Ureaplasmosis and mycoplasmosis are more than common human infectious diseases that affect mainly the urogenital system of the body. They are transmitted mainly through sexual contact. Infection is equally affected by men and women, but in some cases, mycoplasma infection can be transmitted to a child from a sick mother or, even less often, by contact and household from a sick family member with close contact.
Both types of diseases are provoked by special types of microorganisms: in the first case, the causative agent is Ureaplasma urealiticum, in the second – Micoplasma hominis. Ureaplasma and mycoplasma are the simplest microorganisms of a parasitic nature, which occupy an intermediate position between fungi, bacteria and viruses and combine these or those signs of these pathogenic “creatures”. Both infections are so similar that they are often treated only at the same time.
Symptoms of infection in men
The incubation period for the adaptation of ureaplasmas and mycoplasmas in the human body requires a sufficiently long time, usually it is 1.5-2 months. At this time, microorganisms “penetrate” into the cells of the mucous membranes, settle there and “hide” for a while, waiting for a convenient time for reproduction.
The first symptoms of ureaplasmosis and mycoplasmosis do not have any specific signs by which the disease could be immediately diagnosed, are implicitly expressed and often look like symptoms of ordinary urethritis. The patient complains of a burning sensation and itching during urination, especially in the morning, he develops discharge from the genitals that is different from normal, his body temperature may slightly increase and his general health may worsen. In addition, urethritis, caused by ureaplasmas or mycoplasmas , is often accompanied by balanoposthitis.
If adequate treatment is not carried out in time, the disease quickly becomes chronic, and ureaplasma or mycoplasma remain in the patient’s body, causing, from time to time, relapse of an existing disease and affecting other organs. Moreover, with each subsequent exacerbation of the disease only progresses. For example, with urethritis, inflammatory processes spread to the seminal vesicles and prostate gland, which ultimately leads to the development of vesiculitis or incurable ureaplasma prostatitis.
There are frequent cases when untreated infection after a while becomes the cause of chronic bilateral epididymitis, which causes obliteration of the epididymis and leads to an obstructive form of infertility.
If the patient is diagnosed with ureaplasma orchitis, there is a probability of a violation of the secretory function of the testicles and, consequently, the development of secretory infertility.
Ureaplasma and mycoplasma also become the cause of the development of pyelonephritis and mycoplasma cystitis.
The basic principles of treatment
A treatment course lasts, on average, 2 weeks and consists of a complex of drug therapies. For the treatment of urogenital infections, targeted antibiotics, antibacterial and antifungal drugs are used. At the same time as the main course, the doctor prescribes immunomodulating pharmacological agents to the patient to strengthen the body’s defenses. Local treatment is also carried out in the form of instillations in the urethra of medications and physiotherapy.
It is very important to treat ureaplasmosis and mycoplasmosis at the same time for all sexual partners of the patient. Only in this case will it be possible to completely overcome the infection and avoid re-infection. It is forbidden to live sexually during treatment. In addition, patients need to follow a certain diet, excluding the use of spicy, salty, fried, spicy dishes. You should also give up alcohol and, preferably, from smoking.