It is known that more than 30 different bacteria, viruses, and parasites are transmitted through sexual contact, including vaginal, anal, and oral sex. Some sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can also be transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding.
Sexually transmitted infections do not always cause symptoms, i.e., they are usually asymptomatic, or may cause only mild symptoms that are often nonspecific, so it is possible to have an infection and not know it. Therefore, testing for sexually transmitted infections is important if you are sexually active.
Sexually transmitted infections can have serious consequences:
What are the most common sexually transmitted infections?
HPV or human papillomavirus, chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, syphilis, Mycoplasma genitalium, HIV-1, hepatitis B virus.
Real-Time PCR represents a highly specific (no false positive results) and sensitive (no false negative results) method for testing the presence of pathogens, enabling early diagnosis of disease, shortly after infection, even before the appearance of first symptoms.
What are the advantages of Real-Time PCR?
✔ Detection and identification (including pathogens that are difficult or impossible to cultivate)
✔ High analytical specificity (no false positives) and sensitivity (no false negatives)
✔ Only one sample (swab) enables testing for the presence of pathogens (one or more)
✔ Speed and reliability of results.
LabMedical laboratory offers the possibility of testing for the presence of individual pathogens that are the most common causes of sexually transmitted infections:
In addition to individual analyses, our offer includes panels of 3, 7, 12, and 14 pathogens at a more favorable price (analysis is performed from the same sample).
Mycoplasma
Mycoplasmas are the smallest bacteria and one of the smallest currently discovered organisms.
They are ubiquitous and can normally be found in the human body, but they are also opportunistic pathogens, which means that under certain conditions, or when the host’s immunity weakens, they become pathogenic.
The two most common and clinically most significant mycoplasmas are Mycoplasma hominis and Mycoplasma genitalium.
Mycoplasma hominis is part of the normal vaginal flora, but when conditions are met, it can become pathogenic and is associated with urinary tract infections, postpartum fever, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), septicemia, and endometritis.
Mycoplasma genitalium is a sexually transmitted opportunistic pathogen associated with urethritis, vaginosis, cervicitis, and pelvic inflammatory disease. This infection is characterized by symptoms similar to chlamydia or gonorrhea, which means they can very often be absent.
Detection of mycoplasmas is not simple using cultivation methods, so diagnostics often relies on the Real-Time PCR method, which allows us to focus on testing for the presence of nucleic acid (DNA) of the mycoplasma itself, thereby eliminating the influence of individual organism response and not relying on symptoms that may be absent.
In addition to this, some of the advantages of PCR analysis are:
– Sensitivity – can detect even the smallest amounts of DNA (no false negative results)
– Specificity – will detect only nucleic acid (DNA) of the target organism (no false positive results)
– Speed and reliability of results
LabMedical laboratory offers the possibility of testing for the presence and differentiation of Mycoplasma genitalium and Mycoplasma hominis.
Ureaplasma
Ureaplasmas are bacteria from the mycoplasma group and are normally present in the urogenital tract of both sexes, but can also have pathogenic effects.
Infections are most commonly transmitted through unprotected sexual intercourse, but since these bacteria are part of the normal microflora, it can happen that under certain conditions they multiply excessively even in sexually inactive individuals.
The two most common types are Ureaplasma urealyticum and Ureaplasma parvum and are associated with urethritis, cystitis, and pyelonephritis, and in some cases with pelvic inflammatory disease and pregnancy complications.
Since they are present as part of the normal microflora and symptoms of these infections are usually absent, testing for presence and diagnostics is very difficult.
The Real-Time PCR method allows us to focus on testing for the presence of nucleic acid (DNA) of the ureaplasma itself, thereby eliminating the influence of individual organism response and not relying on symptoms that may be absent.
In addition to this, some of the advantages of PCR analysis are:
– Sensitivity – can detect even the smallest amounts of DNA (no false negative results)
– Specificity – will detect only nucleic acid (DNA) of the target organism (no false positive results)
– Speed and reliability of results
LabMedical laboratory offers the possibility of testing for the presence and differentiation of Ureaplasma urealyticum and Ureaplasma parvum.
Chlamydia
Chlamydia is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection that very often does not manifest any symptoms, which facilitates its spread and makes it difficult to prove its presence.
The Real-Time PCR method allows us to focus on testing for the presence of nucleic acid (DNA) of chlamydia itself, thereby eliminating the influence of individual organism response and not relying on symptoms that may be absent.
In addition to this, some of the advantages of PCR analysis are:
– Sensitivity – can detect even the smallest amounts of DNA (no false negative results)
– Specificity – will detect only nucleic acid (DNA) of the target organism (no false positive results) – Speed and reliability of results.
