In the article, we will consider how to take an analysis for ureaplasma in men.
A common disease of the male urogenital area is ureaplasmosis. However, few are aware of his presence, since it can only be diagnosed through a special examination. How is men ureaplasma tested? How to prepare? All answers are later in the article.
Ureaplasma: what is it?
Ureaplasmosis is a disease that is hidden in men, few are aware of its presence. It will be about the impact of pathology and its essence, as well as about the features of preparation for analysis.
The complexity of inflammatory and infectious diseases of the genital area of men lies in the fact that they have almost no pronounced signs. Therefore, the patient often does not suspect that they are. The absence of symptoms at the same time does not reduce the importance of threats to the state of the body, therefore, the alleged presence of the disease cannot be ignored, you need to act in a timely manner, performing diagnostics and further treatment.
Norm
The presence of ureaplasma for natural male microflora is normal. These are bacteria that live on the mucous membranes of the urinary tract and genitals of a man. Normally, such microorganisms are not active.
Analysis in men for ureaplasma urealiticum is much less common than for ureaplasma parvum.
As a rule, transmission is carried out in two ways: through communication with an infected woman or from the mother, if she has such microorganisms.
Ureaplasmosis is generally less common in men than in the weaker sex.
Symptoms of ureaplasmosis
The disease has a list of the following symptoms: soreness during urination; burning and itching in the genital area; there may be discharge, usually mild, the color is transparent.
It is easy to confuse such symptoms with other inflammatory processes of the genitourinary sphere, in connection with which there are frequent cases of overflow of ureaplasmosis to the chronic stage from the acute. With a chronic nature, the disease does not manifest in any way, but if you just catch a cold or in any way violate the state of the immune system, the pathology returns again.
Many are interested in what tests to take to a man for ureaplasma.
Causes
When microorganisms are found in the human body in a hidden form, the pathogen process can be started if the general microflora of the male body, including the microflora of the mucosa of the genitals and urinary tract, is disturbed. A similar violation can be triggered by:
- violation of the schedule of rest and nutrition, which reduces the quality of life, the man’s body becomes more susceptible to infections;
- antibiotics and hormones can also be a source of the disease.
Since the resettlement of microorganisms occurs throughout the mucous membrane of the genitourinary system, pathology can begin in any of its departments. Initially, it is an inflammatory process, but it is a harbinger of more serious diseases: urethritis; urolithiasis; arthritis; epididymitis; prostatitis. If the case is more serious, it can degrade the quality of sperm and cause complete infertility of the man.
So, we will figure out how to take an analysis for ureaplasma in men.
Diagnostic Methods
When ureaplasma microorganisms are latent, it is difficult to assume that examination and treatment are required. However, at the first signs it is necessary to consult a specialist.
The doctor at the first appointment will examine the patient and prescribe the necessary tests. A diagnosis can only be made after a laboratory test and its results. Currently, laboratories use one of three methods:
- The application of bacteriological material, which was obtained by scraping from the urination channel, is the most reliable diagnostic method, but it will take at least a week to carry it out.
- Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) - this method is based on molecular analysis, allows you to determine the presence of pathogens; It has high accuracy, speed and lower cost than the previous method.
- ELISA and PIF are the least accurate diagnostic method, which is aimed at determining antibodies to ureaplasma. In other words, he suggests that if there is a disease in a person, antibodies to pathogens will be present in the blood, as the fight against the disease takes place. Normally, there are no antibodies in the analysis for ureaplasma in men.
The main disadvantage of this method is the low accuracy.
After a laboratory study, the doctor at the second appointment will confidently say whether there is a microorganism of ureaplasma, whether they are a source of inflammation. Then a treatment course is prescribed that combines drugs to strengthen the immune system and antibiotics.
How to pass an analysis on ureaplasma to a man, the doctor will tell.
The specifics of the analysis
Diagnostic accuracy will be the higher, the more correctly a man will prepare for analysis. When conducting a study by the bacteriological method, it is necessary to ensure the purity of the smear from the urination channel. When taking blood, you also need to worry about the absence of impurities in it of alcohol, drugs and other substances, since they violate the overall picture.
The sampling procedure is directly carried out as follows: a scraping of the mucous membrane is made from the walls of the urination channel. Scraping is carried out by a doctor. For this, a special probe must be inserted into the urethra. A tampon can also be used as a tool. Typically, the depth of administration reaches three centimeters. To collect a sufficient amount of biomaterial for analysis, the doctor will make several translational movements with the tool, thus scraping off particles of mucus from the channel walls.
This procedure is rather unpleasant, but there is usually no thrill of pain. It is important to collect a sufficient amount of biomaterial, since pathogens are located inside the cells of the mucosa, and not on it itself. If not enough, false results will be obtained.
After removing the probe, a certain discomfort and a slight burning sensation are felt, but within a couple of hours they pass.
Preparation Recommendations
For undeniable reliability, before passing an analysis on ureaplasma, men should conduct several preparatory procedures:
- exclude medication during the week; if any drugs are taken, you need to warn the doctor about this so that he takes into account their influence when evaluating the results of the study;
- two days before the analysis, intimacy should be excluded;
- in the evening on the eve of the intake of material, hygiene must be carefully performed.
You need to urinate 2-3 hours before the analysis, but no later. When urinating, right before the examination, urine will cleanse the canal mucosa and reduce the amount of biomaterial needed, that is, the results will be distorted.
Useful information from specialists
Infections of the genitourinary system, including ureaplasmosis, significantly affect the patient's quality of life. That is why experts advise to undergo all examinations in a timely manner and, if necessary, begin treatment. A very important factor for the correct diagnosis is ensuring the conditions for a high-quality sampling of the material, that is, the patient needs to properly prepare for the procedure. Only in this case, the result of the study will be reliable.
To facilitate the analysis, the doctor can offer the man a preliminary massage of the urination channel with a special probe or prostate through the rectum.
We examined how men take an ureaplasma test.