During nearly every Emergency Department shift I deal with genitourinary problems and pregnancy complications. Usually, common infections are found. But sometimes, less common infections - such as bacterial mycoplasma and ureaplasma infections - are diagnosed.
What are these infections? Mycoplasmas are some of the smallest living organisms that, unlike most bacteria, do not have cell walls - instead they live within other live cells. A close relative is ureaplasma. Both of these organisms can be found in up to 70% of sexually active adults. But when there is significant overgrowth problems can occur, such as pelvic inflammatory disease, urethritis and pregnancy loss.
Because mycoplasmas and ureaplasmas naturally occur in the body, patients are not routinely tested for the bacteria. However, women who experience infertility, recurrent pregnancy loss, pelvic pain, premenstrual symptoms or vaginal symptoms should be tested. A culture test, similar to a pap test, is taken.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released some a disturbing statistic this past week – one in four teenaged girls in the United States has a sexually transmitted disease (STD). As a physician and parent, I was surprised by such a high rate of incidence. Granted, in the Emergency Department emergency physicians evaluate for STDs on a daily basis, but the rate of positive tests in Central Wisconsin does not mirror the national results. Let’s look more closely at this study and common STDs.
When studies are released, there are some numbers that you want to see increase. The latest number on the rise of syphilis cases does not fall under that category. The Centers for Disease Control recently reported a nearly 10 percent increase in the number of reported cases of syphilis in the United States. The increase in the cases has been specifically noted in males and is attributed to males having sexual relations with other males, but females may also become infected. This increase is especially shocking because of all of the education that has come on the heels of the AIDS epidemic. At a time when the knowledge and talk of safe sex is at an all-time high, why are sexually transmitted diseases also at an all-time high?
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