What is it? Ureaplasma urealyticum is a special kind of microbe, occupying an intermediate place in its properties and dimensions between protozoa and viruses. These bacteria freely penetrate into the cells of the genitourinary system and multiply there. Thanks to such a unique ability, they easily escape from the human immune system.
Ureaplasma is considered a conditionally pathogenic flora of the vagina - in smears in about 60% of clinically healthy women this type of microbe is found. If the ureaplasma in women does not give symptoms, then treatment is not required - this is not a disease, but a variant of the norm.
About ureaplasmosis( a disease caused by ureaplasma) is said in those cases when there are infectious and inflammatory changes in the genitourinary system - colpitis, urethritis, adnexitis, infertility, etc. Infection with ureaplasma is often combined with chlamydia, mycoplasmosis and other diseases with sexual transmission.
Infection with ureplasma is possible in several ways:
- unprotected sex( genital, oral) with microbial carrier;
- with the joint use of towels, sponges, linen;
- during pregnancy and childbirth a woman with ureaplasma can infect her child.
Contents
- 1 Causes of
- 2 Causes of
- 2 Symptoms of ureaplasma in women
- 3 Diagnosis of ureplasma in women
- 4 Ureaplasma in women during pregnancy
- 5 Treatment of ureaplasma in women
Causes of
Ureaplasma after its penetration into the body can long coexist with normal flora without causing disease. The cause of the clinic of ureaplasmosis is uncontrolled massive multiplication of the microbe against the background of local( vaginal) or general immunity violation, usually due to the following diseases:
- abortions, uterine cavity scraping;
- changes in the hormonal background in ovarian cysts, endometriosis, pituitary adenoma;
- also activates ureaplasma in women during pregnancy;
- surgical interventions on the genitals;
- diagnostic manipulations on the genitourinary system( cystocopia, urography, etc.);
- indiscriminate sexual relations with frequent change of partners;
- prolonged wearing of the intrauterine device;
- autoimmune and rheumatic diseases;
- nervous shocks;
- subcooling;
- infection with another urogenital infection( HIV infection, gonorrhea, genital herpes, chlamydia, etc.).
Symptoms of ureaplasma in women
In most cases, the acute phase of ureaplasmosis, which occurs 2-4 weeks after the introduction of ureaplasma into the body, remains unnoticed or not pronounced in its manifestations, and many women do not even suspect that they are infected.
Ureaplasmas are in a dormant state for a long time, waiting for a decrease in the woman's immunity. When the infection is activated, the patients notice the following symptoms:
- change the appearance of the vaginal discharge - they acquire a yellowish-green hue, an unpleasant, pungent odor;
- uncomfortable sensations in the inguinal region and in the lower abdomen, intensifying during sexual intercourse;
- burning sensation when urinating;
- sore throat, which does not disappear with the standard treatment of angina( which is typical for pharyngitis in the background of ureaplasmosis, the infection of which occurred with oral contact with the carrier of the microbe).
Diagnosis of ureplasma in women
Indications for examination for ureaplasmosis are any deviations of the urogenital sphere( from inflammation of the vagina to pyelonephritis or infertility).In addition, the analysis for ureaplasma is shown to all women at risk for diseases with a sexual transmission factor: with frequent changes of partners, with unprotected sex.
The optimal period for the analysis is the morning hours in the days of the first half of the cycle( after the end of the month).For diagnosis, women are taken from the cervix, vagina or urethra, and then one of the following tests is performed:
- Bacteriological culture on a special medium, followed by the determination of the sensitivity of the ureaplasma to antibiotics.
- Polymerase Chain Reaction Method.
- Determination of antibodies to ureaplasma by enzyme immunoassay and indirect immunofluorescence.
Obtaining a positive test result should not always be interpreted as ureaplasmosis. It must be remembered that ureaplasma in women is the norm in analyzes in half the cases when this microorganism lives next to a normal flora without causing inflammation.
Ureaplasma in women with pregnancy
One of five healthy pregnant women shows ureaplasma, and there are no abnormalities in the condition of the future mother and fetus. But in some cases, with the massive multiplication of this infection, inflammation of the membranes arises, which leads to a dead pregnancy.
Also carried out studies that prove the possibility of infection of the child during labor with the subsequent development of ureaplasmosis pneumonia. Therefore, protocols for prophylactic treatment of ureaplasma in pregnant women in the second-third trimesters have now been developed.
Treatment of ureaplasma in women
When ureaplasma in women, the basic treatment is made up of drugs with antibacterial activity: antibiotics from the group of macrolides and fluoroquinolones, metronidazole.
As an adjunct to the main therapy, administration of immunostimulants is prescribed to increase the body's overall resistance( cycloferon, methyluracil, thymalin, lysozyme, vobenzyme) and probiotics to restore normal intestinal and vaginal microflora.
During the course of treatment it is necessary to observe a diet( refusal from fatty and sharp foods, coffee, alcohol) and maintain sexual rest.
Complications of
Timely undiagnosed and untreated ureaplasmosis leads to various inflammatory processes in the pelvic organs: inflammation of the vaginal mucosa( vaginosis), cervix( cervicitis), ovaries( adnexitis), bladder( cystitis), kidneys( pyelonephritis).
Consequences of
Ureaplasmosis with an incorrect approach to the choice of treatment can seriously disrupt the health of women: chronic inflammation of the pelvic organs on the background of infection with ureaplasma lead to menstrual dysfunction, tubal adhesions, infertility, problem pregnancy, pathology in the fetus.
Correctly to decipher analyzes and to solve, whether it is necessary to treat a ureaplasma at women, the doctor-gynecologist can only.
Therefore, in the case of ureaplasmosis, as with other urogenital diseases, the optimal tactic is the refusal of self-treatment in favor of periodic routine examinations with doctors, as well as examination and treatment of the sexual partner.
