Mycoplasma Genitalium: a sexualy transmitted infection that could increase the risk of infertility

A new sexually transmitted infection called mycoplasma genitalium could be the new threat, experts warned. Experts advised is to always wear protections when having sexual intercourse to prevent the further spread of the disease.

British Association of Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH), MG often goes unnoticed and it can also develop resistance to antibiotics.

What are the symptoms?

Experts believe that symptoms are similar to that of chlamydia and gonorrhea. Chlamydia trachomatis, commonly known as chlamydia, is one of four bacterial species in the genus Chlamydia. Chlamydia is a genus of pathogenic bacteria that are obligate intracellular parasites. C. trachomatis is a weakly Gram-negative bacterium.

Around one to two per cent of the population carries MG and it’s thought to be more prevalent than gonorrhoea, but if the spread of the infection is not prevented, BASHH fears up to 3,000 women a year who have pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) caused by MG could be at increased risk of infertility, the independent reported.

Symptoms in men:

    Watery discharge from the penis
    Burning, stinging or pain when urinating

Symptoms in women:

    Pain during sex
    Bleeding after sex
    Pain in the pelvic area below the belly button

How do you treat it?

BASHH spokesperson Paddy Horner said: “MG is treated with antibiotics, but as until recently there has been no commercially available test, it has often been misdiagnosed as chlamydia and treated as such.

“This is not curing the infection and is causing antimicrobial resistance in MG patients. If practices do not change and the tests are not used, MG has the potential to become a superbug within a decade, resistant to standard antibiotics.”