Ureaplasma / Microplasma question

[notmybestday]

Hi all --

Is ureaplasma / microplasma contracted only through sexual relations? Should I bother getting tested for it if I've never had sexual relations? I'm trying to decide how many of the tests I should get done when sending my sample to United Med. Lab. I'm thinking of doing yeast and the standard broth culture at this point. Already so much $$$...


Thanks.

S.

[notmybestday]

Anybody?

I've done some internet research and it seems like it can be contracted without sexual relations (i.e. children). But apparently it is also natural genital flora and resides in a sizable portion of the population without causing symptoms. :confused:

I'd appreciate your input! Especially for those of you who have gotten broth cultures done, would it be worth getting the ureaplasma/microplasma test done even if I have had no sexual relations?

Thanks.

[mom_in_ma]

Depends on where you live, it you're in Europe, they treat it with antibiotics. If you're in the US, they say it's normal flora and likely won't treat it unless it's a very hip doc.

[maryla]

S.

My Dr. at the Cleveland clinic is the first uro that I've ever had test me for it. He said it can mimic IC symptoms. My test came back positive and both my husband and I were treated with antibiotics. However, my symptoms never changed? So, I'm only guessing it was utilized to see if my symptoms improved. But, we are all so different, who knows it really cannot hurt! :smile tee

God Bless,

Oh even though it really isn't considered a STD if you have it you can pass it back and forth to your partner. That was my understanding anyway.

[Grrrrrr]

I'm trying to decide what I should sign up for with the United Lab Broth cultures as well ;/ Not knowing if I should do Yeast now or wait til I'm on the antibiotics? I never even heard of the urea stuff. Oh my! I have so many questions! Ty =)

[OrlandoP]

I actually have direct experience with this. I did united med labs back in 1999, and came back clean as a whistle, even though pre 9-11 I mailed my urine sample through US post, and unrefrigerated.

In 2006, I was tested routinely by a gyn in former Yugoslavia while I was living there. I came back positive for mycoplasma and ureaplasma in a pelvic exam. Both of these are considered normal flora and fauna in the US, as posted here. I talked to my obgyn and urologist about this, both of whom I trust. They said that these are normal bacteria in the gyn tract, but perhaps in a really unbalanced system could be problematic. In studies, a majority of patients have some trace of these bacteria.

The issue with antibiotic therapies is that they tend to address small count bacteria issues. There are also theories that bacteria "retreats" in the wall of the bladder, and is hard to catch. My thoughts, especially given my "clean" at one point with broth, and "plasmaed" in Yugo, is that if low counts of bacteria are truly bothering the bladder, many other things would, too--it's a hypersensitive bladder. Also, the true ability for antibiotics to rid the body of low-count colonies is unknown, hence the long-term use of them.

MarthaF posted a lot here, she's very knowledgable, and this is all very interesting.

This is just one person's take, throwing it out there since I had direct experience.

[Grrrrrr]

I don't really understand if you're saying it's worth it or not. I'm kind of confused with your post, sorry.

[OrlandoP]

I don't really understand if you're saying it's worth it or not. I'm kind of confused with your post, sorry.

Sorry, I think it's worth it to get the tests, absolutely. If you can find someone to do a urine culture for ureaplasma, even better, but I was never able to find someone to test it here. Three different doctors at three different offices said that these bacteria are considered normal. The findings are another matter, and if I found out that I had, for instance, low count bacteria, I'd take the results to probably three doctors.

Perhaps the united med labs already tests for myco and ureo? If so, great. If so, I tested negative in the urine for them.

[Grrrrrr]

Oh okay, I'm sorry. I took that the entirely wrong way. Yes United does do the Urea/Micro whatever testing. I didn't know if I should get it done or not (it's an extra $89!) All this stuff is so pricey! However, after reading your story and others I think why not? I think it takes 6 weeks of culturing however, to get results? Anyway - thanks =) :cat:

[OrlandoP]

Oh okay, I'm sorry. I took that the entirely wrong way. Yes United does do the Urea/Micro whatever testing. I didn't know if I should get it done or not (it's an extra $89!) All this stuff is so pricey! However, after reading your story and others I think why not? I think it takes 6 weeks of culturing however, to get results? Anyway - thanks =) :cat:

If you can afford it, it's totally worth the extra $89. Think about how many unproductive hours you'd have if you didn't do it, then wondered if you should!!

I don't remember the turnaround. The test at the time I took it was I believe three days. The results perhaps took a while longer to get. I am pretty sure they don't culture for 6 weeks.

[MarthaF]

Mary,

I was interested to hear you say that you were treated at the Cleveland Clinic. Years ago there was an article on the internet about a study they did there - Dr. Jeanette Potts was the MD - and they treated couples who were positive with Doxycycline, I believe, for a month. Is this the treatment you had? Have you been back there to ask about the testing? The article is no longer available and it is very hard to find much of anything about ureaplasma and mycoplasma on the net. This makes me think that little is known about them.

I'm not sure that United has the sophisticated testing necessary to find them but don't know where one would go. Will try to find a good recommendation.

