Uriah plasma what. Is ureaplasmosis (ureaplasma) a sexually transmitted disease? Frequently asked questions about methods of transmission of a microorganism

Ureaplasmosis is an infection caused by the microbes Ureaplasma urealyticum. Until 1998, this disease was classified as an STI (sexually transmitted infection), but now these microorganisms are considered opportunistic, that is, they are one of the components of the normal flora, however, there is constant debate about what ureaplasma is.

In men, this microbe is rarely detected, unlike in women, 60% who are carriers of this infection. Ureaplasmosis is understood as an inflammatory lesion of the genitourinary system. When tests do not identify other microorganisms that could cause inflammation. We bring to your attention another article about ureaplasmosis, its (Ureaplasma parvum).

Routes of transmission of ureaplasma

There are several options for contracting ureaplasma infection:

• unprotected sex (any kind: oral, vaginal, anal);
• kiss (if there are lesions in the mouth);
• household (through personal hygiene items);
• infection from an infected mother to a child (during childbirth or in utero).

It should be noted here that, mainly, infection occurs through sexual contact. Therefore, it is very important to use a condom when having sex with a partner in whom you are not 100% sure. Ureaplasma in women lives on the vaginal mucosa, cervical canal, urethra, in men - in sperm, prostate secretions, and cells of the urinary canal.

In another article, we described in detail urogenital mycoplasma -.

The fact is that ureaplasma, while in the body, can be in quantities that do not cause an inflammatory process, that is, the carrier of the infection simply does not know that he has this microorganism.

Infection with ureaplasmosis through domestic means is rare, but it should be remembered that such a possibility exists. Also infrequent cases of infection in utero and during childbirth, because if a woman is registered during pregnancy, she will definitely be tested for this infection and, if detected, treated.

Symptoms of the disease

Incubation period of ureaplasma from one to four weeks, and it is not at all necessary that the infection will manifest itself immediately; it is quite possible that it will lie low and wait for the body to malfunction.

When immunity decreases, the body's defenses decrease, which can lead to:

• common ARVI or bacterial disease;
• suffered stress;
• heavy physical and emotional stress.

In addition, ureaplasma often manifests itself during inflammation that is caused by another disease, for example:

• gonorrhea;
• chlamydia;
• trichomoniasis and others.

The fact that ureaplasmosis can be asymptomatic is dangerous because the disease can develop into a chronic stage, which is fraught with serious consequences. The symptoms of the disease are similar to those of other infections; the diagnosis is made only based on the results of the study.

Female symptoms of ureaplasma infection

In women, the disease manifests itself as follows:

• frequent painful urination, burning sensation;
• vaginal discharge;
• slight bleeding after sexual intercourse;
• pain during sexual intercourse;
• pain in the lower abdomen;
• problems with conception.

Male symptoms of ureaplasma infection

The disease in men has the following symptoms:

• discharge from the urethra;
• pain in the scrotal area;
• uncomfortable long-term nagging pain in the lower abdomen and perineum;
• pain and burning sensation in the penis area, intensifying during sex and urination;
• change in sperm quality.

May also be present signs of sore throat(purulent plaques on the tonsils, sore throat), such symptoms may occur if infection occurs during oral sex.

Even with an asymptomatic course of the disease, ureaplasmosis must be treated. It is important to make periodic preventive visits to the doctor. The chronic form of the disease is very difficult to treat; frequent relapses of infection occur with a serious deterioration in well-being, accompanied by elevated body temperature and other signs of intoxication.

Danger of ureaplasmosis

The seriousness of this disease lies, again, in the often asymptomatic course of the disease. Patients consult a doctor already at the stage of complications of ureaplasmosis.

The consequences of the disease in representatives of both sexes are as follows:

• infertility, which occurs due to prolonged inflammation due to obstruction of the ducts:
  • in men - in the epididymis, and in the testicles themselves, as well as the vas deferens.
  • in women, the cervix and fallopian tubes are affected;
• inflammation of the urethra(urethritis);
• cystitis(cystitis);
• pyelonephritis(an ascending infection that rises from the urinary system to the kidneys, affecting them);
• sexual dysfunction:
  • in men – erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation (ejaculation);
  • in women – pain during sex.

