Have you heard of Mgen? Don’t panic – neither had we.
In fact, despite being carried by half a million sexually active adults in the UK, a whopping 85% of us Brits have never heard of it.
Mycoplasma genitalium (Mgen, MG) is a commonly unheard of STI which is thought to affect 1-2% of sexually active Brits.
LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor conducted a survey of 500 British adults, asking what they knew about Mgen and when they were last tested for an STI – and the results are seriously eye-opening.
The results revealed:
Less than 1 in 5 (15%) have ever heard of Mgen before
9 in 10 (90%) would not feel confident in identifying the symptoms of Mgen
Almost half of respondents (46%) have never had an STI test
To the 46% who’d NEVER had an STI test, please, we beg, go and get checked.
Back to Mgen – despite how common this STI is, it may be hard to spot symptoms.
Never fear, we spoke to GP at LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor, Dr Neel Patel, about how you can catch Mgen, the symptoms, how to get tested, and treatment.
What is Mgen?
Mgen is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that is caused by a tiny bacterium called Mycoplasma genitalium that infects the urinary and genital tracts of both men and women. It can be spread by both vaginal and anal sex, although transmission may occur even without penetration.
Mgen is considered a ‘new’ STI. It was only discovered in 1981 and a reliable test for it only became available in 2017.
What are the symptoms of Mgen?
8 in 10 men and 5-7 in 10 women who are infected with Mgen don’t show any symptoms but some people can display one or more. Symptoms usually appear 1-3 weeks after infection and can be different for men and women.
Mgen symptoms in men:
Pain when urinating
White discharge from the penis
Burning or itching from the urethra
Itchiness or discharge from the anus (if you’ve had anal sex)
Pain in the testicles
Mgen symptoms in women:
Pain when urinating
Unusual vaginal discharge
Pain in the stomach or pelvis
Pain during sex
Bleeding after sex
Painful bleeding between periods
Itchiness or discharge from the anus (if you’ve had anal sex)
According to Dr Patel: “Mgen symptoms are very similar to those of chlamydia, though they are both caused by different bacteria. In the past, many doctors have tried to treat Mgen thinking it was chlamydia, leading to a rise in Mgen antibiotic resistance, as chlamydia treatment doesn’t completely clear up Mgen.”
Is Mgen dangerous?
Mgen can cause serious health conditions if left untreated. It has been linked to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) which has been associated with preterm births and miscarriages.
If someone is infected who has other STIs, such as HIV, Mgen may make them more likely to pass on those other infections.
“While Mgen doesn’t display symptoms in most people and will naturally clear up by itself, it can lie dormant in the body for months or years so it is important to get tested to prevent passing it on to someone else,” says Dr Patel.
“Added to this, there are concerns that Mgen could become a ‘superbug’. This means the bacterium that causes it would become resistant to antibiotics, making it extremely difficult to treat. Already, we are seeing that Mgen is rapidly becoming resistant to the usual treatments.”
How do I get tested for Mgen?
If you’re displaying symptoms of Mgen or are worried you’ve slept with someone who may be infected, it is important to visit your local STI clinic or speak to your doctor so you can get tested.
However, testing for Mgen isn’t routine at STI clinics so they may only test for it if you present symptoms or if you’ve raised it as a concern, Dr Patel advises.
“A test can easily be taken by a swab or urine test. If your results come back positive then you should get in touch with your current sexual partners as they should get tested too.
“It’s very important that you are getting regular STI tests if you have multiple sexual partners or if you are having sex without a condom.”
What is the treatment for Mgen?
Like many other STIs, it is very unlikely for Mgen to go away by itself so it’s important to seek treatment. Mgen can be treated by a course of antibiotics, though it may take multiple rounds and different types of antibiotic to clear the infection.
“If treated, you should wait two weeks after finishing your antibiotics before having unprotected sex as you may still be able to pass on the infection,” adds Dr Patel.