Is it difficult for Ureaplasma to Turn Negative?

A young man, with a worried look on his face, entered the consultation room. The doctor felt very surprised; this was already the third time he had seen him in two months. Two months ago, the young man came to the urology department because of urethral pain and purulent discharge. During the physical examination, the doctor found that the outer opening of the young man's urethra was red, congested, and swollen, and there was a slight squeezing out of white purulent secretion when the urethra was lightly pressed.

The doctor suspected it was urethritis, possibly related to sexual activity. So he asked the young man in detail about his recent sexual activity. The young man hesitated for a while before finally admitting that he had had contact with a stranger ten days ago. He regretted it afterward.

Needless to say, it was this night of revelry that led to the young man's current symptoms. Eventually, the examination of the young man's urethral pus revealed a positive result for Ureaplasma, indicating Ureaplasma urethritis.

Ureaplasma is a type of microorganism without a cell wall, the smallest prokaryotic microorganism. Its size is between bacteria and viruses, and its structure is relatively simple. There are over a hundred types of Mycoplasma in nature, but only 16 types can be isolated from the human body. Among them, seven are pathogenic to humans, with common examples including Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and Ureaplasma. Mycoplasma pneumoniae can cause lung infections, while Ureaplasma can cause urogenital tract infections.

Ureaplasma can be found in the urethra, around the urethral opening, external cervical os, and urine, mainly transmitted through sexual contact. Therefore, Ureaplasma urethritis is considered a sexually transmitted disease. After infecting the human body, Ureaplasma mainly causes urethritis in men, manifesting as urethral pain and purulent discharge. Some patients may also experience frequent urination, urgency, difficulty urinating, and incomplete urination.

In women, the symptoms of urethritis such as urethral pain and purulent discharge are not obvious. Instead, it mainly manifests as inflammation and cervical inflammation. Patients may feel a sense of prolapse, increased vaginal discharge, turbidity, and odor, cervical edema, congestion, or surface erosion. They may experience discomfort during sexual intercourse. 

Some patients may develop pelvic inflammatory disease, with lower abdominal pain. After activity or sexual intercourse, the pain becomes more prominent, and severe cases may present with chills, high fever, nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite!

Whether male or female, infection with Ureaplasma may lead to a decrease in fertility, causing infertility.

The infection rate of Ureaplasma is very high, but not everyone who is infected will necessarily develop symptoms. Those who are infected but do not show symptoms are called asymptomatic carriers of Ureaplasma. Asymptomatic carriers, especially among women, are more common. Since Ureaplasma can be transmitted through sexual contact, simply treating one partner may not be sufficient because even if the infection is cured in one partner, it can recur upon sexual contact, making it difficult to completely eradicate.

Therefore, if one partner has symptoms (or even if there are no symptoms but the couple is seeking fertility treatment), and Ureaplasma infection is detected, both partners should be tested and treated if infected, even if the other partner shows no symptoms. Only when both partners are asymptomatic carriers of Ureaplasma without any fertility requirements, treatment is unnecessary.

In addition to conventional antibiotics, male patients with recurrent Ureaplasma infections may consider taking traditional Chinese medicine, such as Diuretic and Anti-inflammatory Pill for men and Fuyan Pill for women to prevent recurrence. It can help eliminate bacteria lurking in the body, reduce the possibility of recurrence, and prevent the worsening of the condition.

Friendly reminder: Although Ureaplasma is a sexually transmitted disease, it can also be transmitted through contact with contaminated items, especially in hotels or guesthouses where contact with unclean towels, sheets, and other items may lead to Ureaplasma infection in males.

Recommended Readings:

How to Determine Whether Ureaplasma Urealyticum Infection Requires Treatment?

Why Am I Testing Positive for Ureaplasma Despite Good Hygiene Practices?

Don't Take Abdominal Pain Lightly; It Could Be Ureaplasma urealyticum!