Testing woes

Hey everyone,

Just some food for thought, advice for everyone and a bit of a cry for help for me.

(Male)

I tested negative for Ureaplasma and Mycoplasma via PCR/NAA first-pass urine (first pee of day) four times in the past 6 months (via Sunrise Medical Labs, Quest Diagnostics and LabCorp). My symptoms continued (I.e., frequency/urgency, scrotal tingling/itching/rawness, epididymitis like pain in groin and testicles, bladder pain, low back/hip pain, on and off urethral discomfort). I chalked it up to CPPS/PFD because I continued to test negative.

Lo and behold, just last week my gf tested positive for Ureaplasma. This was both baffling and demoralizing because I tested negative multiple times. I guess there were all false negatives or inaccurate tests? This led me down a rabbit hole of reviewing all of my test results over past few years and the only time I tested positive for Ureaplasma was via urethral swab (twice in December 2021) and once via first-pass urine (once in April 2022). I’m starting to question the accuracy of first-pass urine PCR testing for men. I’ve done dozens of PCR and Microgendx urine and semen testing over the past few years and I’ve gotten so many negatives. I think it’s better to just tough it out and do the urethral swab—it seems to be more accurate or more full proof. Maybe everyones urogenital systems are different in regard to testing?…IDK.

Moreover, the more that time passes for me the less I believe that people are just walking around with unexplained CPPS symptoms. I’m starting to think that CPPS/prostatitis is a symptom of Ureaplasma/mycoplasma infection (probably one that’s been missed by testing) and not a stand alone neuromuscular condition. I’ve spent hundreds to thousands of dollars on pelvic floor therapy to no avail. Don’t be like me, don’t just accept that you have PFD/CPPS, just get a urethral swab and know for certain that you don’t have Ureaplasma/mycoplasma.

Good luck to everyone. I’m always here to talk if any one of you need me. Much love❤️