Genital ureaplasma (Ureaplasma urealyticum and parvum) are reported as some of the normal bacteria found in the genital areas of both men and women - found in about 70% of sexually active humans. They are among the smallest "free-living bacteria", these organisms live inside cells or in cultures outside cells, similar to the way viruses live. Ureaplasma may be caught from a sexual partner (or unwashed/shared sex toys) quite easily; they are common, contagious and often have no outward symptoms.
These bacteria however can play a significant role in genital infections, non-specific urethritis and possibly affect fertility in both men and women. They can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease and infections of the kidney if unchecked. Ureaplasma can cause infertility because of inflammation of the placenta during early pregnancy. During childbirth, the infection can be spread to the central nervous system or respiratory tract of the baby leading to further complications which may include pneumonia, septicaemia and meningitis.
When symptoms are present, they can include an abnormal genital discharge, local inflammation and possible discomfort on urination.
Testing for ureaplasma requires a vaginal swab (like a cotton bud) or a urine sample to be sent to the laboratory for testing. If the test is positive a course of an antibiotic called doxycycline (100mg taken twice a day for seven days) or azithromycin (two x 500mg tablets on day one and then 500 mg on days 2 to 4) are the recommended treatments which are both effective. In some cases, symptoms can persist when the infection has gone, but these should disappear with time. Retesting should wait until at least three weeks after the antibiotic course has been completed. Partners of infected individuals should also be treated and to prevent reinfection sexual intercourse should be avoided until the symptoms have cleared.