Ureaplasma is an incredibly insidious infectious disease affecting the mucous membranes of the urogenital system. It is equally common among both men and women. It is distinguished from other genital infections by the fact that there are almost always no symptoms, therefore the infection remains in a latent form. Because of this, it is very difficult to diagnose. Often, microorganisms can be detected even in healthy people who are undergoing preventive testing.
That is why, first of all, it is better to adhere to preventive measures that will help protect women from infection of the body. However, this does not mean that you should not know how the body reacts to sexual disease, how to detect it and how to treat it.
Causes of ureaplasma in women
The disease itself may occur in a woman only after infection with a bacterium - ureaplasma. It enters the body almost always sexually. Currently, there are no truthful data on transmission of infection to a healthy person through a household contract with an infected person.
The bacterium can get into the children's body if the mother was sick with ureaplasma at birth, when the fetus passes through the birth canal. However, self-healing is very characteristic of such children, so in many cases it disappears from the body on its own without any therapy. In an adult, everything is much more dangerous, since treatment can take quite a long time and should always take place under the supervision of a doctor.
Since women are characterized by latent disease, they do not experience any special exacerbations, even if the infection lives in the cells for a long time.
In order for it to become a pathology, the presence of a provoking factor is required:
- Reduced immunity.
- A sharp imbalance of hormonal levels, which can be triggered by pregnancy, endocrine system disorders, disturbed menstruation cycles.
- Sex life with a constant change of partner, in which often new bacteria that have a negative effect on ureaplasma can be introduced into a woman’s body.
- Conducting medical manipulations on the urogenital system, even simple diagnostics with swabbing can harm.
In general, this disease can be divided into 2 types.
Ureaplazmos parvum
This type of disease causes opportunistic bacteria, which is in the female body, not showing itself, without causing inflammation. It is located in the mucous membrane of the urogenital system, gradually destroys urea, releasing ammonia from it. The course of the disease is often quite long, manifesting itself with a weakened immunity.
Ureaplazmos urealitikum
The disease causes an opportunistic gram-negative microbe of an intracellular nature. This disease is incredibly very common among women. In itself, it represents a kind of transitional stage between the bacterium and the virus, creating a urinary infection, since ureaplasma cannot exist without urea at all.
Symptoms of the disease
Mostly in women, the disease proceeds completely without symptoms, and even if there are glimpses of pathology, they are not very straightforward and may be symptomatic of any other sexual infection. They are mainly:
- white vaginal discharge, slightly different from the norm (they may have a different texture or smell);
- slight burning sensation when urinating, as the bacterium breaks down urea;
- the occurrence in the lower abdomen of periodic unpleasant pain.
Basically, exacerbation of symptoms is associated with the menstrual cycle, the course of treatment and stress. However, the most dangerous disease for a pregnant woman, because in its worst manifestations, it can cause not only complications, but also a miscarriage.
Diagnostic features
When planning pregnancy and the presence in the body of a number of infectious diseases affecting the reproductive system, be sure to pass a gynecologist analysis for ureaplasma. Correct diagnosis will help to select the subsequent treatment.
Analyzes
For diagnosis, an analysis of a smear from the vagina and urethra is performed by the method of polymerase chain reaction (PCR). To broaden the picture, crops of scrapings are often taken.
In general, the diagnosis is made in cases where inflammatory processes of the genitourinary system have already manifested themselves in the woman’s body, but of all the bacteria only Ureaplasma is detected.
Norm in a stroke
To determine the number of bacteria in a smear, an analysis is taken from a woman's vagina or urethra. Such an analysis can be taken at any time during the menstrual cycle. However, it is best to do any gynecological tests for a couple of days before or after your period to get the most accurate result.
To identify the norm, a smear for two days is placed in a special nutrient medium, which creates the most optimal conditions for the development and growth of ureaplasma. Only after this time laboratory research is carried out.
The norm of the bacteria in the smear, which, although it says that the woman is a carrier of the disease, but does not require any treatment, is ten to the fourth degree of microorganisms per milliliter of the material taken. Any excess of this figure indicates the development of the disease and requires immediate treatment.
How to treat ureaplasmosis in women
Proper treatment of ureaplasma is a long process requiring patience from the patient. It is almost impossible to fully recover from the first time, in addition, complex therapy is required, which includes not only medications, but also changes in lifestyle and nutrition.
Comprehensive treatment:
- antibacterial therapy;
- vaginal reorganization;
- drugs that increase immunity;
- enzyme aids to eliminate inflammation;
- probiotics, allowing to restore the normal intestinal microflora after antibiotics;
- magnetic therapy or electrophoresis, as well as a number of other physiotherapeutic procedures at the discretion of the gynecologist;
- taking multivitamin complexes.
Drug treatment regimen
Basically, anti-bacterial therapy is used to get rid of the infection. Since antibiotics themselves have a number of side properties, an important factor is the use of drugs that increase immunity and improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.
The first thing the doctor prescribes antibiotics. He chooses a drug from one of 2 groups: macrolides (weekly treatment), fluoroquinolones (3-week course). Mix these drugs can not, because in combination they cause great harm. However, if necessary, the patient may undergo several courses of treatment with various drugs for greater effect.
For local treatment, candles are used with antibacterial and antiviral effects, such as Genferon or Hexicon. The course lasts no more than a week for 1-2 candles per day.
Vitamin therapy, immunostimulating preparations and probiotics are used, which act as auxiliary means. Their use depends entirely on the selected drug and is mainly used according to the instructions for use in order to prevent overdose.
In general, the treatment regimen is prescribed purely individually. Often, a woman should take one drug a few days a week, and a completely different one on other days to achieve the best result. The course of treatment usually does not last more than 2 weeks.
During pregnancy
It is during pregnancy that the disease is often detected. Due to the delicacy of the situation, many women decide to leave treatment for the next period, which is wrong. In this situation, it is best to start an immediate fight against STDs even in a situation where the mother is a simple carrier, since there is a high risk of transmitting the disease to the child during childbirth.
Since many antimicrobials, which are so effective in a normal situation, are contraindicated for use, physicians prescribe vilprafen, which is approved for use during pregnancy. It should be taken only with the permission of the doctor and under his supervision only after the 20th week of pregnancy, otherwise there is a great risk of harming the child.
Mainly for the destruction of the infection are used candles, which have only local influence. Be sure to use probiotics and vitamin-mineral complexes for pregnant women.
Treatment of ureaplasma in a pregnant woman requires constant monitoring and testing at least 3 times during treatment to completely eliminate the possibility of its transmission to the child.
Preventive measures
In general, all measures to prevent infection with ureaplasma do not differ from the prevention of other sexually transmitted diseases.
- Get yourself a regular partner who has no genital diseases, use a condom and avoid casual sex with untested people.
- At least once every six months, go to an appointment with a gynecologist and take tests for the presence of genital infections.
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle with proper nutrition and physical training, do not let the immunity decrease.
- Watch for your own intimate hygiene, rinse 2 times a day using special tools.
- Timely treat all infections and diseases in the body, especially those associated with the urogenital system.
At first glance, ureaplasmosis does not seem to be a particularly serious disease, as it almost always proceeds in a latent form or with a minimal set of symptoms. However, for a woman, her timely treatment is mandatory if she wants to become a mother, since the neglected disease can even lead to infertility.
