Ureaplasma Urealyticum/Parvum

What is Ureaplasma Urealyticum/Parvum?

Ureaplasma is a bacterium that can be passed through sexual contact although it is not considered to be an STI or STD because of its low level of pathogenicity. The two members of the Ureaplasma species are Ureaplasma Parvum and Ureaplasma Urealyticum.

It is estimated that quite a large proportion of the sexually active population is infected with Ureaplasma without it causing any problems. We do however dispute claims recorded on some websites that over 70% of the UK population has this infection. Having processed thousands of urine and swab samples over the years, the prevalence of this infection does not appear to be as widespread as this claim suggests.

Ureaplasma Symptoms

Most people do not have any symptoms whatsoever and there is no evidence that Ureaplasma has any long term health consequences for those who are asymptomatic. Where symptoms are present, these include:

• Burning sensation when passing urine
• Urethral irritation
• Unusual vaginal discharge in women
• Urethral discharge in men

We sometimes encounter female patients who have experienced chronic cystitis/urinary tract infections that show no evidence on a culture of any bacterial organisms. When we test the urine for Ureaplasma using DNA PCR we then find it to be present; so it is possible that Ureaplasma may be implicated 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 from the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH).

The jury is still out on whether Ureaplasma can cause long term problems but there is no real evidence to substantiate some of the scare stories on the internet. We recommend that you do not read websites that have no medical backing as there is information out there that is unsupported by empirical evidence.

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 DNA of the bacteria. So long as the bacteria are present in the urine sample or on the swab (which they will be if you are infected and you take the sample as directed) then this test will produce a positive result. The Ureaplasma test results normally take 36 hours to process. Please note that the genetics laboratory that processes this panel does not usually operate on Saturdays and Sundays. Any sample received on a weekend is processed on the next working day. If you have symptoms then we recommend a wider screen such as our Full STI Screen, which tests for 7 infections that can cause the same symptoms as Ureaplasma.

What will my Ureaplasma result show?

If your result is negative, we will tell you that Ureaplasma species has not been detected. Unlike some other test providers, we are able to differentiate between Ureaplasma Parvum and Ureaplasma Urealyticum on a postive result. We therefore let you know which one (or indeed both) have been detected in your sample.

Is Ureaplasma Easy to Treat?

The latest guidance from BASHH is that Ureaplasma does not require treatment. If the patient is symptomatic, Ureaplasma may be a bystander organism, and the root cause should be determined prior to treatment. Ureaplasma is now only treated is specialist settings in order to reduce unnecessary prescribing of antibiotics.