Ureaplasma in women: symptoms and treatment
Ureaplasma is a genital infection that has a latent course in many women. Some scientists are of the opinion that ureaplasmas are representatives of the female conditionally pathogenic flora, which is always present in their bodies. They begin to activate and multiply when immunity decreases. Ureaplasmas cause an inflammatory reaction in the organs of the genitourinary system.
Content:
- What does ureaplasma mean?
- How is ureaplasma transmitted?
- Causes of ureaplasma in women
- Symptoms of ureaplasma in women
- Classification of ureaplasma
- Ureaplasma during pregnancy
- Diagnosis of ureaplasma in women
- Ureaplasma treatment
- Complications of ureaplasmosis
- Prevention of ureaplasmosis
What does ureaplasma mean?
Ureaplasma is a bacterium that is somewhere between protozoa and viruses. According to its characteristics and dimensions, it seems to occupy an intermediate link. Bacteria are able to easily penetrate the organs of a woman's genitourinary system. There are ideal conditions for their reproduction and development.
As mentioned above, ureaplasma is perceived by many scientists as a conditionally pathogenic microorganism. It is found in a vaginal smear in 60% of women who do not have any symptoms of the disease. In this case, the patient is not prescribed therapy.
How is ureaplasma transmitted?
Ureaplasma is sexually transmitted. In everyday life, infection does not occur. There is no information about the fact that you can get sick when using one towel, while spending time in the same bed, while visiting a sauna or pool.
Babies can be infected from a sick woman during childbirth. There is evidence that in childhood, ureaplasma passes without any treatment. In adults, infection can lead to acute or chronic inflammation of the genitourinary system.
Causes of ureaplasma in women
For a long time, ureaplasmas can exist inside the cells of the female body, namely in the epithelium of the urogenital organs. At the same time, they will not harm health.
In order for a woman to develop a disease, her body will have to be exposed to a number of pathological factors, including:
- Diseases that negatively affect the state of immunity.
- Hormonal imbalance. Sometimes ureaplasmosis develops during menstruation or during pregnancy.
- Frequent change of sexual partners. Any new man is a probable carrier of a new opportunistic flora. Its representatives can negatively affect the state of women's health and provoke the development of ureaplasmosis.
- Medical manipulations and diagnostic procedures that are performed on the organs of the genitourinary system. In this regard, the danger is presented by postponed abortions, staging and removing an intrauterine device, cauterization of cervical erosion, urethroscopy, cystoscopy, cystography, hysteroscopy, and insertion of a catheter into the urethra.
Symptoms of ureaplasma in women
Ureaplasma in women is often asymptomatic. Sometimes some clinical manifestations of the disease do arise, but it is impossible to call them specific for this particular disease, since they can accompany other infections of the reproductive system.
These signs include:
- Changes in the color, odor and consistency of vaginal discharge. They smell unpleasant, may turn yellow or green
- Burning while emptying the bladder.
- Painful sensations in the lower abdomen that will bother a woman from time to time.
- The pain can appear during intimacy and persist after its completion.
- Lzheangina. If a woman has been infected with ureaplasma during oral sex, then she may develop symptoms of inflammation of the tonsils. A white coating forms on the tonsils, the throat begins to hurt, and swallowing becomes problematic.
Most women indicate that their pathological symptoms are gaining intensity during menstruation, under stress, after diagnostic procedures.
Sometimes women are unable to conceive. The fact is that ureaplasma causes inflammation, against the background of which adhesions begin to form in the small pelvis. They lead to tubal infertility or ectopic pregnancy.
Classification of ureaplasma
There are two types of ureaplasma that can exist in the female body. These are ureaplasma parvum and ureaplasma urealiticum.
If a woman has ureaplasma parvum, then she does not need treatment, since this microorganism is a representative of the normal flora that populates the urogenital organs.
A woman who is found to have ureaplasma urealiticum should undergo compulsory therapy, since these bacteria can lead to the development of inflammation.
Ureaplasma during pregnancy
Ureaplasma poses a threat to the health of a woman in position, as it can cause early onset of labor, miscarriage, and frozen pregnancy. Therefore, it is necessary to undergo a study for its detection in the body even at the stage of pregnancy planning.
It is prohibited to treat the disease in the early stages. While it is during this period that ureaplasma poses a particular threat to the fetus. Moreover, drugs that are used to eliminate ureaplasma are contraindicated for pregnant women.
A sick woman can pass the infection to her baby during childbirth. To prevent this from happening, all pregnant patients with ureaplasma are prescribed an antibiotic starting at 22 weeks. The specific drug and its dosage are selected by the doctor.
Diagnosis of ureaplasma in women
To detect ureaplasmosis in a woman, it is required to analyze the discharge taken from the vagina and urethra. It is performed by the PCR method. In addition, scraping is done from the urethra and from the superficial vaginal wall. The resulting material is also sent for research.
It is possible to detect antibodies to ureaplasma by serological methods. For the study, blood is required.
Indications for the donation of tissues and biological fluid for an analysis for ureaplasmosis:
- Child planning.
- Some chronic diseases, in particular: colpitis, endocervicitis, adnexitis, salpingitis, etc.
- Inability to conceive a child for six months or more, miscarriage.
