Learn more about the hidden culprit as Dr. Gupta talks to Byrdie.com….
What is Ureaplasma ?
โUreaplasmaย isย a type of bacteria that is commonly found in the vaginal secretions of sexually active women,โ explains Gupta. To be more specific,ย Ureaplasmaย is a subspecies ofย Mycoplasma, a bacteria that lives in mucous membranes. (Other types of Mycoplasma cause common illnesses such as walking pneumonia.) Untreated, aย Ureaplasmaย infection canย lead toย chronic discomfort, pelvic inflammatory disease, and even complications during pregnancy.
How common are Ureaplasma bacteria?
The most surprising thing I learned aboutย Ureaplasmaย is that despite its obscurity, this ailment is far from rare: According to Gupta, the bacteria are โextremely common.โ She elaborates, โBy adulthood,ย Ureaplasmaย is that despite its obscurity, this ailment is far from rare: According to Gupta, the bacteria are โextremely common.โ She elaborates, โBy adulthood,ย approximately 80% of healthy women haveย Ureaplasma spp.ย in their cervical or vaginal secretions. The prevalence increases with increase in sexual activity.โ Yep, thatโsย 80%.
Itโs worth noting that while aย Ureaplasmaย infection can cause serious vaginal health woes, itโs common for healthy women to have someย Ureaplasmaย bacteria present in their vaginas. After all, our nether regions are delicate ecosystemsโitโs only when these florae are thrown out of balance that we feel unwell. Gupta elucidates, โMost of the time,ย Ureaplasmaย does not cause any symptoms. However, in rare cases, โgoodโ bacteria likeย Lactobacilliย andย Acidophilliย can become outnumbered by the โnot so greatโ bacteria likeย Ureaplasma.”
What are the symptoms of a Ureaplasma infection?
As I wrote above, the most distinctive symptom of my experience with aย Ureaplasma infection was that it was unlike any other illness I had experienced; it was mostly an aura of irritation that grew into a full-on burning sensation after sex or when I really needed to pee. Gupta adds that some common symptoms ofย Ureaplasmaย infection are โgreenish discharge, fishy odor, and/orย vaginal itching. Itโs important to note that these symptoms are usuallyย causedย by bacterial vaginosis or trichomoniasis.โ In short, an excess ofย Ureaplasmaย can lead to other reproductive health problems with more obvious symptoms.
Why don’t most typical exams test for Ureaplasma ?
Perhaps the most exasperating part of my years-long medical odyssey was how long it took to reach a diagnosis. Apparently, explains Gupta, there are actually a few good reasons doctors donโt includeย Ureaplasmaย bacteria in standard gynecological testing. โFirst, the prevalence of this bacteria is incredibly common in sexually active women,โ she explains. โSecond, and more importantly, there is littleโif anyโsignificant evidence suggesting thatย Ureaplasmaย is the culprit for painful vaginal infections.โ
This isnโt to say thatย Ureaplasmaย is harmless. Instead,ย the idea is thatย Ureaplasmaย opens the door to yeast infections, UTIs, and bacterial vaginosis, so it often makes more sense to simply treat those illnesses. During my office visit, my nurse practitioner explained thatย Ureaplasmaย was most likely the underlying cause of my recurring BV and UTIs; without eradicating my reproductive system ofย Ureaplasmaย bacteria, even the most intense remedies for these other ailments wouldnโt stick. As Columbia Universityโs health information resourceย Go Ask Aliceย puts it, โUreaplasma urealyticum (UUR) is a common sexually transmitted infection that often does not cause symptoms, but can affect the urogenital tract.โ
Whatโs the next step if you think you might have a Ureaplasma infection?
โYour gyn can request the test forย Ureaplasmaย through a vaginal swab or through a pap smear if you feel that you have symptoms,โ says Gupta. Because allย Mycoplasmaย bacteriaย lack cell walls, theyโre resistant to typical antibiotics and require specific prescription treatments.
As far as prevention goes, Gupta argues that control is key: โUreaplasmaย cannot be completely prevented, but it can be controlled. The best way to control it is by maintaining a healthy vagina flora. A healthy vaginal flora can be maintained byย taking quality, high-dose probiotics and avoiding douching or using medicated vaginal washes.โ
While my strict regimen of special antibiotics worked its magic, I sought temporary relief in hot baths with natural, mega-gentle soaps.ย My nurse practitioner also suggested that I forgo sugar for a few weeks to alleviate any inflammationย in the area, a request that I first considered impossible, and also insane. Weeks later, however, I have to admit that she might have been right.
Finally, Gupta adds, โBeing diligent about genital hygiene is also keyโif youโve been at the beach all day, or if you just worked out, you should hop in the shower right away. Avoiding too-tight clothing and wearing cotton underwear also go a long way.โ
Full link is here.
http://www.byrdie.com/ureaplasma/