Ureaplasmosis IgМ

The test refers to the serologic diagnosis of sexual infections. The sampling material is blood, in which antibodies to the pathogen are detected. Antibodies are components of the body's immune system, which are produced to destroy a certain foreign protein-antigen. In this case, the antigen is ureaplasma (Ureaplasma urealyticum).

There are several types of antibodies such as IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG, and IgM. However, the immune system cannot deal with ureaplasmas even at very high antibody concentrations. Each of these antibodies has its own function and period of appearance.

IgM is produced as early as 5 days after infection. The peak of IgM falls on 1-2 weeks, then there is a gradual decrease in their number and after 2-3 months, the antibodies disappear completely, even without treatment (they are replaced by IgG). If the chronic course of mycoplasmosis is exacerbated, IgM reappears.

Ureaplasma causes an inflammatory disease called ureaplasmosis, which is accompanied by damage to the urethra, as well as the prostate gland in men and the vagina in women. Infection with ureplasmosis occurs predominantly by sexual transmission, including oral-genital transmission. The infection is transmitted to newborns from an infected mother during the child's passage through the birth canal. When planning a pregnancy, parents should be examined for this infection, as intrauterine infection of the fetus may occur during pregnancy, leading to severe consequences, especially during the period of active development of fetal organs.

Factors that contribute to infection with ureaplasma include:

• Unprotected sexual contact and frequent change of sexual partners;
• Taking broad-spectrum antibiotics;
• Decrease in general and local immunity.

Clinical manifestations

For women:

• Unfrequent discharge from the vagina, almost colorless, without a specific odor;
• Pain in the lower abdomen like rubber, which may be associated with the spread of inflammation to the uterus and appendages;
• Frequent urges to urinate not associated with physiological need;
• Pain and burning during the act of urination;
• Unpleasant, moderately painful sensations during sexual contact or after sexual intercourse.

For men:

• Unobstructed, cloudy odorless discharge from the external urethra, most often in the morning hours after a long pause between acts of urination;
• Less often there are moderate painful sensations during urination, burning sensation;
• Painful sensations in the scrotum, which is due to the penetration of infection in the testicle and testicular appendage.

For men and women:

• In the transition of ureaplasmosis in chronic forms, infertility may be observed, which is due to the development of adhesions, the lumen of the fallopian tubes is narrowing in women, and “clogged” ejaculatory duct in men.