Ureaplasma & Mycoplasma at Home Test Kit

What is Ureaplasma/Mycoplasm?

We all have bacteria, as part of our microbiome. Most of these bacteria are harmless; however, under certain circumstances, they overgrow and lead to infections and inflammations. Ureaplasma is a bacterium that normally lives in our respiratory and urinary tract. They can help every woman maintain a healthy reproductive system. Mycoplasma are bacteria lacking any cell walls, which makes them hard to treat. These can lead to inflammation of the genital tissues. Both ureaplasma and mycoplasma are transmitted sexually through unprotected sexual contact, and, enter the body through the urethra, in men.. Babies born to infected mothers and adults with weakened immune system are at risk of being infected.

This test measures four types of bacteria, which are the most harmful types. While symptoms can be silent upon contamination/exposure, some infected women report numerous signs:

• Mycoplasma genitalium signs include cervicitis and urethritis consisting of abdominal pain, vaginal pain, frequent urination or having the feeling of having to urinate frequently, experiencing pain during intercourse, having a burning sensation while urinating, and having abnormal discharges and bleeding from the vagina during or after intercourse and between periods. Some infected women experience bacterial vaginosis consisting of having a thin, gray, white or green vaginal discharge that has a fishy smell, vaginal itching, and feeling a burning sensation during urination. Mycoplasma genitalium can also have signs of pelvic inflammatory disease like vomiting, nausea, fever, as well as pelvic pain and abnormal vaginal discharges. For men: While it does not normally show any symptoms, this infection can show signs such as the swelling of the urethra (urethritis), a stinging and burning sensation upon urinating, redness at the opening of the penis, tenderness of the testicles, and having abnormal discharges from the penis
• Mycoplasma hominis has symptoms similar to the ureaplasma. These include difficulty in pain while urinating, having abnormal vaginal discharges accompanied by pelvic pain. Other symptoms include changes in the heart rate and blood pressure, fever, and having difficulty breathing. For men: Mycoplasma hominis, is the type that lives in the urinary tract and genitals.
• Ureaplasma urealyticum & ureaplasma parvum can show many symptoms in infected women, such as a vaginal discharge that has an unusual odor, color and consistency; atypical vaginal bleeding, and dysuria. Up to 80% of infected women do no show any symptoms; and, are unaware of their infection. Ureaplasma bacteria are normally asymptomatic in men. But some infected men experience nongonococcal urethritis, dysuria, penile discharge, epididymitis and swelling of the mouth of the urethra. 

Why take the at-home Ureaplasma/Mycoplasma test?

This comprehensive test can screen and detect the presence of Ureaplasma and Mycoplasma bacteria in both men and women. It is a simplified and convenient tool to follow up the course of treatment and determine its effectiveness, allowing a better treatment plan. If you are sexually active, you need to be tested. Having a silent sexually transmitted disease that is undetected, often leads to health complications.

Mycoplasma genitalium can cause long term consequences, if undiagnosed and untreated. This can be infertility and putting the woman at high risk of ending up with an ectopic pregnancy. Pelvic inflammatory disease is another complication of this type of bacterium. Mycoplasma hominis, if not treated, can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, tuba-ovarian cysts, bacterial vaginosis, preterm delivery, miscarriage, postpartum fever, as well as infertility. This bacterium can also be passed from an infected/untreated mother to her newborn causing heavy burden infections on the baby. These include meningitis, conjunctivitis, respiratory problems, fever, pneumonia and eye infections. An infected woman can also develop infections of the central nervous system, joint infections, as well as lung infections.

For example, in men,  an undetected and untreated mycoplasma hominis or mycoplasma genitalium infection can lead to epididymitis, which is the infection and inflammation of the epididymis in the testicles. As a result, the infected man will have chronic testicular pain, swelling and fever. It can also lead to prostatitis, which is the inflammation of the prostate glands. Its symptoms include chills and fever, pelvic pain, as well as having the urge to urinate and feeling pain while urinating.

Ureaplasma urealyticum & ureaplasma parvum can have drastic effects on infected women. These include chorioamnionitis, spontaneous abortion, premature birth, miscarriage, stillborn birth, and even infertility.

In men, untreated Ureaplasma parvum and Ureaplasma Urealyticum can lead to numerous chronic infections such as dysfunctions of the sexual accessory glands, prostatitis, epididymitis, as well as infertility. These two types of bacteria can extend their damages on the male reproductive system by causing the inflammation of the testicles and urethra.

Both ureaplasma and mycoplasma can also lead to kidney infections and kidney stones.

Those who are at high risk of contracting STD’s need to be tested to keep their sexual relationship safe and healthy. A partner of an infected individual needs to be tested and treated. Three months post-treatment, another test is needed to ensure that the infection was addressed.

An at-home test can help you remain anonymous and skip all the inconvenience of a test done in the lab.

What can cause false results?

There is no evidence of any medication or supplement that can affect the results of this vaginal test. However, false negatives are very common for this type of bacterial infections. Make sure you do not use any vaginal cream or douches prior to taking the test.

What your at-home Ureaplasma/Mycoplasma  test results mean?

Having a positive test result means that you have an active infection. Having a negative test result indicates the absence of an active infection. Both bacteria are normally treated by a course of antibiotics. The vaginal swab test is the most effective method to determine the presence of these bacteria.

Where can I get an at-home Ureaplasma/Mycoplasma test?

Ordering this vaginal swab test means that you will receive a kit to your door via USPS. The kit will include a vaginal swab for women or a urine collection for men, as well as other test kit materials. You need to review all instructions prior to performing this test. Specimens should be shipped via USPS back to the laboratory. Results take 2 to 3 days upon receipt of the specimen by the laboratory.

TEST KIT REFUND POLICY- Kits can be cancelled anytime prior to sending the specimen to the lab.  There is a $25 fee to cover the kit costs and shipping. So a full refund is minus $25.

TEST COLLECTION INSTRUCTIONS PDF

Reviewed By: Dr. Kurt Kloss, MD
Last Reviewed Date: Apr 28, 2022