Today, a disease such as ureaplasma parvum in women is the norm, since it is quite common among sexually transmitted diseases. According to statistics, about 20% of girls aged 14 to 17 are carriers of ureaplasma. And among older women, this figure can reach up to 70%. As you know, guys can be cured of this disease on their own, girls, in turn, can get rid of it only after the first sexual intercourse. But in any case, medical assistance in case of infection is indispensable.
What is ureaplasma parvum
In order to learn in detail about the symptoms, treatment and consequences of this disease, it is worthwhile to first find out what parvum ureaplasma is. What is it, and what are the causes of this disease, will be described later.
Ureaplasma is of two types - ureaplasma parvum and ureaplasma urealitikum.
Ureaplasma parvum is a conditionally pathogenic bacterium that is part of the mycoplasma family. It is called conditionally pathogenic, since it can be located in the body of an absolutely healthy person and at the same time not cause any inflammatory processes. The favorable habitat of this bacterium is the mucous membranes of the genitourinary organs of a person. In appearance, it is a very small, slightly larger than viruses, bacterium with urease activity, that is, the ability to destroy urea with the formation of ammonia.
Ureaplasma is also an intracellular parasite, that is, it does not have its own clear membrane, which is why it manages to join the cell membranes of the mucous membranes and destroy them.
Symptoms of ureaplasmosis
Ureaplasma parvum in women is an inflammatory process that is distinguished by its fairly long course. A characteristic feature of this disease is that in most cases it is asymptomatic, which contributes to its long-term development. Without medical intervention for this disease, consequences may arise that require more serious and long-term treatment. Very often, the ureaplasma bacterium can be in the human body for a long time, and only during the weakening of the immune system can ureaplasmosis in women and men become aggravated and manifest more clearly.
Therefore, if you feel any discomfort in the lower abdomen and in the genitals, you should immediately consult a doctor, as this may be ureaplasma parvum. Symptoms in women can manifest as uncharacteristic discharge from the vagina and urethra, painful urination, bloody discharge after intercourse, pain during intercourse, pain in the lower abdomen, headaches, slight increase in temperature (but not in all cases).
In men, the characteristic symptoms of this disease can be attributed to: sharp pain during urination, burning and itching in the urethra, mucous discharge from the penis, turbid urine.
Causes of ureaplasma in women and men
Ureaplasma in women, the causes and symptoms of which can be very different, is a very common disease. In case of untimely treatment, it can be exacerbated, as well as transmitted during pregnancy from mother to child.
So, let's look at the main causes of a disease such as ureaplasma urealiticum parvum in women and men. Among the main causes of this disease, the most important is considered sexually transmitted infection. It should be noted that in 20-30% of cases of infection with the bacterium ureaplasma parvum, the infected do not show any symptoms of this disease, since they are only carriers of the infection. Mostly infected with this bacterium are women and men who have an active sex life with a frequent change of partners. Indeed, according to statistics, 50% of women and men with ureaplasmosis disease became infected during unprotected intercourse. In addition, oral and anal intercourse, as well as kisses, can become a cause of infection.
The second way to get this disease is through pregnancy or having a baby. After all, as you know, the habitat of ureaplasma parvum is the mucous membrane of the genitourinary organs. In a woman, this is the vagina and uterus. It is in the process of childbirth that a child passing through the birth canal can become infected from a sick mother. A high probability of infection when a pregnant woman has a weakened immune system and completely untreated inflammatory processes.
There is also an opinion that it is also possible contact infection with the bacterium ureaplasma parvum, that is, in transport, pool, in other public places or by using a common toilet lid.
The consequences of ureaplasmosis
Like any other sexual disease, ureaplasma parvum in women requires prevention, timely diagnosis and high-quality treatment. If medical care is neglected, this disease will leave behind a lot of unpleasant consequences and complications, or it will acquire a chronic form and will constantly manifest itself, causing significant discomfort.
Ureaplasma parvum in women: consequences
Ureaplasma in women causes a great health hazard, since this disease can cause serious and rather serious consequences, which are often expressed in the form of various diseases. These include the following:
1) diseases of the genitourinary system - cystitis, urethritis, urolithiasis, pyelonephritis;
2) diseases associated with inflammation of the mucous membrane of the uterus and vagina - vaginitis, cervicitis, endometritis;
3) diseases associated with inflammation of the ovaries, appendages, damage to the fallopian tubes - adnexitis, salpingitis;
4) infertility.
In addition, there is scientific evidence that in some cases, ureaplasma can lead to infection of the fetus, fetal membranes, low fetal weight, premature birth, and the development of pneumonia and meningitis in newborns. This mainly happens when the carrier of this infection is immunocompromised.
Therefore, if you have found ureaplasma parvum, you should immediately undergo a full range of treatment aimed at eliminating this disease, as well as all its consequences.
The consequence of ureaplasmosis in men
As you know, men, in comparison with women, undergo ureaplasmosis much less. But at the same time, the first symptoms of this disease in representatives of the stronger sex are much weaker and not so noticeable. Therefore, to identify this ailment in the early stages is much harder. The prolonged development of ureaplasmosis and its treatment can cause consequences such as:
- infertility;
- urethritis (inflammation of the urethra, which leads to painful urination, purulent discharge);
- prostatitis;
- impotence;
- violation of spermatogenesis.
