Ureaplasma Treatment for Women
If you have any questions, to schedule a consultation, please contact us or call/text: 1-646-663-4125.
We have excellent reviews from patients and their partners.
We offer affordable, highest-quality urology care with or without insurance. Find out our office hours or directions to our office. We offer weekday, weekend, and evening office hours.
Treatment for Ureaplasma in Women: What You Need to Know
Ureaplasma Symptoms in Women
Up to 15-50% percent of sexually active women have asymptomatic Ureaplasma (the bacteria is present without causing obvious symptoms). Ureaplasma can cause symptoms when it overpowers the natural body defenses (immune system). Common symptoms associated with Ureaplasma in women are:
- Burning or pain with urination, pelvic pain, and urethral pain.
- Urethral irritation
- vaginal discharge
- Trouble getting pregnant (many women with unexplained infertility have Ureaplasma urealyticum) (link)
- Endometritis (inflammation of the lining of the uterus) with abnormal vaginal bleeding, pelvic pain, fever, discharge (link)
- Rarely, may also predispose to kidney stones (link)
Where to Get Tested for Ureaplasma in NYC?
At New York Urology Specialists, we offer same-day mycoplasma and ureaplasma testing and treatment for men and women.
We also perform comprehensive STD testing for other infections. We offer confidential appointments. Our prices are affordable with or without insurance. Call/text today: 1-646-663-4125 or make an appointment online.
Ureaplasma Test in Women: How Can a Woman Get Tested for Ureaplasma?
Ureaplasma testing in women is done either with a vaginal swab or a urine specimen. Since detection rates are similar for both, swabbing is no longer necessary, and a urine sample is taken to run the test.
The sample is tested for Ureaplasma infection with either culture or DNA/RNA testing. Culture can sometimes miss a potentially serious infection. At New York Urology Specialists, we perform confidential DNA/RNA testing for Ureaplasma in women because this is a more reliable test. PCR assay (DNA testing) is highly sensitive compared to culture with a nearly 80 percent better detection rate in women (link).
Other advantages of DNA/RNA testing are that the presence of other microorganisms does not interfere with Ureaplasma testing. The test results are available on the patient portal of New York Urology Specialists within one week.
It is worth noting that the detection of Ureaplasma in women is important because in pregnant women the infection can be transmitted to the baby. Ureaplasma infection in unborn babies and newborn babies is associated with complications including meningitis, brain injury, pneumonia, and lung injury.
It is important to know that other infections such as BV (bacterial vaginosis), Mycoplasma genitalium, chlamydia, and gonorrhea are more likely to be the actual cause of symptoms than Ureaplasma. Ureaplasma even when present may not necessarily be the cause of symptoms. Routine STI testing is recommended for sexually active women.
Is Ureaplasma an STD?
Ureaplasma is classified as a sexually transmitted disease because it appears that it is usually transmitted through sexual intercourse.
It is important to understand that there are multiple Ureaplasma species: Ureaplasma parvum and Mycoplasma hominis do not appear to cause any symptoms and do not require treatment. Ureaplasma urealyticum can cause urethritis in some men and pelvic pain and urethritis in women as well as predispose to infertility.
Many people have Ureaplasma present in their urogenital tracts but never know it because they remain without any symptoms. These bacteria are a part of the normal bacterial population of the body, living in balance with other bacteria.
Why Ureaplasma might cause severe symptoms in one person but not in another is not entirely clear but likely related to the ability of the immune system to detect and fight off the infection. Symptoms of infection appear when the immune system cannot keep the number of Ureaplasma bacteria in check.
The rate of transmission of Ureaplasma is not as high as with other common sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia and gonorrhea. However, it is worth noting that mixed infections are common in the genital tract. One sexually transmitted infection can predispose a person to another STI. Studies have shown the presence of Ureaplasma has a significant effect on the presence of chlamydia in women.
Is it Safe to Treat Ureaplasma During Pregnancy?
Pregnant women who test positive for Ureaplasma can be safely treated. Ureaplasma can be transmitted from a mother to her baby before birth. Infections with this bacteria can cause a number of complications of pregnancy and may pose a risk to the newborn baby. Mycoplasma infections have been linked to miscarriage, premature rupture of membranes, premature birth, and stillbirth.
