Mycoplasma genitalium, often referred to as Mgen, is a bacterial infection that often causes no noticeable signs, meaning many people are unaware they have it. Understanding this treatable infection is a step toward maintaining reproductive health.
Defining Mycoplasma Genitalium
Mycoplasma genitalium is a type of bacteria unique because it lacks a rigid cell wall. This absence affects its susceptibility to certain antibiotics that target cell wall synthesis. Mgen typically establishes itself on the mucous epithelial cells found within the urinary and genital tracts of humans.
How Mycoplasma Genitalium Spreads
Mgen primarily transmits through unprotected sexual contact. The most common routes of transmission are vaginal and anal intercourse. While less common, transmission through oral-genital contact is also possible, and the infection can spread through contaminated fingers or shared sex toys. Individuals can unknowingly pass the infection to others even when they have no symptoms. Research indicates a notable infectivity rate.
Identifying Mycoplasma Genitalium Symptoms
Many individuals infected with Mgen experience no symptoms. When symptoms do appear, they often resemble those of other sexually transmitted infections, which can sometimes delay proper diagnosis.
Symptoms in Men
For men, common symptoms include painful urination, a watery or cloudy discharge from the penis, pain during ejaculation, or pain in the testicles. If anal sex has occurred, discomfort or discharge from the rectum may also be present.
Symptoms in Women
Women may experience painful urination, unusual or increased vaginal discharge, or inflammation of the cervix (cervicitis). Other symptoms can include bleeding between menstrual periods, bleeding after sex, or lower abdominal and pelvic pain. Similar to men, women who have engaged in anal sex might notice rectal pain or discharge.
Symptoms can manifest within one to three weeks after exposure, though this timeframe can vary, and some people may remain asymptomatic for longer.
Diagnosing and Treating Mycoplasma Genitalium
Diagnosing Mgen infection primarily relies on Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests (NAATs), which detect the bacterium’s genetic material. These tests are highly sensitive and can be performed using urine samples, vaginal or cervical swabs, or anal and oral swabs, depending on the site of potential infection. Due to the slow growth rate of Mycoplasma genitalium in laboratory cultures, NAATs are the standard diagnostic method.
Treatment for Mgen involves specific antibiotic regimens, as the bacterium’s lack of a cell wall makes it resistant to common antibiotics like penicillins and cephalosporins. Azithromycin is often a primary treatment option, sometimes preceded by doxycycline to reduce the bacterial load. However, antibiotic resistance is a growing concern, with increasing strains of Mgen showing resistance to azithromycin. Moxifloxacin serves as a second-line treatment for cases resistant to macrolides, but resistance to this antibiotic is also emerging. A test of cure is recommended several weeks after completing treatment to confirm the infection has been eradicated.
Consequences of Unaddressed Mycoplasma Genitalium
If an Mgen infection remains undiagnosed and untreated, it can lead to various health complications.
In Women
This can include pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which is an infection of the reproductive organs. PID can result in serious outcomes such as ectopic pregnancy, where a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, or tubal factor infertility. Mgen has also been associated with an increased risk of preterm birth and spontaneous abortion.
In Men
For men, untreated Mgen can cause persistent urethritis or lead to epididymitis, an inflammation of the coiled tube at the back of the testicle that stores and carries sperm.