Mycoplasma genitalium (Mgen) is a curable bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI) that may affect the water pipe(urethritis), the neck of the womb (cervicitis), the womb and fallopian tubes (pelvic inflammatory disease) and less commonly the rectum (proctitis) and testes (epididymo-orchitis).

Although most individuals infected with Mgen are asymptomatic and clear the infection without any treatment, the following symptoms may be noticed; pain in the lower abdomen (particularly during sex), vaginal bleeding after sex, pain or burning in the penis when passing urine and/or discharge from the penis.

Around 10–15% of men with discharge from the penis and/or pain passing urine and around 5–10% of women with pelvic pain have Mgen.

Mgen is passed on through penetrative vaginal or anal sex without a condom with someone who has the infection. It cannot be caught by kissing, hugging, sharing baths or towels, using swimming pools or from toilet seats.

Mgen can be tested for on genital samples from the vagina, urethra (water pipe) and rectum or a urine sample. It is treated with antibiotics but some strains (types) of Mgen are resistant to some antibiotics and need further treatment with different antibiotics. A repeat swab of urine sample (test of cure) five weeks after the initial treatment will determine if the antibiotics have worked. It is very important that you have this test, even if you are feeling better, to ensure that the infection has been successfully treated.

It is important that your current sexual partner(s) is/are tested for Mgen and, if found to be infected, are also treated with appropriate antibiotics. You should not have any type of sex (with or without condoms) until both you and your partner have both finished the treatment and symptoms have resolved.