Ureaplasma: what it is, symptoms, testing and cost

Ureaplasma is a group of very small bacteria that often live in the genital tract without causing problems. Two species are found in people, Ureaplasma urealyticum and Ureaplasma parvum. Testing uses a NAAT, a lab test that finds the bacteria's genetic material in urine or a genital swab. CDC doesn't recommend routine testing, and most STD panels leave Ureaplasma out. Of the services we compare, LetsGetChecked and Wisp sell a kit that includes it.

Key points

• Many people carry Ureaplasma with no symptoms. A review reports it on the cervix or vagina of 40 to 80% of sexually mature women without symptoms.
• CDC says the evidence that Ureaplasma causes urethritis is inconsistent, and it doesn't recommend testing for it in women with cervicitis.
• European STI guideline editors recommend against routine testing, with or without symptoms.
• For men with urethritis, the European editors say to rule out gonorrhea, chlamydia, Mycoplasma genitalium and, where relevant, trichomoniasis before any Ureaplasma test.
• LetsGetChecked's Complete 8 kit and Wisp's swab kit include Ureaplasma. A clinician can also order a lab test.

What is Ureaplasma?

Ureaplasma is a genus of bacteria. A 2019 review in Clinical Microbiology Reviews calls them some of the smallest self-replicating, free-living microorganisms. They're close relatives of mycoplasmas and, like them, have no cell wall. Until 2002 every human strain was called Ureaplasma urealyticum. Researchers then split them into two species, U. urealyticum and U. parvum, so older studies use one name for both. A lab report that says "Ureaplasma spp." means species of Ureaplasma, without naming which one.

Carrying it is common. An older review of mycoplasmas and ureaplasmas reports Ureaplasma on the cervix or vagina of 40 to 80% of sexually mature women without symptoms, and somewhat less often in the male urethra. The 2019 review says 5 to 15% of healthy men aged 16 to 44 carry it. The European STI Guidelines Editorial Board says most people who carry these bacteria never develop any disease.

Is Ureaplasma an STI?

It's linked to sex, but it doesn't behave like chlamydia or gonorrhea. The older review ties carrying Ureaplasma to sexual activity with multiple partners, among other factors, and says it can pass from a mother to her baby. LetsGetChecked says Ureaplasma often occurs naturally and for many people causes no problems.

CDC's STI Treatment Guidelines discuss Ureaplasma in the sections on urethritis, cervicitis and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Its screening recommendations, for people without symptoms, don't include it.

Ureaplasma symptoms

Most of the time there are none. In men, the symptoms linked to Ureaplasma are those of urethritis, an inflammation of the urethra. CDC lists the symptoms of urethritis as pain when urinating, itching in the urethra, and discharge.

Urealyticum or parvum

The two species don't seem to act the same. In a meta-analysis described in the 2019 review, U. urealyticum turned up more often in men with nongonococcal urethritis (NGU) than in men without it, and U. parvum turned up more often in men without it. CDC says most men with Ureaplasma don't have obvious disease unless a lot of the bacteria are present. The European editors say U. urealyticum probably doesn't cause urethritis unless the load is high.

Women and pregnancy

CDC says U. urealyticum might be associated with some cases of PID. The 2019 review notes links between Ureaplasma and pregnancy problems such as preterm birth, so if you're pregnant, ask your prenatal care provider about any result. For women with symptoms, the European editors say bacterial vaginosis should always be tested for, and treated if found.

Wisp suggests its Ureaplasma kit for discharge, odor, pelvic pain or burning when you pee that won't go away, especially after negative STI, bacterial vaginosis and yeast tests.

What CDC says about testing for Ureaplasma

CDC's 2021 STI Treatment Guidelines don't recommend routine Ureaplasma tests.