Diagnosis of ureaplasmosis
Today, most doctors claim that it is quite difficult to detect ureaplasma, since it can also be in the body of an absolutely healthy person, without manifesting itself and without causing any tangible inconvenience. And only when the normal state of the human immune or hormonal system is disrupted, can the first symptoms appear, indicating ureaplasmosis. If you begin to notice the symptoms of ureaplasmosis, then you should immediately consult a doctor.
There are several ways to identify the fact that the human body contains bacteria ureaplasma parvum and mycoplasma hominis . One of the most effective, accurate and most often used is a diagnostic method such as bacterial culture for ureaplasmosis. In this method, the biomaterial taken from the proposed site of infection is placed in an artificial environment favorable for its existence. Within a few days, this biomaterial grows and creates separate groups of bacteria, which are then identified. The biomaterial for this analysis can be urine, blood, excretion, serum.
Another equally effective and accurate method of diagnosis is the polymer chain reaction method. With this diagnosis, the presence of bacteria is checked by the DNA of the patient. Test material is taken from the vagina, urethra, or cervical canal.
In addition to these methods, there are other laboratory tests of serum antibodies , ureaplasma antigen, and others.
Treatment of ureaplasma parvum
As already mentioned, ureaplasma parvum in women is a fairly common disease that requires urgent treatment, since the consequences can be the worst. It is especially worth paying attention to this infection for women planning a pregnancy.
So how to cure ureaplasma parvum? The scheme of this treatment is based on acting on the causative agent of the disease, as well as removing the reasons why this microorganism could develop unhindered. This primarily concerns the strengthening and normalization of the immune system, as well as the elimination of causes that adversely affect the immune system.
If ureaplasma parvum is detected in women, the treatment consists of antibiotic therapy, that is, the use of antibiotics. As a rule, antibacterial agents of the macrolide and fluoroquinolone class are prescribed, the action of which is aimed at the destruction of the infection. Also, along with antibiotics, a concomitant complex of immunostimulating drugs, local bactericidal agents, and physiotherapy are prescribed.
When ureaplasma parvum is diagnosed in women, treatment should be prescribed to both partners simultaneously after their full examination. During treatment, any sexual contact is prohibited even with the use of protective equipment.
The entire course of treatment for this disease should take place under the close supervision of a specialist. In no case should you self-medicate. After undergoing the full complex of treatment for infection, it is necessary to undergo a follow-up examination again and make sure that the disease has passed. If the causative agent of the infection is not eliminated or is not completely eliminated, it is worth repeating the treatment.
Women planning a pregnancy need to completely get rid of this infection in advance, as it will negatively affect the unborn baby.
Treatment of ureaplasma parvum folk methods
Very often, along with drug treatment, alternative methods are also used. After all, as you know, one of the reasons why this microorganism begins to develop, leading to an exacerbation of the disease, is a weakening of the immune system. That is why, in order to cure ureaplasma, it is necessary to begin to restore immunity. Only if the immune system is restored, the body will be able to overcome the disease on its own.
Treatment of ureaplasmosis is complex, therefore, along with antibiotic therapy, agents aimed at restoring the immune system are necessarily used.
A good option in this case is treatment with alternative methods. It is mainly based on the restoration and maintenance of the immune system. For this, various kinds of herbal remedies are used. The necessary herbs for your treatment should be prescribed by your doctor, based on the clinical picture of the disease, as well as the degree of development of complications.
In the treatment of ureaplasmosis with folk remedies, fees are used from herbs such as chamomile, alder cones, millennials, licorice root, and leuzea root. The infusion of this collection will be able to normalize the function of the genitourinary system. Also a good tool for preventing the development and complications of ureaplasmosis, strengthening immunity is a herbal collection of succession, immortelle, wormwood, plantain, dill seed, nettle, calamus and rosemary.
It is recommended to use such decoctions between meals in order to improve the process of their assimilation and the rapid receipt by the body of all the therapeutic components of the herbal collection.
How to protect yourself from ureaplasmosis parvum
To protect yourself from this unpleasant and very dangerous ailment, you first need to know how ureaplasma parvum is transmitted. It is known that the main cause of ureaplasmosis in women and men is sexual contact with the carrier of the infection. Infection mainly occurs with frequent changes in sexual partners, therefore, in order to protect yourself from this disease, you must have one permanent sexual partner, whose health condition is beyond doubt. Indeed, random sexual relations are the main cause of ureaplasmosis. Well, if there is no confidence in a partner, then barrier contraceptives are simply necessary.
Also, in order to prevent ureaplasmosis, it is necessary to constantly undergo gynecological examinations, treat the oral mucosa with an antiseptic after oral sexual contact.
A healthy lifestyle, in addition to all of the above, will also be the key to a strong immune system, which plays an important role in the fight against the development of ureaplasmosis. Women planning a pregnancy should also think about their health status and check with a gynecologist more often to avoid unwanted consequences.