What does a microbiological testing includes?
A complete microbiological testing consists in:
- observation under microscope of a fresh specimen for protozoa (e.g. trichomonas)
- observation under microscope of a stained specimen for white blood cells, bacteria and fungi,
- aerobic and anaerobic culture,
- testing through PCR, for 5 microbes:
- Ureaplasma urealyticum
- Ureaplasma parvum
- Mycoplasma genitalium
- Mycoplasma hominis
- Chlamydia trachomatis
When performed only aerobic culture, in 70,6% of cases the infection is not detected
Although a single complete testing is sufficient, we have noticed that other laboratories limit this testing only in an aerobic culture or they check only for one ureaplasma (Ureaplasma urealyticum) and one mycoplasma (Mycoplasma hominis).
When do I need it?
If your semen volume is too small or too big, or if your semen is watery. Practically, the volume shall be bigger than that of a hazelnut or smaller than that of a cherry, while a drop of semen shall appear extendable, it shall not resemble a water drop. Read more at the Semen Self-Exam. However, although the volume and viscosity may look normal, there may still be an infection. This is why the annual checkup of men through an andro–test, the semen analysis for men’s health checkup is necessary. This semen analysis is a very sensitive test that can provide a man with the evidence of the presence of an infection. At the presence of such evidences, a complete microbiological examination is recommended.
Whenever your female partner has an inflammation of the genitals (fungal or bacterial vaginitis, UTI or cervicitis). You must be aware that although women do present symptoms when they have an infection, men are usually asymtomatic.
The microbiological testing must be performed after an antibiotic regimen in order to confirm the cure.
How are these infections transmitted?
Sexually transmitted microbes are the microbes that are transmitted …most often during sex, not exclusively through sex. They can be transmitted in many other ways. Moreover, since these infections rarely present symptoms in men and men are not taught to consult an urologist preventively, these infections may have happened years ago.
Is it reliable?
The microbiological examination shall be complete in order to be reliable, i.e. it shall not be limited in an aerobic culture. Most laboratories perform only an aerobic culture. Moreover, we have noticed that the annual preventive checkup at the gynaecologist is limited in a Pap-test and an aerobic culture, only. This is why the partners of our examinees are questioned why the microbe had not been detected in their checkup.
It is preferable to test a semen sample than an urine sample. The urine sample contains only the microbes washed out from the urethra, while the semen sample contains also the secretions of the prostate, the seminiferous tubules and other accessory glands. This is why a simple urine culture usually fails to detect a microbe. In the past, the Stamey-Mears examination was more popular, especially when investigating a chronic prostatitis. This examination was prefered against the simple urine culture, because it included the examination of the prostatic secretion. At first it was the prostatic liquid to be collected and then after the urine. It is obvious that the complete microbiological examination of semen is by far more reliable, since it examines the secretion of much more glands.
Only a complete microbiological testing provides the examinee with reliable results.
Testing by PCR is the most reliable technique since it is the genetic material of the microbe under investigation. The microbes investigated by PCR are hardly detectable by other techniques.
How much does it cost?
A complete microbiological testing costs 120 euro. However, since it is that important, we offer this testing at the lowest price you may find.
How much important this examination is?
Although it is very important to exclude the presence of these microbes, usually this testing is incomplete in the annual Pap-test each woman has. It is therefore important, at least men, to have a complete microbiological testing before the couple proceeds to an IUI or IVF. The five microbes mentioned in the previous paragraphs can cause the obstruction of the oviducts, salpingitis, hydrosalpinge, abortion, preterm delivery, severe problems at the newborn, low semen quality (asthenozoospermia, oligozoospermia, teratozoospermia), chronic prostatitis, epididymitis and other urogenital tract pathologies in both sexes.
MEn are usually asymptomatic regardless they are infected. If men are instructed to have a preventive checkup annually, including a complete microbiological examination, they would not transmit the infection to their partners, who would not suffer from reccurent vaginitis, cervicitis or salpingitis.
An infection affects the semen quality. The preventive microbiological examination of semen since adolescence, is expected to improve the semen quality in the future.
From what is mentioned previously, it becomes obvious that the preventive annual mikrobiological examination is also expected to reduce the need for IVF, and the incedence of cervicitis and salpingitis.
Why does she suffer from recurrent mycosis, vaginitis or urethritis?
Usually, because of inadeguate treatment. When your female partner has an infection, you do have the infection, too. Men are usually asymptomatic. If she is the only one to follow a treatment or if you follow an identical treatment, you will not get cured. This way you will keep transmitting back the infection to your partner, regardless you are asymptomatic. The “male” treatment for an urogenital tract infection differs significantly from the one women follow. Threfore, every time your female partner has an inflammation, e.g. mycosis, vaginitis, urethritis or cervicitis, you shall consult your urologist for the treatment which would be proper for you, but both partners shall follow the regiment at the same time.
Unlike what is commonly believed, mycosis is not something women get infected from. Mycosis rather than an infection from fungi, it is an overdevelopment of the natural flora of fungi that already exist in the vagina. Nonetheless, these fungi protect women from other bacterial infections by producing a kind of vinegar, which has the power to disinfect. When a woman gets infected from bacteria, these fungi produce more vinegar to protect her, her vaginal escretions become more acid and this is why she has an inflammation and your penis presents red spots. The vaginal ointments for mycosis relieve from the inflammation, but they do not kill the bacteria. You shall therefore undergo a complete microbiological examination to detect the bacterial infection and follow an antibiotic regiment together.
If I am found infected of a microbe, shall my partner be tested too?
It is not needed. If a microbe is detected in one of the sexual partners, it is a sufficient condition for that both follow a proper antibiotic regimen contemporarily, since any microbiological exam may fail to detect the microbe in question (i.e. the fact that a microbe is not detected, it does not equal that one doesn’t exist). Moreover, if the sexual partner does not follow a proper regimen contemporarily, the treatment fails, since the partner is expected to return the infection. Besides, it is logical that when someone is infected, his sexual partner is infected, too..
Does the condom protect you from these infections?
In practice, no, because it is not used as intended: an infection is transmitted through the genital secretions the partners pass to each other during foreplay, before the application of the condom. If the condom is put on just before vaginal penetration, it only protects from an unwanted pregnancy. Furthermore, after use, one touches the vaginal secretions found on the condom in order to took it off and then touches the genital area transmitting in this way an infection. Moreover, the scrotal area was exposed to the vaginal secretions, as it was not covered by the condom. Once the condom is taken off and the penis touches the scrotum, the infection could be transmitted.
Concluding, the condom protects from an infection only if it is put on before any foreplay or contact with the genital secretions and only if it is taken off after washing the genital area. Since this practice is hardly implemented, whenever your sexual partner has an infection, you shall both follow a proper regimen contemporarily.
How is an infection treated?
With an antibiotic regimen that only an urologist can prescribe. Since the urogenital tract infections rarely present symptoms in men, each time his female partner has an infection, e.g. fungi, vaginitis, cervicitis, salpingitis or pyelonephritis, he shall consult an urologist. Obviously, both partners are infected, but the treatment differs significantly between sexes. Although women usually follow a regimen of 1-2 weeks, men’s treatment usually requires different antibiotics for much longer.
Which is the procedure?
For a microbiological testing the abstinence is not relevant. However, you should not have taken any antibiotic in the last 10-15 days. The semen sample could be collected at home provided that you can bring it at the laboratory in two hours from collection. It is very important to wash your hands and rinse the penis right before semen collection, collect the semen in a sterile urine cup and shall not lose at least the first drops during ejaculation.