A bacterial that lives as part of the natural flora in the urinary and genital tracts in humans, in both men and women it can cause inflammation of the urinary tract and in women only inflammation of the cervix and pelvis.
It is believed to lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, ovarian and prostate cancer, but more research is required.
It rarely causes any symptoms and treatment should be considered when all other STD conditions have been ruled out or treatments are ineffective.
Incubation period
The Incubation period (time between becoming infected and developing symptoms) varies from 2 to 35 days.
SA Health
Diagnosis Tests
Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs)
In women:
Swab taken from the posterior vaginal fornix at the time of speculum examination;
Self-taken vaginal swabs produce similar results to clinician-taken samples when using nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) for diagnosis.
In men:
First-void urine, using NAATs.
Testing for M. genitalium is strongly recommended for:
Men presenting with features of dysuria (burning urine) and/or urethral discharge
Anyone whose current sexual partner has confirmed or suspected M. genitalium infection.
Soni S, Horner PJ, Rayment M et al. 2018 British Association for Sexual Health and HIV national guideline for the management of infection with Mycoplasma genitalium. 2018. Available at: https://www.bashhguidelines.org/media/1198/mg-2018.pdf (accessed August 2019)
Cause
Bacteria: Mycoplasma genitalium
Spread via:
Unprotected sex and higher numbers of new and total partners.
No sex until antibiotic treatment is completed and your usual sexual partner has completed treatment.
A follow-up test must be done to make sure that treatment has cleared the infection.
All sexual partners need to be contacted, tested and, if indicated, treated. Even if partners have no symptoms they may be able to transmit infection to other sexual partners.
Testing to exclude other sexually transmitted infections is advisable.
SA Health
Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice
Detailed Information
Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Mycoplasma Genitalium in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).
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