Ureaplasma in men: symptoms, treatment

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Ureaplasma in men: symptoms, treatment
Ureaplasma in men: symptoms, treatment
Anonim

Today, unfortunately, not all diseases are treatable, as many would like. In some cases, longer therapy with the use of potent medications is required. One of these diseases is ureaplasmosis. How is this disease different? Why does it occur?

General information

Ureaplasma is a rather specific pathogenic microorganism that provokes the occurrence of an inflammatory process in the organs of the genitourinary system. This pathology is called ureaplasmosis. It is important to note that it is diagnosed not only among women, but also among the stronger sex. Despite the fact that the exact causes of ureaplasmosis have not been identified, doctors identify a group of factors that provoke the development of the disease:

  • weakened immunity due to regular stress and illness;
  • violation of the protective functions of the genitourinary system;
  • co-infections.
ureaplasma in men
ureaplasma in men

In the absence of timely therapy, ureaplasma in men often leads to the development of prostatitis, disorders in the musculoskeletal system. That is why when the primary symptoms of the disease appear, it is so important to immediately seek help from a urologist or venereologist.

Ureaplasma parvum and Ureaplasma urealyticum

Under these Latin terms, 14 types of ureaplasma are hidden. Their scientists have identified in two subgroups. Both types of pathogens are combined under the same name Ureaplasma species.

A bit of history

It is noteworthy that scientists originally classified ureaplasma as a group of infections transmitted only sexually. This pathogen was thought to be the causative agent of non-gonococcal urethritis.

The presence of such a problem as ureaplasma urealiticum in men has always interested the minds of scientists. So, in 1986, at the next meeting of the World He alth Organization, pathology was included in the classification of pathogens, sexually transmitted diseases. However, the ailment itself was not defined in the International Classification of Diseases either 9th or subsequent 10th revision.

ureaplasma urealiticum in men
ureaplasma urealiticum in men

Since 1998, ureaplasmosis has been perceived as a sexual infection. Due to the introduction on the territory of our country of the International Classification of Diseases 10 revision, the disease was excluded from the list of diseases that were originally recorded as problems transmitted exclusively through sexual contact.

That is why today ureaplasmosis is understood as an inflammatory process in the genitourinary system. It is important to note that in order to confirm the diagnosis in laboratory tests, it is ureaplasma urealiticum that must be detected. In men, in this case, no other pathogenic organisms that can provoke the development of the inflammatory process should be identified.

Main routes of transmission

This pathogenic microorganism is transmitted by household contact, including sexually. It is the latter method that is considered the most common. Moreover, ureaplasma parvum in men is transmitted only through sexual contact. The incubation period is usually 2-3 weeks. In some cases, it may take more/less time for the primary symptoms to appear. It depends on several factors (comorbidities, weakened immune system, etc.).

Ureaplasma in men: photos, symptoms

ureaplasma parvum in men
ureaplasma parvum in men
  • Non-gonococcal urethritis.
  • Cloudy discharge from the urethra.
  • Orchiepididymitis (inflammatory process in the testicle).
  • Itching and burning during regular micturition.
  • Slight rise in temperature.
  • Urethral discharge that is not persistent.
  • Male infertility (asthenospermia).

Some doctors associate asthenospermia with the parasitism of pathogenic microorganisms on spermatozoa. By means of scanning electron microscopy, it was proved that at the place where the parvum ureaplasma in men contacts directly with the spermatozoon, fusion and lysis of the membrane is observed. All this leads to the loss of viability and mobility of male germ cells.

Modern diagnostics

How is ureaplasma confirmed in the laboratory in men? Symptoms, according to experts, do not always appear after a few weeks from the moment of infection. That is why it is so important to undergo a diagnostic examination twice a year in order to exclude all sexually transmitted diseases.

To clarify the final diagnosis, the following procedures are usually required:

  • visual inspection;
  • gathering anamnesis;
  • microbiological research;
  • PCR test;
  • serological analysis;
  • enzymatic immunoassay.
analysis for ureaplasma in men
analysis for ureaplasma in men

If the analysis for ureaplasma in men shows a positive result, it is very important to notify your potential partner about this. As noted above, ureaplasmosis often occurs without clinical signs, which does not reduce the risk of complications.