In addition to the general consequences, there are also diseases that are characteristic only of men and only of women, due to human anatomy.

Women's diseases caused by ureaplasma

Ureaplasmosis causes the following diseases in women:

• inflammatory lesions of the vagina (vaginitis);
• inflammatory lesion of the cervical mucosa (cervicitis);
• inflammatory lesion of the appendages (adnexitis);
• inflammatory lesion of the ovaries (oophoritis);
• inflammatory damage to the fallopian tubes (salpingitis);
• inflammatory damage to the uterine mucosa (endometritis).
• disruption of the menstrual cycle.

Male diseases caused by ureaplasma

In men, ureaplasmosis causes the following diseases:

• inflammatory lesion of the prostate gland (prostatitis);
• inflammatory damage to the testicles (orchitis);
• inflammatory lesion of the epididymis ();

And decreased sperm activity. Ureaplasma is capable of partially destroying the structure of sperm, increasing the number of irregular forms, and reducing motility.

Diagnosis of the disease

Testing for ureaplasma must be carried out repeatedly, because this microorganism can be found both in free flora and intracellularly, so control is needed after treatment.

The material for the study is collected in the morning, before the first urination, and for women there is another nuance - in the last phase of the cycle, before menstruation.

The main diagnostic methods are:

• bacteriological culture. An accurate study that absolutely determines the presence of ureaplasma, as well as the number of microorganisms and their sensitivity to antibiotics. However, this is an expensive method, and the result also takes a long time to prepare (up to 10 days);
• PCR (polymerase chain reaction). Precise research method. It is often used because it does not require large financial costs and a lot of time. But this method can only detect the presence of microorganisms, without their number and sensitivity to antibiotics.
• serological method. Inaccurate method. It determines the presence of antibodies (specific immune protein) to the infection. It does not take much time, but can only be used as an indicative analysis, because antibodies can be present in any phase of the disease, as well as after treatment.
• direct immunofluorescence method (DIF) and immunofluorescence analysis (ELISA), also work on determining a specific immune protein, so the accuracy of the result is not great (50-70%).

Control studies are carried out one week, one month and two months after treatment.

Treatment of ureaplasmosis

Treatment of the disease is based on laboratory tests. Only a doctor should prescribe medications and draw up a dosage regimen.

It usually comes down to this:

If ureaplasmosis is detected during pregnancy, treatment begins only after 22 weeks. Therapy is necessary for all sexual partners of the patient.

Preventive measures

It is easier to prevent any disease than to treat it; ureaplasmosis is no exception.

However, prevention lies in personal discipline:

• The main preventive measure is control of sexual intercourse. It is recommended to maintain a monogamous sex life, because having a large number of partners greatly increases the possibility of infection, given the fact that the disease is asymptomatic.
• If, nevertheless, a person leads a polygamous sex life, then it is mandatory to use a condom, and in any type of sex. Important! A condom can protect against all sexually transmitted diseases.
• After unprotected sex, it is recommended to work on the genitals, as well as the oral cavity (if there was oral sex) with chlorhexidine or miramistin or another antiseptic drug. This measure is effective only during the first few hours after sexual intercourse.
• Treatment must end with a control analysis, with further repetition of studies;
• Taking care of your immune system will be an important preventive measure, because the body’s defenses are able to cope with ureaplasma on their own, without the use of medications.

Ureaplasma and pregnancy

Separately, it is necessary to describe how ureaplasmosis affects pregnancy. Until recently, pregnancy was not combined with this disease, and the discovery of this microbe was direct indication for termination of pregnancy. Currently, it has been proven that it is possible to bear and give birth to a healthy child while infected with ureaplasma.

The greatest danger to the fetus is infection of a woman with ureplasma before the formation of the placenta, in which case the microorganism enters the baby’s blood and fetal pathologies develop, sometimes incompatible with further development and a miscarriage occurs. But basically the mother’s body protects the child.

