Patient Communication: Ureaplasma SPP Positive Test Result
What is Ureaplasma?
Ureaplasma is a very small bacteria that commonly lives in the urogenital tract of healthy adults—up to 80% of sexually mature women carry it without any problems. 1, 2 It's sexually transmitted, but exists in a gray zone: it's not classified as a traditional STD like gonorrhea or chlamydia because it frequently colonizes healthy individuals without causing symptoms. 1
There are two species: Ureaplasma urealyticum and Ureaplasma parvum. Recent evidence suggests that U. urealyticum (but not U. parvum) can cause urethritis and may be associated with male infertility. 3, 1
How Common is It?
Ureaplasma colonizes approximately 76% of pregnant women and is present in a similar proportion of sexually active adults. 2 The high colonization rate in healthy people is precisely why testing positive doesn't automatically mean you need treatment—many people carry it without any health consequences.
Why Could It Be a Problem?
We recommend treatment because Ureaplasma can cause urethritis (inflammation of the urethra) with symptoms like discharge, burning during urination, or urethral discomfort. 3, 1 In specific contexts, it can lead to complications:
- Urethritis symptoms: mucopurulent discharge, dysuria (painful urination), or urethral pruritis (itching) 1
- Potential complications in men: epididymitis and, in rare cases, association with infertility (specifically U. urealyticum) 3, 1
- Risk to sexual partners: Female partners of men with Ureaplasma-related urethritis are at risk for infection and associated complications 3
- Rare systemic infections: In immunocompromised patients, Ureaplasma can cause serious disseminated infections, though this is uncommon 4, 5
Your Treatment Plan
You will be treated with doxycycline 100 mg orally twice daily for 7 days, which is the most reliable and consistently effective first-line treatment. 6, 7, 8 This antibiotic is specifically active against Ureaplasma urealyticum. 8
Your sexual partner(s) also need evaluation and treatment to prevent reinfection. 6, 1 Anyone you've had sexual contact with in the past 60 days should be treated. 1, 7
Both you and your partner(s) must abstain from sexual intercourse for the full 7 days of treatment until therapy is completed and symptoms have resolved. 1, 7
Important Follow-Up Information
You should return for evaluation only if symptoms persist or recur after completing the full course of antibiotics. 6, 7 We don't routinely retest asymptomatic patients after treatment. 6
If symptoms don't improve, we have alternative antibiotics available (azithromycin or moxifloxacin), though resistance patterns vary and doxycycline remains the most effective option. 7, 2, 9
Please complete the full 7-day course even if symptoms improve earlier, and ensure your partner(s) receive treatment to prevent passing the infection back and forth.