Today, I received isolated and abnormal results for ureaplasma species.  I was prescribed 14 days of doxycycline.  All my other std testing was negative.   I went to get tested due to some slight mostly clear (one time cloudy) discharge coming from my penis.   The discharge went away within a couple of days.  I experienced similar symptoms about 18 months prior; however, at that time, all my tests were negative (inclusive of ureaplasma).  I should note that the head of my penis does get irritated at times as I believe it the ph from one partner's vagina is causing this.  I went 18 months feeling fine until about a week ago.  I feel fine now - with the exception of some lower back pain.  I've read on this forum that ureaplasma is of no real concern.  Can you explain? Does it go away on its own? Is it a normal bacteria?  

Welcome back to the Forum.  The discharge you experienced may or may not have been non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU).  Chlamydia is the most common cause of NGU causing about 30-40% of NGU.  Mycoplasma genitalium causes another about 10% of NGU.  Both are considered STIs which can lead to complications and which warrant treatment.  Non-chlamydia, non-MG NGU is not clearly a process that requires treatment as it does not appear to cause complications.  Research done in the 1970s initially suggested that ureaplasma caused some NGU as well however with continued study, this belief has been disproved.  It is now understood that Ureaplasma is normally present in the genitourinary tract and not a pathogen.  Further, treatment of NGU is typically unsucessful as it decreases in concentration and then recurs over time without re-exposure.  The persistence of the misunderstanding regarding Ureaplasma as an STI has persisted and is fostered by the continued availability of tests for Ureaplasma despite the fact that it is not a pathogen.---

Since all my testing was negative and ureaplasma is normal in the tract, is it safe to resume sexual activity? I am afraid of infecting a partner.  Does ureaplasma appear and reappear or is it always there? Is all ureaplasma normal? The test just said ureaplasma species.  Do most individuals have this? 

Ureaplasma can certainly come and go and can be shared between partners but as such does not cause complications.---

I appreciate your help, Dr. Hook.   Just for reference, it was uu and this was done at an urgent care facility.  I opted not to take the doxycycline.  Per your feedback, my worries are pretty much alleviated.  I realize you need to close this thread out, but can you just explain briefly how ureaplasma can come and go? I realize more that ureaplasma is normal in the tract but was just curious on that point.  Regarding 'comprehensive' testing, it does seem like it causes quite a bit of confusion.  I'll know now just to go standard, but would you recommend to include mgen as well? Once again, thank you very much for your help.

Thanks for your thanks.  I agree with your decision to not take antibiotics and am please your concerns have declined.  Thanks for the follow up.---