Ureaplasma during pregnancy affects the cervix, softening it, which causes early dilatation of the cervix and further rejection of the child. To avoid miscarriage and premature birth, stitches are placed on the cervix; this helps maintain the pregnancy, but, of course, is not a natural situation.

Ureaplasma is also considered to be a factor causing congenital pneumonia, which develops in utero, as well as neonatal - pneumonia that appears during the first 28 days of life. However, scientific evidence of this factor does not exist.

Take care of yourself and be healthy!

Most people, having undergone an examination in a regular clinic, are bewildered to learn that they have ureaplasmosis. Since the course of the disease is practically asymptomatic, people want to know whether ureaplasma is a sexually transmitted disease or not? What can they expect from the disease, and what consequences can it bring them?

Despite the fact that the disease does not manifest itself in any way in the initial stages, I would like to immediately open my eyes to reality: ureaplasmosis is a sexually transmitted disease of an infectious nature. The main method of infection: sexual intercourse, oral sex and the vertical route, that is, from mother to fetus.

The ureaplasma bacterium is a separate type of microorganism that gets its name from its ability to break down urea. When infected, bacteria multiply in women in the mucous membrane of the urethra and vagina, in men - in the mucous membrane of the prostate and urethra.

Ureaplasma is a sexually transmitted disease, but the course of this disease largely depends on how strong the body's defenses are. If the immune system is healthy, then special signs of the disease will not appear, since the infection will subside without demonstrating its biological activity. This form of the disease is characteristic of most infected people.

If the body’s immune system is significantly reduced and there is damage to the microflora of the genital tract and associated hormonal or sexually transmitted diseases, ureaplasmosis will rapidly begin to develop and manifest itself with obvious symptoms.

In women, the clinical picture is as follows:

• Itching, painful sensations when urinating, as well as urethritis, the peculiarity of which is clear, slight discharge from the urethra.
• Inflammation of the vaginal mucosa, called vaginitis. Sexual relationships are painful.
• In the case of oral contact, a sore throat, redness of the mucous membrane of the pharynx, enlargement of regional lymph nodes, and discomfort during swallowing are observed.

In men, signs of infection with ureaplasma are as follows:

• Urethritis, characterized by slight clear discharge from the urethra.
• Discomfort when urinating, pain. Damage to the testicles, epididymis and spermatic cords is observed. Accordingly, intimate functions are disrupted.

The fact that ureaplasmosis is a venereal disease suggests that the disease must be treated immediately, since long-term untreated it leads to infertility and rheumatic lesions in the body.

Ureaplasma infection is an inflammatory process that takes root on the mucous membranes of the genital organs, nasopharynx and genitourinary system. Ureaplasmosis is a provocateur of diseases such as colpitis, urethritis and cervicitis. This disease affects not only women, but also men. Even when taking a smear from a completely healthy woman, microorganisms of this group can be detected.

Symptoms often do not make themselves felt for quite a long time. Despite this, the infected person is dangerous for sexual partners, including people around him.

There are two types of disease - acute and chronic. Very often it is combined with,. This makes it much more difficult to determine the main source. The disease is even transmitted through household contact.

How does infection occur?

The pathogenic microorganism multiplies in the human body due to certain predisposing factors. The most famous and common method of infection is having sex. There are even cases such as infection of a newborn while passing through the birth canal of the carrier mother. A child can also become infected in utero, through the digestive and genitourinary systems.

There is a presumed method of transmission of infection - domestic. This fact has not been scientifically confirmed, but most experts agree that this route of transmission is included in the list of the main causes of infection. About 40% of scientists believe that the theory has no basis, and the rest - infection can also occur in public places: shops, showers, transport, etc.

Ureaplasma is present in most people who are promiscuous. There are often cases of absence of a permanent partner, which leads to casual sexual relationships. The infection does not always have pronounced symptoms, so many patients are not even aware of its presence.

The period of latent development of ureaplasmosis is short and lasts up to two weeks. In males, it is diagnosed much less frequently, which is due to the peculiarities of the bacterial and hormonal background of their body.

