Mycoplasma genitalium
- Mycoplasma genitalium (Mgen) is a sexually transmissible infection (STI).
- It is easy to test for and most infections can be cured with antibiotics.
- If left untreated, Mgen can cause pelvic inflammatory disease in women which can result in infertility or ectopic pregnancy, meaning you can’t have a baby.
- Regular STI testing and using condoms will help protect you and your partners.
Mgen is a sexually transmissible infection (STI).
How do you get it?
Mgen is spread by unprotected vaginal, oral (mouth) or anal (bum) sex with someone. Unprotected sex is sex without a condom or dam.
How can you prevent it?
- Have regular STI tests.
- Always use condoms and/ or dams and water-based lube when having sex.
- Talk to your sexual partners about sexual health.
What are the signs and symptoms?
Most people don’t know they have Mgen because they don’t see or feel anything different.
You may notice one or more of the following symptoms:
- burning or pain when peeing
- yellow or white discharge from the penis
- pain or redness at the opening of the penis
- pain or swelling in the testicles or scrotum
- unusual vaginal discharge
If you have any of these symptoms, visit a doctor as soon as possible to ask for an STI test.
Even if you do not have symptoms, Mgen can be in your body. If untreated, it can be passed on to other people through sex.
How do you get tested?
The only way to know if you have Mgen is by getting an STI test at your GP, Aboriginal medical service or sexual health clinic.
- Find a Service Get the Facts (external site)
- Learn more about STI tests and take the free online test (external site)
Mgen is not part of a standard STI screen. You will only be tested if you have symptoms or are known sexual contact of someone with Mgen.
When you get a test from your health care worker, they will ask for a urine (pee) sample and may recommend that you get a swab of your mouth, vagina or rectum, depending on the types of sex you have had.
It’s a good idea to get tested for other STIs (like chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, hepatitis B and HIV) at the same time. This involves getting a blood test.
How do you tell your sexual partners?
If you test positive for Mgen, it is important to let your sexual partners know so they can get tested and treated (if needed) too. This is to make sure Mgen does not impact their health and continue to spread. If your regular sexual partners do not get treated, you can get Mgen again.
You can tell your partners yourself – if you feel safe and comfortable to do so. If you don’t want your partners to know your name, you can ask your health care worker to do it or send an anonymous message from the Let Them Know website (external site).
What if you do not get treated?
If left untreated, Mgen can cause painful and serious health problems in women. Mgen can spread and cause pelvic inflammatory disease which can result in infertility or ectopic pregnancy, which makes you unable to have a baby.
Translated information
Last reviewed: 11-09-2024