What is ureaplasma?
Last updated September 3, 2026.
A very common bacterium living harmlessly in the genital tract of a large share of healthy adults - NHS sexual health services describe it as an extremely common finding that usually needs no treatment. It is not a classic STI: it spreads through sexual contact but behaves more like normal flora that occasionally overgrows. It matters when it causes urethritis symptoms (burning, discharge) with other causes excluded, and in fertility and pregnancy contexts. A positive broad-panel test with no symptoms is usually colonization - guidelines caution against treating the finding alone; when treatment is warranted, a short antibiotic course, with the partner treated too.
What to do
- Match the result to symptoms. No symptoms, no treatment - the usual rule.
- Rule out the classic STIs first. Chlamydia, gonorrhea, and mycoplasma genitalium come before ureaplasma as causes.
- Treat as a pair when treating. Partner treatment prevents the ping-pong.
- Flag it in fertility or pregnancy care. The contexts where doctors take it seriously.
Related questions
- Why do I get UTIs after sex?
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