Mycoplasma Infections

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors
Medically Reviewed by Kumar Shital, DO on September 18, 2023
4 min read

Mycoplasma are bacteria (or germs) that can infect different parts of your body. Which body part is affected -- your lungs, skin, or urinary tract -- depends on which type of mycoplasma bacteria is causing your infection.

All mycoplasma infections have one thing in common though. Unlike other bacteria, mycoplasma don't have cell walls. They're also very small compared to other bacteria. That's important because many antibiotics kill bacteria by weakening those walls. Since mycoplasma bacteria don't have them, some antibiotics, like penicillin, won't work against them.

There are about 200 types of mycoplasma bacteria, but most of them are harmless. The ones you may have to worry about are:

This type of bacteria causes respiratory infections. About a third of people who get infected come down with mycoplasma pneumonia, sometimes called "walking pneumonia." It's considered an "atypical" pneumonia because its symptoms are different from those of pneumonia caused by other types of bacteria. Most people, especially children, who are infected with mycoplasma get "tracheobronchitis" (a fancy name for a chest cold) instead of pneumonia.

If you're infected with Mycoplasma pneumoniae, you may get symptoms like:

To treat your infection, your doctor may suggest one of these types of antibiotics:

Is mycoplasma pneumonia contagious?

You can catch pneumonia and other infections caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae when someone who's sick coughs or sneezes and sends droplets with the bacteria into the air.

The Mycoplasma genitalium bacteria can cause an infection in your genital area. Some people with theseinfections don't have any symptoms.

If you have female anatomy, you may:

  • Have pain during sex
  • Bleed from the vagina after sex
  • Get a discharge from the vagina

If you have male anatomy, the infection can cause:

  • Urethritis -- a swelling of the urethra, the tube that urine goes through as it leaves the body
  • Stinging or burning when you pee
  • Discharge from the penis

To find out if you're infected, your doctor may do a test called NAAT (nucleic acid amplification test) to look for the bacteria's genes. They will ask for a first morning urine (or semen) sample or take a swab from your vagina, cervix, or urethra.

For treatment, you may need to take one or more of these types of antibiotics:

A second line of treatment might be with fluoroquinolones like moxifloxacin (Avelox).

There's a little bit of trial and error when you take these meds, because sometimes the bacteria don't respond to them. If the first drug doesn't work, your doctor can prescribe a different one.

Is Mycoplasma genitalium contagious?

You get this if you have sex with someone who's infected. Your partner may need to get treated, too.

You can help prevent Mycoplasma genitalium infectionsif you use a condom during sex.

These bacteria live in the urinary tract and genitals of about half of all people with female anatomy,  and fewer of those with male anatomy. But if you're in general good health, you don't have to worry. They rarely cause an infection. People who have weakened immune systems -- the body's defense against germs -- are most at risk.

These bacteria may be linked to pelvic inflammatory disease in people with female reproductive organs. They can also lead to problems if you're pregnant, such as:

Mycoplasma hominis can also cause a fever and infection in your newborn baby.

To find out if you have an infection caused by this type of bacteria, your doctor will test a sample of fluid from your vagina or urethra. If you do, you'll get treated with antibiotics such as one in the tetracycline family, like doxycycline.

Is Mycoplasma hominis contagious?

You can sometimes pick up this infection during sex. The bacteria can also pass from parent to baby during childbirth. To help prevent this infection, always use a condom during sex. And limit how many partners you have.

Both of these types of mycoplasma bacteria are often found in the lower urinary and genital tracts of healthy, sexually active adults. And both can grow too much and cause infections in the genital area.  

Symptoms that can affect those with female anatomy include:

  • Pain when you pee
  • Belly pain
  • Pain, odor, or discharge from the vagina
  • Swelling at the opening of the urethra
  • Discharge from the urethra

Those who have male organs can get inflammation of the urethra, called urethritis.

During pregnancy, the bacteria can lead to infections in both the parent and baby. Problems in newborn babies can include:

  • Low birth weight
  • Pneumonia
  • Bacteria in the blood, called septicemia

To diagnose a ureaplasma infection, your doctor can take a sample of fluid from:

Your doctor will prescribe an antibiotic to treat the infection. Choices may include:

  • Macrolides such as azithromycin
  • Tetracyclines like doxycycline

A second line of treatment would be with fluoroquinolones like moxifloxacin.

Are Ureaplasma urealyticum and Ureaplasma parvum contagious?

Ureaplasma bacteria can spread during sex. If you're pregnant and you're infected, you can pass the bacteria to your baby in the womb or during childbirth. If you were infected while pregnant, your newborn baby may also need to get antibiotics.

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