Mycoplasma genitalium (Mgen)

Mycoplasma genitalium (Mgen) is a bacterial infection. It can affect the cervix, the inside of the penis (the urethra) or the anus.

Most people with Mgen (Mycoplasma genitalium) don't notice any symptoms, so they don't know they have it.

If symptoms do appear, it's usually 1 to 3 weeks after unprotected sex. Some people don't get them until months later. You may notice:

• pain when peeing
• unusual discharge from the vagina, penis or anus
• pain in the lower tummy, bleeding after sex, and bleeding between periods
• pain in the testicles
• inflammation in the rectum

Sometimes the symptoms disappear after a few days. But even when they go away, you may still have the infection and could pass it on.

Most people who have Mycoplasma genitalium (Mgen) never develop any problems, and the infection usually clears up without treatment. You will only be tested if you have symptoms and you haven't tested positive for other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

If you think you have Mgen and you have symptoms, contact your local sexual health service.

The test for Mycoplasma genitalium (Mgen) is simple, painless and very reliable. A sample is taken from the part of the body that might be infected and sent to a lab for analysis.

There are 2 main ways the sample can be collected:

• using a swab, where a small cotton bud is gently wiped over the area that might be infected, such as inside the vagina, the penis, or inside the anus
• a urine sample (if you have a penis), which is more accurate if it's at least 1 or 2 hours after you last peed

If you've had anal or oral sex, you may have a swab taken from your anus or throat as well.

Mycoplasma genitalium (Mgen) is treated with antibiotics.

You should avoid having any type of sex for 14 days after you and your partner(s) have been treated. Once you've finished the treatment, you'll only be asked to test again if your symptoms haven't improved.

If Mgen is left untreated, you may pass it on to other sexual partners. In women, it can spread to the womb and cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). This is a serious condition that can lead to ectopic pregnancy and infertility. In men who aren't treated, the infection may spread to the testicles and cause discomfort. This could affect your fertility.

Mycoplasma genitalium (Mgen) is passed on through unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex, which means sex without a condom. You can also get it by sharing sex toys that haven't been washed, or covered with a new condom, each time they're used.

Any sexually active person can get Mgen. It's most common in people under the age of 30.

The best way to lower your risk of STIs is to practise safer sex. That means using a condom for vaginal, anal and oral sex. There are other ways to reduce your risk too:

• using a new condom each time you use sex toys
• washing sex toys after each time they're used

If you've been diagnosed with Mycoplasma genitalium (Mgen), you should get tested for all STIs, including:

• gonorrhoea
• chlamydia
• syphilis
• HIV