- Irregular menstruation.
- Chronic diseases of the urinary system.
The diagnosis is made based on the laboratory data obtained.
Ureaplasma treatment
Antibiotics are not prescribed for all patients who have been diagnosed with ureaplasma. First, you need to make sure that it was this representative of the opportunistic flora that caused the disorders in the body.
Treatment of ureaplasma can be carried out for the following indications:
- Infertility. If a woman cannot conceive a child for a long time, but at the same time she does not have any visible health problems, then efforts must be made to rid the body of ureaplasma.
- Inflammation of the genitals.
- Miscarriage. If a woman has suffered a miscarriage and is planning a pregnancy again, then she needs to undergo treatment. This will prevent the development of complications while carrying a child.
Not only a woman, but also her sexual partner should undergo treatment for ureaplasma. Otherwise, re-infection cannot be avoided.
This therapy is indicated for couples suffering from infertility. Ureaplasma is able to penetrate into the sperm and negatively affect its functioning. In addition, this microbe can cause the development of prostatitis and other problems with male sexual health.
How to treat ureaplasmosis in women?
Ureaplasmosis requires long-term therapy. The patient will need to strictly adhere to all medical recommendations, follow a diet.
Treatment is carried out in the following areas:
- Taking antibiotics.
- Taking immunostimulants.
- Taking enzyme preparations.
- Taking probiotics to stabilize the microflora. The drugs are prescribed both internally and locally.
- Taking vitamins.
- Physiotherapy treatment. The patient may be referred for magnetic therapy or electrophoresis. Also, laser blood irradiation, mud therapy and gynecological massage can speed up recovery.
Antibiotics are prescribed to a woman on the basis of which flora the isolated microorganism is sensitive to. In this case, agents from the group of macrolides, tetracyclines, or fluoroquinolones can be used.
Drug group |
Name of drugs |
| Macrolides | Azithromycin, Sumamed are the drugs of choice for the treatment of ureaplasma. |
| Tetracyclines | Unidox, Doxycycline. Now these drugs are used less often for the treatment of ureaplasmosis, since in recent years, bacteria have become increasingly resistant to them. While 10 years ago, tetracyclines were the drugs of first choice. |
| Fluoroquinolones. | Avelox. Treatment should last at least 21 days. |
If the disease has an uncomplicated course, then a drug from one group is used. When inflammation is difficult to correct, it is necessary to prescribe drugs from two groups.
A prerequisite for therapy is vaginal sanitation. For this, drugs are used in the form of vaginal suppositories. They must contain an antibiotic and an antifungal component. One of the frequently prescribed remedies is the drug Geksikon. It is a strong local antiseptic, but at the same time it does not disturb its own vaginal microflora. Therefore, Hexicon suppositories are used to treat ureaplasmosis, even in pregnant women. The therapeutic course should last at least a week. The suppository is inserted 1 time per day, before bedtime.
Taking immunomodulators is an important component of treatment. It has been established that in women with normal immunity, ureaplasmas do not cause pathological symptoms and do not lead to the development of inflammation. To increase the body's defenses, such drugs can be used as: Genferon (interferon drug), Cycloferon (endogenous interferon).
Probiotics are prescribed not only orally, but also intervaginally. In the latter case, the drug Vagilak is often used. The therapy regimen can be supplemented with Wobenzym and vitamin-mineral complexes. Modern probiotics, which are often prescribed in the treatment of ureaplasma: Lactovit, Bifidumbacterin, Lactobacterin, Linex, Narine, Biovestin.
The drugs described above do not need to be taken at the same time. The treatment is stage-by-stage and is selected by the doctor on an individual basis. If you violate his recommendations, then you will not be able to cope with the infection.
Power and mode
In order for the treatment to be as effective as possible, a woman will need to adhere to the following regime points:
- Refuse to drink alcohol.
- Remove fatty, sweet, spicy and smoked dishes from the menu.
- Refuse intimacy throughout the entire period of treatment.
Complications of ureaplasmosis
If you ignore the symptoms of ureaplasma, then this can lead to serious complications, such as:
- Ovarian inflammation.
- Menstrual irregularities.
- Inflammation of the fallopian tubes.
- Inflammation of the kidneys and bladder.
- Vaginosis.
- Infertility. Moreover, not only female eggs are affected, but also male sperm.
Prevention of ureaplasmosis
In order not to become infected with ureaplasmosis, a woman must follow the following recommendations:
- Refuse from frequent change of sexual partners.
- Use a condom during intimacy.
- Regularly examined by a gynecologist.
- Get tested for genital infections if signs of inflammation appear.
- Maintain normal immunity.
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Try to preserve the natural microflora of the vagina. To do this, you need to follow the rules of intimate hygiene, get rid of thrush in time.
In general, you need to eat right, exercise and stick to a healthy lifestyle. If a woman's body is healthy, then it will be able to independently suppress the activity of opportunistic microflora.
The author of the article: Lapikova Valentina Vladimirovna | Gynecologist, reproductologist
Education: Diploma in Obstetrics and Gynecology received at the Russian State Medical University of the Federal Agency for Healthcare and Social Development (2010). In 2013 completed postgraduate studies at N. N. N. I. Pirogova.
