Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma – What are they and how are they treated?
Mycoplasma is a name for a group of bacteria. There are 5 types of infectious types of mycoplasma – meaning they cause disease in the human body. Unlike other bacteria, what is common to mycoplasma strains is that they cannot always be treated with antibiotics. Each type of mycoplasma infection causes different effects. In this post we will discuss four types: Mycoplasma Genitalium (of the genitals), Mycoplasma Hominis, Ureaplasma Urealyticum, and Ureaplasma Parvum.
Mycoplasma Genitalium
Mycoplasma Genitalium can be contracted if you have sex with a person who carries the disease. Sometimes there are no symptoms of the disease at all.
Infected women may feel: pain during intercourse, vaginal bleeding after sex, discharge.
Infected men may feel: Swelling of the urethra, burning sensation when urinating, discharge from the penis. The disease can become complicated without proper treatment.
The test performed to detect the bacteria is a urine test or taking a sample of the discharge from the cervix or penis.
The treatment in most cases is antibiotic. Since the bacteria is characterized by high drug resistance, follow-up should be continued with the doctor even after the drug is given, because the antibiotic does not always succeed in defeating the bacteria, and then the doctor will prescribe a different type of antibiotic. Because of the possible complications both spouses and other partners will always be treated.
A state of complete recovery will be determined only after another negative urine test after 6 weeks.
If you have been diagnosed with Mycoplasma Genitalium, it is recommended that your partner will also get checked. It is important to use a condom to not infect your partners and to not get infected.
Mycoplasma Hominis
This group of bacteria is regularly found in the urinary tract and uterus in 50% of women. Women who are in good health will not be disturbed by the presence of the bacteria, but women whose immune system is weak can suffer from this infection. This infection can be contracted during sexual intercourse, and the bacteria can pass from pregnant woman to fetus during childbirth.
In women this bacteria can also be linked to uterine inflammation (inflammation that can damage the fertility). Pregnant women may have complications such as ectopic pregnancy, preterm birth and miscarriage. In the newborn, the bacteria can create infection and fever.
To check if you have this infection, the doctor will ask you to do a urine test or take a sample of the vaginal fluid. If you have an infection, you will be treated with antibiotics.
How can you avoid this infection? Always use a condom, and limit the amount of your sexual partners. The more partners you have, the higher the chance of contracting the infection.
Ureaplasma Urealyticum and Ureaplasma Parvum
In most healthy women, this group of bacteria can be found in the cervix and vagina, and their presence does not indicate a disease. Ureaplasma Urealyticum can be found in the urinary tract in some men. Ureaplasmic bacteria can be transmitted through unprotected sex. Usually these bacteria do not cause a disease.
In women: no symptoms for the disease. And there is no need for treatment even if there was a positive result. The bacterium does not need to be treated as it does not cause any symptoms.
In men: In the case of Ureaplasma Urealyticum may appear symptoms that interfere with normal conduct (discharge, urinary tract infection and pain).
To detect the bacteria the doctor can do a blood test, a smear test, a urine test, an amniocentesis test, a placental tissue test.
The treatment of bacteria in symptomatic men is with antibiotics.
