Ureaplasma Test: What It Detects and How It Works

About the Ureaplasma Test

Purpose of the Test

You’d get this test to find out whether ureaplasma or Mycoplasma hominis is causing your symptoms. It’s ordered for diagnosis, not routine screening.

Diagnosis: Ordered when burning urination, unusual discharge, or pelvic discomfort suggests a urogenital infection that standard STI panels don’t cover.
Screening: No major US guideline recommends testing adults without symptoms. Testing is driven by symptoms or a provider’s recommendation.
Monitoring: Not used for ongoing monitoring. A test of cure (retesting after treatment) may be ordered to check clearance.

Ureaplasma was reclassified into two species: Ureaplasma urealyticum and Ureaplasma parvum. Both are detected by this test. If your report names “U. parvum” rather than “U. urealyticum,” that’s normal. Mycoplasma hominis is included in the combined panel because these organisms share the same anatomical territory and cause overlapping symptoms, making co-testing practical.

Associated conditions include urethritis (irritation of the urethra), vaginal or cervical inflammation, pelvic discomfort, recurrent urinary symptoms, and pain during sex. Untreated infection has been linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes and persistent urethritis in some studies, as described by the National Library of Medicine.

This test doesn’t screen for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, Mycoplasma genitalium, or other STIs unless those are ordered separately. It won’t tell you whether you have an active infection or are carrying the bacteria without symptoms. That distinction requires your provider’s clinical judgment.

What Does the Ureaplasma Test Measure?

Labs detect ureaplasma using a few different methods, but NAAT on urine is the standard at most CLIA-certified labs today.

NAAT on urine (PCR-based): The lab detects ureaplasma DNA in a first-catch urine sample (the first 10 to 20 mL of the stream). Most commercial panels detect both U. urealyticum and U. parvum and may report them separately or together as “Ureaplasma spp.”
NAAT on swab: Same DNA detection method, different sample site. Urethral swabs are used for men; vaginal or cervical swabs are used in clinical settings. Available when urine collection isn’t possible or when a provider wants to sample a specific site.
Culture: Grows the bacteria from a urine or swab sample. Rarely used today because it’s slower and less sensitive than NAAT. Some reference labs still offer it when antibiotic susceptibility testing is needed.

First-catch urine is required, not midstream clean-catch. The first portion of the stream carries the highest concentration of bacteria from the urethra. Collecting midstream can lower that concentration and affect your result.

When Should I Get a Ureaplasma Test?

Consider testing if any of these apply:

Burning or pain with urination without a clear cause
Pain during sex
Pelvic or lower stomach discomfort not explained by other testing
Recurrent urinary symptoms that haven’t responded to standard treatment
A recent unprotected sexual exposure and concern about organisms standard STI panels don’t cover
A current pregnancy with symptoms or a provider recommendation to test
Unusual vaginal or urethral discharge

Symptoms may not show up for weeks or months after exposure. Pregnant individuals may be encouraged to test, as ureaplasma has been linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes in some studies. Reinfection is common. Partners should be tested and treated together.

For routine screening, no major US guideline recommends testing adults without symptoms for ureaplasma. Unlike chlamydia or gonorrhea, ureaplasma is commonly found in healthy sexually active adults without causing disease. The CDC’s sexually transmitted infections screening recommendations do not include routine ureaplasma testing for asymptomatic adults. Testing is driven by symptoms, a provider’s clinical judgment, or specific situations such as pregnancy or recurrent unexplained urogenital symptoms.

How It Works

How to Get Tested

This test is available through CLIA-certified labs including LabCorp and Quest Diagnostics. Visit a nearby patient service center to provide your urine sample. Results arrive in your secure online account, usually within one to three business days, with an email notification.

This test is available through a provider’s office, clinic, or urgent care too. Availability at urgent care varies, so a consumer-ordered test through a CLIA-certified lab is a reliable alternative if you want to skip the appointment.

Before the Test

No fasting required. Eat and drink normally.

The one prep step that matters: don’t urinate for at least one hour before you go to the lab. Urinating too close to your appointment flushes bacteria from the urethra, lowering the concentration of organisms in the sample. That raises the chance of a false negative.

Don’t use soap or antiseptic wipes on the genital area before the test. These can affect the sample.

If you’re taking antibiotics, tell your ordering provider before testing. Antibiotics suppress bacterial DNA and can cause a false negative. Your provider may advise waiting until you’ve finished the course.

