Introduction:
Individuals who are often sexually active could get this condition called Mycoplasma genitalium infection. It is a curable sexually transmitted disease (STD). Mycoplasma genitalium also referred to as M. genitalium or Mgen, is typically caused by a kind of bacteria through sexual contact. One could get this infection by having anal or vaginal sex without the use of a condom with an individual who has been infected. An infected person with Mgen could transmit the infection even when they do not present symptoms. Mycoplasma genitalium are small and pathogenic bacteria living on the lining cells of the genital and urinary tracts of humans. The reports say Mgen has become significantly more common in the past decade.
What Is Mycoplasma Genitalium Infection?
Mycoplasma genitalium belongs to small prokaryotic (single-celled organisms without a nucleus) bacteria that cause an infection in the genital tract or urethra when transferred among individuals during sex. A person infected with Mycoplasma genitalium presents mild to no symptoms. Since it is a sexually transmitted infection, people could encounter certain symptoms similar to those of other STDs like gonorrhea, syphilis, and chlamydia.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Mycoplasma Genitalium Infection?
Mycoplasma genitalium is one of the most common infections affecting the urethra, cervix, and rectum. It is often asymptomatic, and people with Mycoplasma genitalium infections experience no symptoms. But it can cause notable symptoms in other cases.
Mycoplasma genitalium can result in urethritis, an inflammatory condition of the urinary tract or urethra. The report says that nearly 15 to 20 percent of urethritis cases in the United States are linked to Mycoplasma genitalium infection.
It can occur in both males and females, presenting the following symptoms:
- Painful or burning sensation while urinating.
- Penile itching.
- Mucopurulent (mucus and pus containing) urethral discharge.
Mycoplasma genitalium can lead to several complications, with their associated symptoms varying between males and females.
In Males:
- Urethritis is the most common complication. The other symptoms include watery discharge from the penis and painful urination.
In Females:
Mycoplasma genitalium in females can lead to the following complications.
- Preterm labor.
- Bacterial vaginosis.
- Cervicitis.
- Spontaneous abortion.
- Pelvic inflammatory diseases.
The symptoms of these conditions that are often experienced in females include
- Vaginal itching.
- Pain in the abdomen region.
- Vaginal bleeding after sex.
- Pain during sex.
- Fever.
- Painful or burning sensation while urinating.
- Vaginal discharge with mucus and pus.
What Causes Mycoplasma Genitalium Infection?
Mycoplasma genitalium, a bacteria, is the chief culprit involved in this sexually transmitted infection. It can be transferred by means of vaginal or anal sex. Any genital-to-genital contact, such as sex toys or infected fluid on fingers, can also send it. Nevertheless, it is typically passed by direct means from the infected area. It is known to be an easily transmissible bacteria.
Certain studies validate that Mycoplasma genitalium is an easily transmissible infection similar to chlamydia. The transmutation of oral to genital contact has not yet been determined to result in infection. Still, studies are being perpetuated to determine such transmission. Subsequently, studies are transpiring to know whether Mycoplasma genitalium has the potential to transmit the infection from the mother to the infant during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
What Are the Risk Factors Associated with Mycoplasma Genitalium?
Similar to other sexually transmitted infections, there are certain risk factors for Mycoplasma genitalium infection.
These include:
- Having sex without barrier aids, including condoms.
- Multiple sexual partners in recent months.
- A person living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
- A recent diagnosis with STIs, including gonorrhea and chlamydia.
How Is Mycoplasma Genitalium Infection Diagnosed?
The diagnosis of Mycoplasma genitalium is quite challenging since it can largely interpret with other sexually transmitted diseases, and no commercial test is available. Generally, people get the diagnosis after failing interventions or having misconceptions about common STIs like syphilis, chlamydia, or gonorrhea.
The diagnosis of Mycoplasma genitalium can be made if one is experiencing long-term symptoms associated with urethritis or cervicitis. The doctors might prescribe a nucleic-acid amplification test (NAAT) to detect the presence of a specific genetic compound that makes up the Mycoplasma genitalium-like microbe. This test includes a urine sample or swab of the vagina in females and a swab of the urethra in males.
Moreover, there are certain guidelines for the indication for the start of diagnosis for Mycoplasma genitalium, as per European terms.
Certain points in the guidelines include the following:
- The detection of DNA or RNA is specific for the Mycoplasma genitalium microbe in the clinical specimen.
- Current partners of people who tested positive for Mgen must be treated with a similar antimicrobial as the first documented patient.
What Is the Treatment of Mycoplasma Genitalium Infection?
Antibiotic therapy is the standard and most effective treatment for Mycoplasma genitalium infections. But, a recent research study has shown that Mycoplasma genitalium is becoming resistant to the standard antibiotics given as first-line treatment for this condition. This includes antibiotics like Azithromycin, Moxifloxacin, and macrolides. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend the following guidelines for treatment since Mycoplasma genitalium infection shows significant resistance to antibiotics.
1. Availability of Resistance Testing:
- Macrolide-Sensitive: It is recommended to give Doxycycline 100 mg daily for about seven days, followed by the tablet Azithromycin one gram as the initial dosage, and then 500 grams once daily for about three subsequent days.
- Macrolide-Resistant: Taking Doxycycline 100 mg twice daily for about seven days is recommended, followed by a tablet of Moxifloxacin 400 mg once daily for seven subsequent days.
2. Unavailability of Resistance Testing:
Suppose Mycoplasma genitalium is detected by NAAT even without resistance testing. In that case, Doxycycline 100 mg can be given two times a day for seven days, followed by a tablet of Moxifloxacin 400 mg once daily for seven subsequent days.
Conclusion:
Mycoplasma genitalium infection, ranging from mild to severe, is a spectrum disorder. Some people with this STD usually show no symptoms of being symptomatic. In others, it can lead to serious complications with distressing symptoms. The management of Mycoplasma genitalium infection is primarily achieved by antibiotic therapy, according to the antibiotic-resistant individual show. Moreover, one can prevent this STD by having protected sex and using barrier measures.