Martha

[Grrrrrr]

Martha,

It says that United tests for them. Do you think it's not worth it to do it when I send in my urine sample? I tried to ask Ruth what cultures I should do when I send my specimen into United but she hasn't gotten back to me yet. I was curious about the urea/micro, was going to do the yeast & I don't know about the chlamydia..

[MarthaF]

I think it is best to let Ruth decide. She knows the capabilities of United better than anyone. Testing for ureaplasma and mycoplasma is more extensive than the urine testing I believe and I don't know whether United has the equipment. But the lab I mentioned has been highly recommended so I posted it FYI. Some labs are better than others for certain tests.

[Grrrrrr]

Thank you thank you Martha =) I will definitely ask her whenever I get a hold of her. For now I think I will just do the Broth culture. The other tests are very pricey. I am unemployed at the moment. LOL you actually settled my mind a bit.

[Brenda01]

I just wanted to let you know that I recently had my gyno do a test for ureaplasma. It came back positive. It does need to be done by a PCR test or it is not very accurate. I took 14 dys of docycycline and was retested to see if it is gone yesterday. I understand that this bacteria, MAY exist in some women and not cause any problems, but when things get out of balance, as obviously us with IC are, it could cause symptoms. It does sound difficult to be rid of as it can easily repopulate. It is highly contagious and so you and your partner can pass it back and forth if you are active.
I thought it was worth giving a try, we will see what the out come is in a while. I did feel much better toward the end of treatment with the anitbiotic, but am back to a flare now, so I'm not certain if there is a relation. I would like to hear from someone who has been treated and had it make a difference in their IC. I know the Cleveland Clinic actively treats and tests for this with all their IC patients, I did talk to the nurse there. They were very helpful. Perhaps your doctor could contact them to see what kind of PCR lab and test they use.
Brenda

[laura86846]

One doctor believes my "IC" is caused by mycoplasma. My symptoms started 16 days after a miscarriage. went to the doc. clear urine, but put me on 3-day cipro. clears my symptoms for 16 days. I return to the doc who gives me 7 day amoxicillin. helps symptoms. 16 days later, BIG "IC" flare that calms down after a few days. 3 months down the road a doc starts me on lyme treatment (clarithromycin 500mg 2X day + 200mg plaquenil once a day). I am almost completely symptom free for 2.5 weeks!! at that point another doc make me stop the regimen and orders a huge panel of tests. finds slightly underactive thyroid and ureaplasma urealyticum (through PCR test). 16 days later HUUUGE flare up, blood in urine. I resume lyme regimen and feel better. been on it about 11 weeks and doing well intercourse much more comfortable, frequency urgency/pressure and burning greatly minimized. Seems like each time i stop antibiotics whatever is causing this comes back worse. I think the improper treatment leaves the really strong bugs behind. I know Lyme does this but I have no other lyme symptoms. I'm thinking I have a ureaplasma infection that has been misdiagnosed/improperly treated. Only other significant history is one e. coli bladder infection about 2.5 months prior to the onset of my "IC" symptoms.
I'm 21 years old and other than being tired from taking care of my wild toddler, I'm healthy and always have been. any insight????

[ICNDonna]

Laura: Most antibiotics have some analgesic qualities, which is why we feel so much better so quickly, even though they haven't had time to whip the infection. Are they doing cultures to verify there's infection there? If not, I suggest you specifically request that it be done.

Donna

[laura86846]

My infectious disease specialist found ureaplasma on a PCR test. Also mentioned the anti-inflammatory properties of the drugs im taking so he tested me for inflammatory disorders too. No problems there. I figured as much because it's unlikely that the anti-inflammatory benefits of the drugs wouldn't keep me feeling great for 2 and a half weeks after stopping them. My urologist and primary care doc said they "didn't know" why antibiotics were having this effect on me and with zero further testing after a urinalysis/chlamydia test told me I had IC. Gave me hydroxyzine which did nothing, and my diet has zero effect on how I feel.

[shortstuff]

Laura,

Just some more food for thought if you're still taking Plaquenil....there are IC patients whose bladder symptoms have improved on Plaquenil. This medication is often used to lessen symptoms of Sjogren's Syndrome, which seems to go hand in hand with IC for some people. I was just diagnosed with SS in August and started Plaquenil a month ago. I can't tell you just yet if it's making a difference for me but my rheumatologist has another patient with IC whose bladder symptoms improved after starting Plaquenil. I've also chatted with another IC'er on the Sjogren's World site who said the same.

I was tested for urea/myco in January and the infectious disease doc I saw told me that he thinks that everyone may actually have these bacteria in their bodies but they affect us in different ways. He said 10 years ago you couldn't even test for it without jumping through hoops and though it's come a long way that even today the testing isn't perfect (false negatives). He expects 10 years from now it'll be more sophisticated and doctors will understand these two a lot better.

Wishing you the best.

[laura86846]

actually i took plaquenil alone for awhile and it didnt help my symptoms. only when I added clarithromycin did I start to feel *almost* normal. felt awesome for 2 weeks, no burning, urgency, pain. just the occasional funny feelings. after 2.5 weeks of that the doc took me off for testing and 16 days later, just like the other times, it returned worse. I'm thinking I don't really have IC, I have had a misdiagnosed mycoplasma infection.