The following factors can contribute to the development of bacteria:

• taking drugs from the group of antibiotics;
• hormonal therapy;
• use of contraceptives;
• stressful situations;
• disruption of the normal functioning of the human immune system.

Symptoms

Ureaplasma microorganisms are normally always present in the human body; their activation begins when certain predisposing situations arise. A prolonged absence of manifestations of the infectious process leads to an increased risk of infection of sexual partners. In the absence of preventive examinations, a chronic form of the disease develops, which is subsequently dangerous. The need for medication in men is quite rare, since cases of self-healing are more common among them.

The manifestations of this disease are similar to the symptoms of other inflammatory processes:

• a small amount of transparent discharge;
• chronic infertility of unknown etiology;
• complicated course of cervicitis, vaginitis, colpitis, salpingoophoritis;
• chronic urinary tract infection;
• burning and pain during urination and sexual intercourse;
• sharp pain in the lower abdomen;

After oral-genital intercourse, the signs of infection are similar (sore throat, presence of purulent plaque in the tonsil area).

Such symptoms often go unnoticed. The chronicity that develops as a result of untimely exposure causes inflammation of the uterus, vaginal mucosa and appendages. As a result, an adhesive process develops on the fallopian tubes, which causes complications during pregnancy. The causes of infertility may also be associated with the presence of a large number of pathogenic bacteria in the body. However, sometimes in women the infection is accompanied by inflammation of the uterine mucosa.

Complications

The consequence of delayed or unqualified treatment, as well as the use of folk remedies, is the transition of the disease to a chronic form.

When ureaplasma settles on the walls of the vagina, uterus and walls of the urethra, activation and development of the disease often occurs. Relapses of the chronic form occur periodically, which is associated with factors such as:

• colds;
• stressful situations;
• the presence of inflammation in the body;
• drinking alcohol in large quantities;
• increased physical activity;
• decreased performance of the immune system.

As a result, a deterioration in general condition occurs, accompanied by an increase in body temperature.

Ureaplasmosis is the cause of the following problems:

• cystitis, colpitis, vesiculitis;
• endometritis, pyelonephritis;
• formation of stones in the bladder and kidneys;
• joint inflammation;
• male infertility (if sperm are damaged, their viability decreases);
• inflammatory processes in the uterine appendages and in the uterus itself;
• narrowing of the urethral system;
• adhesions in the fallopian tubes;
• female infertility.

Therapy

The treatment regimen for ureaplasmosis should be worked out only by an experienced doctor in accordance with the following factors:

• impact aimed at the main pathogen;
• immunostimulation;
• elimination of conditions affecting the spread of pathogens.

The course of treatment includes not only antibiotics, but also physiotherapy, instillation procedures, as well as dietary restrictions, a complete ban on sexual contact and alcohol consumption.

Particular attention is paid to the possibility of eliminating conditions that provoke the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms. It is also mandatory to prescribe medications that suppress the symptoms of the infectious process.

When treating infected children, erythromycin therapy is mainly prescribed, which is preferably administered intravenously. An effective drug is Ofloxacin. The spectrum of action of this medication is antibacterial. This technique is distinguished by its high bactericidal activity and extensiveness, low toxicity and rapid absorption.

To select the right antibiotic, a study is conducted to determine the resistance of ureaplasmas to a specific drug. Most often they are prescribed in the form of tablets, suppositories, and injections. Sexual partners should be treated at the same time to completely prevent re-infection in the future. When using antibiotics, a prerequisite is the use of eubiotics - drugs based on bifidobacteria. Their use is aimed at restoring the microflora of the vagina and intestines.

Plasmapheresis is the name of the procedure by which blood plasma is purified. This universal method is applicable for diseases of various origins. As a result of plasmapheresis, a certain amount of blood plasma is removed from the body.