Newborn babies, especially babies weighing less than 1,000 grams, are at increased risk of Ureaplasma infection. Infection with this agent can cause pneumonia, breathing problems, lung injury, meningitis, and brain injury in newborn infants (link). Treating Ureaplasma in pregnancy reduces the chances of complications in the mother and baby. The antibiotics used to treat Ureaplasma (azithromycin and doxycycline) are safe to use during pregnancy.
Partner Treatment for Ureaplasma: Does My Boyfriend/Girlfriend Need Antibiotics for Ureaplasma?
It’s important to avoid vaginal, oral, or anal sex during treatment or to practice safe sex with a condom. If you have unprotected sex before the infection has completely cleared, you could be re-infected by your partner, or you could pass on the infection to your partner. That’s why it’s important for all sexual partners to be tested and treated at the same time.
Our experienced specialists in Ureaplasma can facilitate a partner referral for both men and women. You and your partner will be seen separately to maintain confidentiality. The CDC recommends the evaluation and treatment of all sexual partners in the preceding 60 days.
What Happens If I Leave Ureaplasma Untreated? Is Ureaplasma Curable?
If Ureaplasma is left untreated, it can lead to a number of health conditions and serious complications, including urethritis. Ureaplasma is associated with infertility in both men and women. Pregnant women are at risk of miscarriage, premature birth, and stillbirth. Untreated Ureaplasma in women can spread from the urogenital tract and cause pelvic inflammatory disease.
Treatment for Ureaplasma is pretty straightforward. A course of antibiotics can usually cure Ureaplasma. Talk to top urologists at New York Urology Specialists today to get tested and treated for Ureaplasma.
Ureaplasma – Antibiotics Not Working
Antibiotics for Ureaplasma may not work for a few reasons:
- The patient did not complete the full course of antibiotics.
- The bacteria are resistant to the antibiotic, and a different drug is needed.
- The patient got re-infected from their sexual partner.
It’s important to take antibiotics as directed and complete the course to clear the bacteria completely from your system. Both the patient and their partner should be tested and treated at the same time. Sexual partners should abstain from sex or use condoms until both test negative for Ureaplasma infection.
If compliance with the initial antibiotic regimen is confirmed and re-exposure to Ureaplasma from unprotected sex can be excluded, the CDC recommends the following regimen for resistant Ureaplasma urealyticum: Metronidazole or tinidazole along with azithromycin. The fellowship-trained urologists at New York Urology Specialists are experienced in treating resistant Ureaplasma infections.
Scheduling Appointments for Ureaplasma Treatment for Women at New York Urology Specialists
If you have any questions about testing or treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STI), schedule a consultation, contact us or call 1-646-663-4125.
We have excellent reviews from patients and their partners.
We offer affordable, highest-quality urology care with or without insurance. Find out our office hours or directions to our office. We offer weekday, weekend, and evening office hours.
STDs are Treatable in Nearly Every Man and Woman
At New York Urology Specialists, our urologists are specially trained in the evaluation and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STI). We understand the challenges that STDs such as chlamydia, herpes, gonorrhea, and ureaplasma create for our patients, their relationships, and their self-esteem. We help you find an effective treatment for your symptoms that may be caused by STD, UTI or another cause.
Urologists are doctors specializing in the treatment of infections in men and women caused by sexually transmitted diseases as well as bladder infections (UTI). By the virtue of our experience and skill, we are able to offer an effective treatment option for nearly every man and woman with urinary problems and bladder control problems.
We treat some of the most complex STD problems including:
- Persistent urinary urgency
- Frequent recurrence of genital warts
- Frequent recurrence of herpes outbreaks
- HIV prevention
- Genital warts in the urethra
- Treatment of infections when antibiotics do not work well
- Testing for urinary ureaplasma and mycoplasma.
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Schedule an Appointment with Dr. Shteynshlyuger:
If you have any questions, to schedule a consultation, please contact us or call/text: 1-646-663-4125.
We offer affordable, highest-quality urology care with or without insurance. Find out our office hours or directions to our office. We offer weekday, weekend, and evening office hours.
