
As its name implies, its specialty of infection is the lungs. In children, it causes chest cold. You can come in contact with it via air droplets. Its symptoms include headache (for a start), leading to fatigue, and then cough, sore throat, and fever. Antibiotics such as tetracyclines (like doxycycline) and macrolides (like erythromycin) can help kill this bacteria.
Its specialty of infection is the genitals or reproductive organs. You may easily contact this bacterium (which may duplicate as many times as possible) via sexual intercourse. However, it may have effects in the genital tracts without showing any signs.
The symptoms of this ureaplasma in men may be noticeable swelling of the urethra, stinging or burning while urinating, and unusual penis discharge. If you are a female, you may notice pains, vaginal bleeding, and discharges, during sex. Antibiotics such as tetracyclines (like doxycycline) and macrolides (like azithromycin), can help in treating the effects of this type of ureaplasma bacterium.
This lives in the genital and urinary tracts of more females than males, especially when one’s immune system is weakened. Sometimes transmitted via sexual intercourse, this bacterium can be inherited by a fetus from its mother.
When mycoplasma hominis enters the uterus, it could make the embryo grow outside the uterus, as well as cause early delivery and miscarriage. Tetracycline antibiotics such as doxycycline help out in devastating the effects of this bacterium.
Also known as “ureaplasma parvum”, this ureaplasma urealyticum infection spreads during sex and can be transmitted from a mother to her fetus. Common ureaplasma urealyticum symptoms in females include painful urination, abdominal pains, vaginal complications (pain, odor, and discharge), and urethra swelling. For men, it can cause urethritis.
In a mother’s fetus, it may cause weight loss (confirmed immediately after delivery), pneumonia, and septicemia (bacterial presence in the blood). Ureaplasma urealyticum treatment includes the use of antibiotics such as macrolides (like azithromycin) and tetracyclines (like doxycycline).
RISK FACTORS OF UREAPLASMA
Ureaplasma tends to prevail using the following risk factors as opportunities:
- Sexual intercourse.
- Stress and unhealthy diet.
- Weakened immune system.
- Prevalence of other diseases.
COMPLICATIONS OF UREAPLASMA
When left untreated, ureaplasma could result into:
- Vaginal rupture.
- Premature birth.
- Miscarriage or stillbirth.
- Invasion of the placenta.
- Lung infection in newborns.
- Meningitis (injury of the brain).
- Rupture of the uterus membranes.
- The low weight of the baby immediately after labor.
UREAPLASMA DIAGNOSIS
Diagnosing ureaplasma can be a little bit difficult because these organisms are very tiny in such a way that even microscopes cannot capture their images. A little more examination is needed to find out if ureaplasma exists in one’s immune system, or is multiplying rapidly. The following ureaplasma tests can be carried out to diagnose the infection:
- Examination of your:
- Urine.
- Cervix.
- Vagina.
- Urethra.
- Womb lining.
After the exams, the aforementioned body parts will go through a biopsy to finally determine the presence or absence of ureaplasma infestation in your body.
UREAPLASMA TREATMENT
Treating ureaplasma infection is not that easy. Antibiotics can be used, but they may not have the final say in stopping the spread of ureaplasma in your body. Because of the absence of walls in their cells, ureaplasma can withstand the oppression of antibiotics and still oppress your immune system by making it weaker (since ureaplasma prevalence connotes a weakened immune system). Nevertheless, the only medically-known method of treating ureaplasma infections is the use of antibiotics such as:
- Azithromycin (for urinary and genital tract infections, and ruptured membranes).
- Doxycycline (for genital and urinary tract infections).
- Erythromycin (for membrane rupture and newborns with lung problems).
- Clarithromycin (for premature rupture of membranes).
- Fluoroquinolones (if none of the above work).
CONCLUSION
It is very advisable to abstain from unprotected sex, because your partner may be affected by the bacteria Ureaplasma without knowing it. Do not do blowjobs. Ensure to use your condoms, even with the use of lube.
Furthermore, seek your doctor’s advice. Considering the effects ureaplasma is likely to have on fetuses, doctors have yet to conclude whether pregnant women should be allowed to take any test to determine the presence of the bacteria. However, if you seem worried about the complications of ureaplasma in your pregnancy, you should seek the doctor immediately. Not only can ureaplasma be transmitted during pregnancy, but it can also be transmitted from the mother to the child during delivery since ureaplasma can form camps at the entrance of the vagina.
Endeavor to get through medical check-ups and follow-ups from your doctor. Live a healthy lifestyle and eat properly.
Symptoms
UREAPLASMA SYMPTOMS
The symptoms of ureaplasma infection generally include:
- Painful sex.
- Kidney stones.
- Breathing issues.
- Urinal pain and odor.
- Swollen womb lining.
- Swollen prostrate-gland.
- Pelvic or abdominal pain.
- Barrenness or impotency.
- Urethritis (swollen urethra).
- Genital discharge, itching, and pains.
- Bacterial vaginosis (foul-smelling vagina).
Causes
UREAPLASMA CAUSES
Ureaplasma bacteria are mainly caused by sexual intercourse. Increased sexual activity leads to the increase in the presence, establishment, and multiplication of ureaplasma. However, the cause of some specific types of uncommon ureaplasma infection may not be known even diagnosis is carried out.
FAQ
Is ureaplasma an STD?
Ureaplasma is not a sexually transmitted disease, though it is primarily contracted through sexual intercourse from your partner upon entering the vagina.
However, the discovery of ureaplasma does not necessarily indicate sexual infidelity and misconduct, since ureaplasma is also fond of traveling from the other parts of the body to the genital tracts, leading to a foul-smelling odor emitted from the vagina.
Since ureaplasma can be transferred orally between hosts, it is advisable to abstain from blowjobs during sex.
Can ureaplasma come back?
Ureaplasma infestation can come back after treating it. However, the reverse may be the case, if the antibiotics are strong enough to stop the chance of another infestation; one of which includes fluoroquinolones.
What ureaplasma antibiotics are not working?
Most antibiotics do not work with ureaplasma invasions, some of which include ciprofloxacin, moxifloxacin, and josamycin, among others.
How do I prevent ureaplasma?
Ureaplasma is not exactly preventable, but you should try abstaining from unprotected sexual intercourse. Ensure to maintain a healthy lifestyle and diet.
“No-condom” sex is medically non-advisable. Do not stress yourself out, as this can make your immune system weakened enough to be attacked by a ureaplasma invasion.
Is ureaplasma curable?
Ureaplasma cannot be completely eradicated from your immune system, due to its absence of cell walls. But its widespread can be prevented and cured.
Antibiotics such as azithromycin, erythromycin, doxycycline, and clarithromycin can help in curing ureaplasma infections. However, when none of these antibiotics seem to work, fluoroquinolones can be used.