During the Test

When you arrive at the patient service center, a staff member will give you a sterile collection cup and direct you to the restroom.

Collect the first-catch urine, not midstream. Start urinating, then hold the cup to catch the first portion of the stream (roughly the first 10 to 20 mL). Stop collecting after that first portion. Seal the cup and hand it to the technician. The whole process takes a few minutes. There’s no blood draw, no swab, and no physical exam.

If you have questions about the technique, ask the staff before you start. If you accidentally contaminate the cup, tell the technician right away. They’ll give you a new one.

After the Test

Results are ready one to three business days after the lab receives your sample. You’ll get an email, and your results will be in your secure online account.

If your test was ordered through a provider’s office, delivery timing depends on that provider’s system. Check with their office if you aren’t sure when to expect results.

What Do My Results Mean?

If your results are negative

No ureaplasma or Mycoplasma hominis DNA was detected. That’s reassuring, but a few things are worth keeping in mind.

If you tested very early after a possible exposure, the bacteria may not have been detectable yet. NAAT can pick up bacterial DNA within days to two weeks of exposure, but a very early test may miss a low-level infection. If you had a confirmed exposure and symptoms continue, retesting makes sense.

A negative result doesn’t rule out other STIs. If symptoms persist, testing for chlamydia, gonorrhea, Mycoplasma genitalium, or trichomoniasis may be needed. Other causes of urogenital symptoms, like a yeast infection, bacterial vaginosis, or a urinary tract infection, are worth discussing with your provider too.

If your results are positive

Ureaplasma (U. urealyticum and/or U. parvum) or Mycoplasma hominis was detected. Here’s what that doesn’t automatically mean: that you need treatment.

Ureaplasma is commonly found in healthy sexually active adults without causing disease. This is called colonization, and it’s different from an active infection. Whether a positive result needs treatment depends on your symptoms, your partner’s status, whether you’re pregnant, and your provider’s clinical judgment. Talk to your provider before starting antibiotics.

If you’re positive and have symptoms, treatment works well. Your provider will choose an antibiotic based on your situation. Some strains are resistant to azithromycin, so an alternative may be needed if first-line treatment doesn’t clear the infection, as noted in the CDC’s 2021 STI Treatment Guidelines. Avoid sex during treatment (at least one week) to prevent passing it to a partner. Partners should be tested and treated at the same time to prevent reinfection.

If you’re pregnant and your result is positive, contact your OB-GYN promptly.

If your report names one species (for example, U. parvum but not U. urealyticum), that’s normal. Labs may detect only one species or report them separately. Both are covered by this test.

FAQs

Why don't doctors test for ureaplasma on standard STI panels?

Ureaplasma isn’t included because it’s commonly found in healthy sexually active adults without causing disease. Unlike chlamydia or gonorrhea, there’s no universal screening recommendation from major US health authorities. Testing is ordered when symptoms suggest it or when a provider has a clinical reason.

Is ureaplasma the same as Mycoplasma genitalium?

No. They’re three distinct organisms: Ureaplasma urealyticum, Ureaplasma parvum, and Mycoplasma genitalium. Each has different clinical significance and different treatment protocols. Mycoplasma genitalium is more firmly linked to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and has higher rates of antibiotic resistance, according to the CDC’s Mycoplasma genitalium resources. This test detects Ureaplasma spp. and Mycoplasma hominis, not Mycoplasma genitalium. That requires a separate test.

What does it mean if my result shows Ureaplasma parvum but not Ureaplasma urealyticum?

Ureaplasma was reclassified into two species: U. urealyticum and U. parvum. Both are detected by this test, and labs may report them separately or together. Finding one and not the other is common and doesn’t change the interpretation. Discuss the result with your provider to decide whether treatment is needed.

Can I get reinfected with ureaplasma after treatment?

Yes. Reinfection is possible if you’re exposed again, which is why partners should be tested and treated at the same time. After finishing treatment, your provider may order a test of cure, typically three to four weeks after completing antibiotics, to confirm clearance.

Does a Pap smear test for ureaplasma?

No. A Pap smear screens for cervical cell changes and human papillomavirus (HPV). It doesn’t test for bacterial infections like ureaplasma or Mycoplasma hominis. You need a separate urine or swab test to detect these organisms.

Can urgent care test for ureaplasma?

Some urgent care clinics can order this test, but availability varies. Not all urgent care providers are familiar with it or carry it in their standard panel. A consumer-ordered test through a CLIA-certified lab is a reliable alternative that doesn’t require a provider visit.