Mycoplasma Genitalium (MGen)

Mycoplasma is a sexually transmitted infection. It is caused by a bacterium called Mycoplasma genitalium and is similar to Chlamydia.

•   You can catch mycoplasma when you have sex with someone who already has the infection. This can be by vaginal sex, oral sex or anal sex.
•   The infection is more common in young people, people who frequently change sexual partners and people who do not use condoms during sex.
•   Even if you have had mycoplasma before, you can still catch it again.

•  The most common symptoms in women are:
  • Bleeding between periods  or heavier periods
  • Bleeding after sex
  • A change in the smell or amount of discharge from the vagina
  • Burning feeling when passing urine
  • There may be pain or discomfort in the  lower abdomen
•  The most common symptoms in men are:
  • Burning when passing urine
  • Discharge from the end of the penis
  • There may be pain or discomfort in the testicles
•  Some men and women who have mycoplasma do not have any genital symptoms when they are infected.

•   Mycoplasma is not a routine test in Sexual Health Clinics in the UK.
•   A test for Mycoplasma is usually offered if:
  • You have a sexual partner who has been found to have Mycoplasma
  • You are male and have been found to have non-specific urethritis (NSU) that has not responded to standard treatments.
  • You are a woman and have signs and symptoms of Mycoplasma.
•   A swab from the genital area or urine sample is needed to make the diagnosis. This is exactly the sample procedure used to test for Chlamydia.

• Mycoplasma can be cured by taking a short course of antibiotic tablets.
• You should avoid any sex with sexual partners until they have also completed a course of the same antibiotics. The minimum time is 14 days. This includes oral sex or sex using a condom.

• Yes, some strains of Mycoplasma have been found to be resistant to first choice antibiotics .
• We recommend you return for a test 5 weeks after you have finished your antibiotics to check the infection has gone.

Mycoplasma is unlikely to lead to any long-term problems if it is treated quickly. However, without treatment mycoplasma can cause serious problems:

• Women can develop pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). This can cause abdominal and pelvic pain. It can also lead to infertility and ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy that occurs outside the womb).
• Men may develop a painful infection in their testicles.
• In rare cases, mycoplasma may cause other symptoms such as arthritis (swollen joints) and inflammation of the eyes. This is more common in men.

If you are pregnant, mycoplasma can be passed from you to your baby during birth. It is not known if this causes any problems for the baby.

Yes. If you do have mycoplasma, it is essential that your current sexual partner (and any other recent sexual partner who you may have sex with again) get treated. Your healthcare  professional will advise you on this.