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Mycoplasma genitalium (Mgen) is a sexually transmitted infection (STI). You can get it from vaginal or anal sex. Because Mgen often doesn’t cause symptoms, many people who have it don’t know it and unknowingly infect other people. Mgen is treatable with antibiotics.
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Mycoplasma genitalium (Mgen) is a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Mgen is a treatable bacterial infection. It can infect your:
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Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
Many people with Mgen don’t have symptoms. But the infection can lead to complications like urethritis (inflammation of your urethra) and cervicitis (inflammation of your cervix). These complications typically have symptoms.
Learning about a new-to-you STI can be overwhelming, especially when you keep hearing about it in the news. You may be wondering if you could have the infection or if it’s the cause of a reproductive health issue you have. The only way to know if you have Mgen is to get tested. Your healthcare provider is your partner in helping you navigate STI screening, prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
No, Mgen isn’t a new sexually transmitted infection (sexually transmitted disease). But it’s “younger” than many STIs. Researchers first identified it in 1981. But they think Mgen may be more common in the United States than they once thought. This is because Mgen was previously difficult to diagnose due to a lack of testing technology for it.
People with Mgen often don’t have symptoms, but symptoms can include:
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It’s common to feel embarrassed or ashamed if you have symptoms of an STI. But it’s important to see a healthcare provider if you have these symptoms. They’re there to help you, not judge you.
Without treatment, Mgen can lead to complications like:
These complications often cause symptoms.
Mgen is a common cause of urethritis (specifically, nongonococcal urethritis). People with a penis are more likely to get urethritis from Mgen than people without a penis.
In people with a penis, urethritis symptoms can include:
See a healthcare provider if you have these symptoms.
You can get Mgen by having vaginal or anal sex without a condom with someone who has the infection. Researchers are still studying if Mgen can spread through oral sex.
If you have Mgen, you can pass the infection to someone else through sexual contact even if you don’t have signs or symptoms.
The name of this STI is the same as the bacterium that causes it — Mycoplasma genitalium. Bacteria are microscopic living organisms that have only one cell. Mgen cells are smaller than most other bacteria. The infection grows slowly.
Yes, Mycoplasma genitalium is contagious. It’s a sexually transmitted infection. That means the infection can spread from one person to another through vaginal or anal sex without a condom.
In the United States, a laboratory test can diagnose Mgen. You’ll have to see a healthcare provider or go to a clinic to get this test. The test can detect the bacterium in a pee sample or with a swab of your genital area. The swab collects a small sample of cells for testing. Your healthcare provider may swab or have you swab:
If you have a positive test result, your sex partner(s) should also see a provider who can test and treat them if needed.
Prescription antibiotics can treat Mgen. Your healthcare provider will prescribe an antibiotic they think will work for you. Be sure to follow the instructions for taking the medication.
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It’s becoming more difficult to treat some Mgen infections due to antibiotic resistance. If your symptoms continue for more than a few days after completing the course of antibiotics, see your provider.
It’s important to remember that you can get Mgen again after treatment if you have sex without a condom with someone with the infection.
The only way to completely avoid STIs like Mgen is not to have vaginal or anal sex. But using a condom properly can help prevent getting the infection.
Factors that increase your risk of getting Mgen include:
Only antibiotics can treat Mgen. The infection won’t go away on its own. But it may take more than one type of antibiotic to treat Mgen. This is because some strains of the infection don’t respond to certain antibiotics.
If your symptoms don’t improve after treatment with an antibiotic, talk to your healthcare provider. They may need to prescribe a different type of antibiotic.
If you ever have signs or symptoms of STIs, it’s important to see a provider. Make a plan to get screened regularly for STIs based on your healthcare provider’s recommendation for how often you should get tested.
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If you have Mgen, it may be helpful to ask your healthcare provider:
No, Mycoplasma genitalium isn’t the same as chlamydia. Bacterium called Chlamydia trachomatis causes chlamydia (a STI). But you can have Mgen and chlamydia at the same time. Both STIs can cause complications like urethritis and infertility.
No, Mycoplasma genitalium isn’t the same as bacterial vaginosis (BV). They’re two different bacterial infections. But you’re at increased risk of getting Mgen if you have BV. Having BV increases your risk of getting STIs in general.
It can be embarrassing to talk about anything sex-related with a healthcare provider, including STIs. But your sex life is an important part of your health that your provider needs to know about to provide care. Not getting the treatment you need for mycoplasma genitalium (Mgen) can pose serious risks to your health. Speak with your provider about getting regularly screened for STIs to reduce your risks of complications. Practice safer sex to prevent the spread of Mgen.
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Last reviewed on 01/20/2025.
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