• Urethritis. CDC says data on other Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma species as causes of urethritis are inconsistent. Men with suspected NGU should be tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea, and for Mycoplasma genitalium if symptoms persist or come back after treatment.
• Cervicitis. CDC says testing for U. parvum, U. urealyticum or Mycoplasma hominis is not recommended.
• No symptoms. CDC's screening recommendations don't include Ureaplasma.

The European STI Guidelines Editorial Board goes further. Its 2018 position statement says there's no evidence that finding and treating these bacteria does more good than harm, and it recommends against routine testing of people with or without symptoms. It warns that widespread testing and treatment may breed antibiotic resistance. If a man with urethritis is tested, it says to rule out gonorrhea, chlamydia, M. genitalium and, where relevant, trichomoniasis first. The test should then name the species and measure the load. Only men with a high U. urealyticum load should be considered for treatment, it says, and good evidence on which treatment works is lacking.

How to test for Ureaplasma

The test is a NAAT, sometimes called a PCR test, on first-catch urine or a genital swab. Labcorp's Genital Mycoplasma Profile (test 180040), which a clinician orders, uses urine and reports three results: Mycoplasma genitalium, Mycoplasma hominis and "Ureaplasma spp NAA". Labcorp says it developed the test itself and that the FDA hasn't cleared or approved it. Labcorp asks that you not urinate for at least an hour before giving the sample.

A result that names only Ureaplasma spp. doesn't give the species or the amount, the two details the European editors want before anyone is treated. Quest's SureSwab Ureaplasma test (test code 91476), which a clinician also orders, reports U. parvum and U. urealyticum separately. It uses a vaginal swab, a urethral swab or, for men, urine, and Quest says the FDA hasn't cleared or approved it either.

Where to buy a Ureaplasma test

When we checked on November 3, 2026, two of the services we compare sold a test that includes Ureaplasma.

LetsGetChecked Complete 8. A home kit with a urine sample and a finger prick. It tests for chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis B, syphilis, Mycoplasma, Ureaplasma, trichomoniasis and Gardnerella, and costs $249 (verified Nov 2, 2026) at LetsGetChecked. LetsGetChecked says it isn't permitted in New York, and that people without symptoms usually don't need treatment for Ureaplasma. It doesn't test for HIV or hepatitis C.

Wisp Mycoplasma & Ureaplasma Swab Test Kit. One genital swab tests for Mycoplasma hominis, U. urealyticum and U. parvum. Women swab the vagina or cervix, and men swab the urethra. Results come 3 to 5 business days after the lab gets the sample, and a consult with a Wisp provider is included if you test positive. Wisp says it prescribes treatment for these bacteria only when you have symptoms, unless you're trying to conceive. We don't track this kit's price yet, so check Wisp's page.

None of the other services we compare listed a Ureaplasma test.

Mycoplasma genitalium vs Ureaplasma

The two are often tested together, but CDC treats them differently. It says M. genitalium causes about 15% to 20% of NGU and is linked to cervicitis and PID in women. CDC recommends an M. genitalium test for men whose NGU comes back and for women with recurring cervicitis, and says to consider one with PID. It doesn't recommend testing people without symptoms. Mycoplasma hominis, the other bacterium in Wisp's kit, falls under the same European advice as Ureaplasma.

Current prices for a Mycoplasma genitalium test across the providers we track:

Our Mycoplasma genitalium test page lists every offer. For discharge or burning, CDC's first tests are chlamydia and gonorrhea, and our chlamydia and gonorrhea testing guide explains the samples.

If you have Ureaplasma, does your partner need treatment?

CDC's guidelines give no partner advice for Ureaplasma itself. For a man diagnosed with NGU, whatever the cause, CDC says partners from the previous 60 days should be referred for evaluation, testing and treatment with a drug that works against chlamydia. The European editors don't recommend testing or treating anyone without symptoms.

Ask the clinician who gave you the result what applies to you and your partner. Our guide to telling a partner covers how to bring it up, and our free STD testing guide lists low-cost places to see a clinician.