Therapeutic effect of the procedure

The plasmapheresis procedure has a pronounced therapeutic effect: when part of the plasma is removed, the patient’s body also leaves the harmful substances that caused a particular disease. Such “pests” are considered to be cholesterol, uric acid, pathological proteins, and protein breakdown products. The affected organs and their systems will begin to function better as soon as the quality of the patient’s blood increases. In addition, one more positive side of plasmapheresis can be noted: as a result of mechanical purification of the blood from harmful toxins, the body forms a response - mobilizes its defenses.

Most often, plasmapheresis is included as part of complex therapy, since its use as an independent procedure does not always produce visible results, and the effect does not last long. The method of mechanical blood purification is combined, as a rule, with therapeutic procedures that partially prevent the saturation of the blood with toxins, the formation of dangerous compounds in the body itself, and also stimulate their unhindered elimination from the body.

Methods of carrying out the procedure

There are several ways to extract plasma from blood:

• Filtration. Using a special filter, cellular and plasma components are isolated from the blood. Next, the cellular part is diluted with a 0.9% sodium chloride solution and returned to the body, the plasma component is removed.
• Gravitational. The patient donates 0.5 liters of blood from a vein into a special container, which is then sent to a centrifuge. The blood cells settle there and are later returned to the patient’s body as part of a saline solution. To achieve a therapeutic effect, it is necessary to conduct at least 3 sessions of gravitational plasmapheresis.
• Plasmasorption. This version of plasmapheresis is not based on the extraction of plasma, but on its purification from the blood. Activated carbon is used as a special sorbent for the cleansing procedure.

Indications for blood purification through plasmapheresis

Multiple myeloma;
massive destruction of red blood cells inside the vessels;
free myoglobin in the blood;
hemoglobinopathy;
intoxication with poisons of chemical origin;
porphyria;
myasthenia gravis;
Gasser's disease.

Mechanical blood purification also has a beneficial effect on the patient with the following diseases:

;
viral myocarditis;
chronic pneumonia;
bronchial asthma;
Crohn's disease;
ulcerative colitis;
diabetes;
psoriasis;
herpes;
nettle rash;
endocrine diseases of the organs of vision;
glomerulonephritis;
encephalitis caused by allergies;
atherosclerosis;
systemic vasculitis;
rejection of a transplanted organ;
extensive burns;
acute peritonitis;
sepsis.

Contraindications to the procedure

Contraindications to plasmapheresis are divided into absolute and relative.

Absolute contraindications include serious damage to vital organs (brain, heart, lungs, kidneys or liver), massive bleeding.

Relative contraindications include high bleeding and a high risk of bleeding due to various diseases (for example, stomach and duodenal ulcers), lack of stability in the circulatory system (hypotension), low protein concentration in the blood, diseases of infectious origin, pregnancy and menstruation.

We list the absolute contraindications to plasmapheresis:

• Overload of the cardiovascular system (in particular the right side of the heart).
• Pathological death of cerebral vessels due to impaired cerebral circulation.
• Excessive increase in blood pressure.
• Drug addiction and other neuropsychiatric disorders.
• The blood is too thick.
• Acute or chronic liver dysfunction.

The issue of using plasmapheresis to rid a patient of alcohol dependence is controversial. Although this procedure can remove alcohol from the blood, after some time a withdrawal syndrome inevitably develops, expressed by some kind of neuropsychic disorder, disruption of the cardiovascular system, cerebral edema, and liver dysfunction. In a word, using plasmapheresis in the treatment of drug addiction patients is inappropriate and dangerous for the patients’ lives. Alcoholism and drug addiction respond well to xenotherapy.

Possible complications of the procedure

• . The allergic reaction is manifested by chills, various autonomic disorders, hemodynamic disorders and leads to death in 60% of cases.
• Hypotension. Blood pressure drops sharply, which leads to a lack of oxygen in the brain. About 60% of cases result in lifelong disability or death.
• Extensive bleeding (with erosion and ulcer of the gastrointestinal tract), which is sometimes extremely difficult to stop, so the patient is urgently resuscitated. Isolated deaths were recorded.
• Citrate intoxication. It does not happen often - the patient falls into a coma and dies.