Why did one lab test positive and another not?

First of all, it should be noted that the results of the study do not give a 100% guarantee that such a pathological problem is really present in the body. The test can be both false positive and false negative due to the influence of many factors. That is why, to confirm the presence in the body of such a pathogen as ureaplasma, several tests are taken from men, and physical examination data are also taken into account.

ureaplasma in men photo
ureaplasma in men photo

It is very important to follow some requirements before taking the tests. Doctors recommend starting the examination no earlier than 30 days after the end of taking antibacterial agents, and also 3 hours after the last urination.

Therapy

Treatment of ureaplasma in men is complex and based on the following principles:

  • eliminate urinary stasis;
  • use of quality antibiotics that can fight microorganisms;
  • use of uroantiseptics to achieve the fastest possible result;
  • abstinence for the duration of intimacy therapy.

Treatment of ureaplasma in men involves taking macrolide, fluoroquinolone and tetracycline antibiotics of the latest generation.

Aminoglycosides, which were actively used in therapy several years ago, are practically not used today, since in reality their effectiveness is quite low. This is due to the fact that such antibiotics do not affect some intracellular pathogens, which include ureaplasma. In men, this kind of pathology is much more difficult to treat.

It is noteworthy that not always therapy is effective. The thing is that quite often pathogenic microorganisms remain insensitive to the prescribed drug. In this kind of situation, doctors recommend the so-called antibiogram. Thanks to this test, it becomes possible to determine a specific pathogen and its sensitivity to a particular drug.

treatment of ureaplasma in men
treatment of ureaplasma in men

Ureaplasma in men (photos of microorganisms can be seen in this article) responds well to treatment with drugs such as Azithromycin and Doxycilin. As a direct alternative, the following agents can be used: Erythromycin, Levofloxacin, Ofloxacin.

In addition, patients are often prescribed antifungal agents, immunostimulants, sorbents and multivitamin complexes. For the entire duration of treatment, men are advised to follow a fairly simple diet (avoiding fatty and fried foods, limiting the use of alcoholic beverages and spices / condiments). More accurate data on how to treat ureaplasma in men on an individual basis can be obtained at a consultation with a urologist after undergoing an initial diagnostic examination. In no case is it recommended to postpone a visit to the doctor when the primary symptoms appear. The thing is that the lack of timely treatment entails the formation of quite serious complications.

The total duration of therapy is about three weeks. The disease is considered completely cured if, during the next laboratory test, specialists did not reveal the presence of pathogenic microorganisms.

How to treat ureaplasma in men in a chronic form?

Persistent ureaplasmosis is a situation where the primary symptoms of pathology reappear 3-4 months after the end of the course of treatment. Resuming antibiotics?

how to treat ureaplasma in men
how to treat ureaplasma in men

Unfortunately, at present, experts cannot give a definite answer to this question. The absolute indication for the use of drugs is the presence of clear signs of an inflammatory process, which is confirmed clinically and in the laboratory.

In this case, it is recommended to give preference to antibiotics from the tetracycline group. If they are ineffective in the fight against pathology, it is necessary to replace them with macrolides (the drug "Azithromycin"). The dosage of a particular remedy is calculated solely by the doctor.

A full course of therapy, for example, with Azithromycin, is no more than five days. This period is enough for ureaplasma in men to finally disappear.

Possible hazards

If treatment has not been prescribed, pathogenic microorganisms can begin to multiply with double activity. Often this situation becomes the cause of the development of diseases of an inflammatory nature. In a strong half of humanity, these are, as a rule, epidymitis and non-gonococcal urethritis. On the other hand, very often, due to damage to the reproductive system, the quality of sperm deteriorates noticeably. And here ureaplasma dominates. In men, the symptoms in this case may also not appear for a long time. However, such a seemingly harmless microorganism can cause infertility. That is why it is so important, if you have made a decision to conceive a child, to check your he alth in advance.

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