Ureaplasma testing and treatment in NYC, New York
Accurate and Confidential

Female vaginal swab

It’s possible for the patient to do the swab herself, but it’s ideal for a health care provider to do it.

A thin, sterile cotton swab is used to collect fluid from the vagina and/or cervix. (See the illustration below.) This might cause very mild discomfort. Minor spotting could occur after the swab if infection is present and the mucosa is fragile, but this is uncommon.

Remember: don’t use any vaginal cream or douche for 24 hours before the test.

Image source:
Chlamydia / N. Gonorrhoeae RNA, TMA - Unisex Collection | Diagnostic Laboratory of Oklahoma. https://www.dlolab.com/chlamydia-n-gonorrhoeae-rna-tma-unisex-collection.

Male urethral swab

A doctor inserts a thin, sterile cotton swab into the tip of the penis until it is three fourths of an inch into the urethra. (See the illustration below.) The swab collects fluid for testing. This takes only about 15 to 30 seconds and the procedure may be mildly uncomfortable.

Image source:
Chlamydia / N. Gonorrhoeae RNA, TMA - Unisex Collection | Diagnostic Laboratory of Oklahoma. https://www.dlolab.com/chlamydia-n-gonorrhoeae-rna-tma-unisex-collection.

Urine test (males and females)

For this test, you merely need to urinate into a cup, catching a urine sample from the first part of your urine stream.

Remember: do not urinate for at least 2 hours before the test.

No, it is not recommended that ureaplasma testing be done orally or rectally.

The results of either the ureaplasma swab test or ureaplasma urine test are usually available in seven business days.

Females who have had more than one sex partner in their lifetime typically have ureaplasma bacteria as part of their normal vaginal flora. Therefore, treatment for ureaplasma will be considered only if other conditions have been ruled out (ureaplasma infection is a diagnosis of exclusion). Treatment for ureaplasma may be necessary in these circumstances:

• The patient has BV that recurs or has developed an antibiotic resistance
• The patient has a recurring vaginal infection that is not responding to treatment
• The patient has persistent vaginal burning and/or an odorous vaginal discharge
• The patient has been tested for all common infections and those tests have been negative

Yes! Testing and treatment of sexual partners will make the treatment of the initial patient more effective.

No. Unless ureaplasma is causing symptoms, it is not considered a contagious condition but rather just a normal part of the body.

Testing men who do not have symptoms for ureaplasma urealyticum is not commonly recommended.

Males are less likely than females to get ureaplasma. Up to 80% of females and 53% of males, worldwide, have ureaplasma bacteria in their bodies. In the United States, 15% to 40% of sexually active adults with no history of symptoms related to ureaplasma have been found to have ureaplasma bacteria in their bodies.

Males should be tested for ureaplasma urealyticum in these circumstances:

• When they have symptoms of urethritis and other more common infections (chlamydia trachomatis, gonorrhea, mycoplasma genitalium, and trichomoniasis) have been ruled out
• They had a sexual contact with someone who has tested positive for ureaplasma

No, ureaplasma is not a sexually transmitted disease in the classic sense. Testing positive for it does not suggest infidelity. Ureaplasma urealyticum is part of most females’ normal flora, and it can live in balance (that is, without causing infection or any sexual health problems) on the skin of the genitals. It was originally obtained through sexual contact at some point in the person’s life, but when it causes symptoms it is because of overgrowth, not because of sexual activity.

Treatment of ureaplasma depends on the situation and the patient’s allergy profile. Three treatment options are available:

• A medication from the macrolide group (azithromycin, clarithromycin, or erythromycin)
• Doxycycline
• A medication from the fluoroquinolone group (levofloxacin, ofloxacin, or moxifloxocin)

Ureaplasma testing is not done in a lot of places because it is part of the body’s normal flora. Gynecology clinics, urology clinics, and our specialized STD clinic offer this type of testing.

Yes, this is recommended. They should be examined by a doctor and have testing to prevent the infection from being spread further or passed back to you. Health complications are possible although in most people ureaplasma does not cause any symptoms and is not harmful.

If you wish, we can notify them for you, anonymously, by calling them, sending them a text message, or emailing them.

Yes. This is one the reasons that your sex partner(s) should be tested and treated.ful.

In 3–4 weeks after treatment, you can be retested to find out if the treatment was effective.

Males

Ureaplasma urealyticum causes urethritis in males. The signs and symptoms of urethritis are pain during urination and discharge from the urethra (penis). Ureaplasma may also contribute to prostatitis, which is inflammation of the prostate gland that tends to cause more frequent urination and decreased urine flow.
In addition, ureaplasma may increase the risk of infertility in males.

Females

Females with ureaplasma infection may experience lower abdominal pain and/or pain in the genitals. They may also have painful urination and fatigue. Rarely, ureaplasma causes joint pain, persistent urethritis, and abscesses (collections of pus under the skin).

Importantly, in most cases, people who are positive for ureaplasma have no symptoms, and they could develop more serious health conditions if they go untreated.

Yes, health insurance usually covers the visit to the doctor, STI testing, and treatment. If you have a high-deductible plan and want to know how much you will have to pay out of pocket, you can call your insurance company and ask the amount of your contribution for the primary care office visit and ureaplasma testing.

Without health insurance, the office visit is $84 cash (or $90 if paid with a credit card) and the charge for the testing (which will be done by a certified lab) is $60.

Our walk-in clinic for STD testing and treatment is conveniently located on the east side of Midtown Manhattan near the Grand Central Terminal and the Main branch of the New York City public library.
Despite it being our only STD testing center, we offer health services to New Yorkers from all zip codes across all 5 NYC boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, and Staten Island.
Our certified STD center offers testing services for ureaplasma and other STDs (including syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes, HIV (also rapid HIV testing), HPV (genital warts), mycoplasma, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C), along with effective treatment and follow-up care.