Mycoplasma Genitalium (M. Genitalium) is a bacterium that causes a sexually transmitted infection (STI) in both men and women, often without displaying any outward signs. This silent infection can lead to serious reproductive health complications if left untreated, such as urethritis, cervicitis, or pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Seeking testing is a proactive step to ensure timely treatment and manage your sexual health.
Identifying When to Seek Testing
Testing for M. Genitalium is typically recommended based on the presence of symptoms or specific risk factors, rather than routine, wide-scale screening. For many people, the infection causes no noticeable symptoms, but when they do appear, they often mimic other STIs like chlamydia or gonorrhea. Symptoms in those with a penis may include discharge from the urethra, a burning sensation during urination (dysuria), or urethral discomfort.
Those with a vagina may experience abnormal vaginal or cervical discharge, pain during intercourse, bleeding between periods, or pelvic pain. Even without symptoms, you should seek testing if you have a current sexual partner who has tested positive for M. Genitalium. Testing is also considered if you have persistent or recurring symptoms of urethritis or cervicitis after being treated for other common STIs. Risk factors include having multiple sexual partners or a recent diagnosis of another STI.
Specialized Testing Facilities and Options
Testing for this STI is widely available across several types of healthcare settings, each offering different benefits in convenience and cost. Your Primary Care Physician (PCP) or Gynecologist’s office is a convenient option, integrating the STI test with your overall health records. These facilities offer privacy and continuity of care, though you may need to specifically request the M. Genitalium test, as it may not be included in standard STI panels.
Public Health Clinics, including local health departments and organizations like Planned Parenthood, are excellent resources for STI screening. They frequently offer testing at a low cost or free of charge, making them highly accessible. These clinics are specialized in sexual health, ensuring staff are knowledgeable about the latest testing and treatment guidelines for this bacterium.
Urgent Care Centers or specialized laboratories, such as Quest Diagnostics or Labcorp, offer another pathway for testing. These options provide accessibility and speed, often allowing you to walk in without an appointment and receive results quickly. Some commercial laboratories also offer direct-to-consumer testing, where you can order the test yourself and provide the sample at a local collection center.
At-Home Testing Kits are a popular and discreet option, providing the convenience of collecting the sample at home. These kits utilize the same laboratory technology as in-person testing, but you must follow the collection instructions precisely to ensure sample integrity. After collection, the sample is mailed to a certified laboratory for analysis. Results are returned electronically, often with access to a healthcare professional for consultation if the result is positive.
Understanding the Mycoplasma Genitalium Test Procedure
The standard method for diagnosing an M. Genitalium infection is a highly sensitive laboratory technique called Nucleic Acid Amplification Testing (NAAT). This test detects the unique genetic material (DNA or RNA) of the bacteria. NAAT is the preferred method due to its high accuracy and ability to detect even small amounts of the organism, which is necessary because the organism cannot be easily grown in a traditional laboratory culture.
The sample required for the NAAT depends on the individual’s anatomy and where the infection is suspected to be located. For those with a penis, a first-catch urine sample is typically collected, meaning the person provides the first portion of their urine stream. Those with a vagina can provide a self-collected vaginal swab or a urine sample, though the swab may offer greater sensitivity.
For suspected infections in other areas, such as the rectum or cervix, a clinician may collect a swab from the specific site. After the sample is collected, it is sent to the lab, and the turnaround time for results is usually fast, often between one and three business days. Some advanced testing includes a “reflex” to macrolide resistance testing, which helps guide the selection of the most effective antibiotic treatment.
Treatment Protocols and Follow Up Care
Treatment for M. Genitalium involves a course of antibiotics, though the approach is complicated by the bacterium’s increasing resistance to many standard medications. A two-stage therapy is frequently recommended, often beginning with a seven-day course of doxycycline, which helps reduce the bacterial load. This initial treatment is then followed by a different, more targeted antibiotic, such as azithromycin or moxifloxacin, based on whether the strain is macrolide-sensitive or macrolide-resistant.
It is important to complete the entire course of antibiotics exactly as prescribed, even if symptoms disappear, to ensure the infection is fully eradicated. Due to the high rate of treatment failure and antibiotic resistance associated with M. Genitalium, a follow-up test, known as a Test of Cure (TOC), is advised. The TOC should be performed two to four weeks after the completion of the full antibiotic regimen to confirm the bacteria is no longer detectable.
During the treatment period and until the TOC confirms a negative result, it is important to abstain from sexual contact or consistently use barrier methods like condoms to prevent transmission and re-infection. All sexual partners from the previous 60 days should be notified so they can also be tested and treated. This is a necessary public health measure to limit the spread of the resistant organism. This comprehensive approach, combining targeted treatment with a confirmed TOC and partner management, is the best strategy for managing M. Genitalium infection.