Mycoplasma genitalium is a type of bacteria that can cause an STD. You get it by having sex with someone who has mycoplasma genitalium. Even if you don't go "all the way" with vaginal or anal sex, you can get mycoplasma genitalium through sexual touching or rubbing.
Scientists have known about this bacteria since the 1980s. Research shows that around 2 in 100 adults have it.
Mycoplasma Genitalium Symptoms
Mycoplasma genitalium doesn't always cause symptoms, so it's possible to have this infection and not know it.
Mycoplasma genitalium symptoms in men
In men, the symptoms are:
Mycoplasma genitalium symptoms in women
In women, the symptoms are:
- Discharge from the vagina
- Pain during sex
- Bleeding after sex
- Bleeding between periods
- Pain in the pelvic area below the belly button
Mycoplasma Genitalium Diagnosis
If you have symptoms of mycoplasma genitalium, a lab test called a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) can help your doctor diagnose it.
NAAT
The NAAT detects genetic material from mycoplasma genitalium bacteria to diagnose you. For this test, you might have to give a sample of your pee. Your doctor might also use a swab to take a sample from your vagina, cervix, or urethra, the tube that carries your pee out of your body.
Mycoplasma Genitalium Complications
Mycoplasma genitalium can cause a few complications. Scientists aren't sure if an mycoplasma genitalium infection can make it harder for people who were assigned female at birth to get pregnant.
Urethritis
Urethritis is swelling, soreness, and itching in the urethra. It can happen to men and women. STDs like mycoplasma genitalium are a common cause of urethritis.
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
PID is an infection of a woman's reproductive organs. This infection can cause symptoms like pelvic pain, vaginal discharge, and bleeding between periods or during sex. Having PID can make it hard to get pregnant. Mycoplasma genitalium raises the risk for PID.
Cervicitis
Mycoplasma genitalium is also linked to an inflamed cervix, called cervicitis. Mycoplasma genitalium bacteria are found in up to 3 out of every 10 women with cervicitis. The cervix is the bottom part of the uterus that connects to the vagina. Symptoms of cervicitis include pain when you pee or have sex, a lot of discharge from your vagina, and bleeding after sex or between periods.
The cause is usually an STD. Cervicitis can lead to PID and infertility if you don't treat it.
Mycoplasma Genitalium Treatment
Mycoplasma genitalium can be a tricky problem to treat. Common antibiotics like penicillin kill bacteria by damaging a germ's cell walls. But mycoplasma genitalium bacteria don't have cell walls, so these drugs don't work very well.
Your doctor might try azithromycin (Zithromax and Zmax) first. If that doesn't work, your doctor might give you moxifloxacin (Avelox).
After a month, you can get another test to make sure the infection is gone, but it's not a good idea to get routine tests if you don't have symptoms of mycoplasma genitalium. If you still have symptoms and you test positive for the infection, you'll need to get more treatment.
Your doctor might also treat the other conditions mycoplasma genitalium can cause, like urethritis, PID, or cervicitis.
Your sex partners should talk to their doctors about getting tested and treated so they don't infect other people or give mycoplasma genitalium back to you. You can still get mycoplasma genitalium again even when you've already had treatment for it.
Mycoplasma Genitalium Prevention
Condoms can reduce your risk of mycoplasma genitalium, but they can't guarantee you won't get it. If you have the disease, avoid having sex for 14-21 days after you and your partner finish treatment so you don't infect others.
Mycoplasma genitalium transmission rate
Mycoplasma genitalium bacteria spread very easily during unprotected vaginal or anal sex and through the use of sex toys. Researchers don't know if the infection also spreads during oral sex. A person with mycoplasma genitalium can pass the bacteria to their partner, even if they don't have any symptoms.
Just under 2% of adults have this infection. Mycoplasma genitalium is very contagious. Up to half of the male or female partners of people with mycoplasma genitalium also test positive.
Takeaways
Mycoplasma genitalium is a type of bacteria that can cause an STD. The bacteria spread through unprotected vaginal and anal sex. If untreated, the infection can cause complications like PID and fertility problems. Using condoms can reduce your risk of getting mycoplasma genitalium or passing it to your partner.
Mycoplasma Genitalium FAQs
Is mycoplasma genitalium always an STD?
Yes, mycoplasma genitalium is an STD. It spreads from person to person during unprotected vaginal or anal sex or through shared sex toys.
Does mycoplasma genitalium ever go away?
The infection may go away on its own. If not, you can treat it with antibiotics, but some types of Mycoplasma bacteria have become resistant to certain antibiotics. You may need to try a few different antibiotics to fully clear up the infection.
Is mycoplasma genitalium the same as chlamydia?
No. Both mycoplasma genitalium and chlamydia are STDs. But a different type of bacteria, called Chlamydia trachomatis, causes chlamydia.
Does having mycoplasma genitalium mean cheating?
Not necessarily. The bacteria do spread through unprotected sex, but often the infection doesn't cause any symptoms. You or your partner could have gotten mycoplasma genitalium a long time ago without knowing it.
Is mycoplasma genitalium like bacterial vaginosis (BV)?
BV is an infection of the vagina. It happens when bad bacteria that normally live in the vagina grow too much and crowd out good bacteria. Although BV is linked to having sex, doctors don't consider it an STD.
How long are you contagious with mycoplasma genitalium?
Mycoplasma genitalium is contagious until you finish taking the full course of antibiotics. Experts recommend that you avoid having sex for 14-21 days after you're treated, then get tested again to make sure you've cleared the infection.
