A doctor has outlined the signs of a lesser-known STI that plenty of people may not even realise exists.
Looking after your sexual health matters, and regular testing is advised for anyone who’s sexually active — especially if you have multiple partners.
Some infections can be cleared with antibiotics, while others need longer-term treatment to keep symptoms under control and reduce the chance of passing them on.
Many STIs are widely recognised, such as chlamydia. However, there’s another infection that appears to fly under the radar despite affecting a comparable number of people.
Awareness is key: if people don’t know the warning signs, they might not seek testing and could unknowingly transmit it to others.
A doctor has now highlighted what to watch for — and the condition in question is Mycoplasma genitalium.
Often shortened to Mgen, Mycoplasma genitalium was first identified back in 1981, but a reliable test wasn’t developed until 2017 — a delay that’s contributed to it being less talked about than other infections.
It can present in a similar way to chlamydia, but can be harder to treat.
Mgen can infect areas including the urethra and cervix, and in some cases the rectum as well.
Symptoms can vary, but may include a burning sensation when urinating, pain when peeing, discharge from the penis, unusual vaginal discharge, bleeding after sex, genital itching, rectal inflammation, pelvic discomfort or pain, and pain in the testes.
One of the biggest issues is that many of these symptoms overlap with other STIs — and some people have no symptoms at all — meaning infections can go undetected.
Dr Nikki Ramskill, founder of The Female Health Doctor Clinic, explained more about why Mgen can be missed.
She told Metro: “The tricky part is that these symptoms look very similar to other common STIs.”
Because the signs can mimic other infections, someone may need a specific test for Mgen to confirm what’s causing their symptoms.
“Mgen isn’t included in standard STI screening unless there’s a specific reason, like persistent symptoms.”
That matters because beyond discomfort, Mgen can sometimes cause serious complications.
Cleveland Clinic warns it may increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy, a dangerous condition if left untreated.
In other cases, it may also contribute to infertility in women.
Dr Ramskill also noted that there’s a public health concern tied to testing and treatment: rising antibiotic resistance.
“Widespread testing could lead to unnecessary antibiotic use, which is a real concern given how resistant this infection already is,” she said.