Have you had of MG?

There’s a new sexually transmitted infection in town, here is introducing: mycoplasma genitalium, or simply put MG

Though experts have known of MG's existence since the '80s, but new report reveals that the bacterial infection, which resides in the urinary and genital tracts, likely spreads through sexual contact.

What are the symptoms?

Just like many other STDs, MG is often asymptomatic. In fact, the University College London study found that 94.4% of men and 56.2% of women with MG didn't report any symptoms.

However there are some tip-offs. For women, this includes irritation, painful urination, and bleeding after sex. 

For men, the most common signs are painful urination or a watery discharge from the penis.

MG has been linked to both inflammation in the cervix (cervicitis) and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which is a serious condition often caused by other STDs like chlamydia and gonorrhea. 

It is said that about 10% of women who develop PID (which causes abdominal pain, fever, painful cervix, and pain or bleeding during sex) can blame MG as the underlying cause.

Is there a test to confirm if you have MG?

Yes, you can definitely ask your doctor to test you, especially if the symptoms sound familiar. But part of the reason experts are just now finding out MG is sexually transmitted is that it's not quite as easy as getting tested for say, chlamydia or another STD.

Why? Far fewer labs offer the test, which means your doctor will have to send it to the nearest research center or big university lab that offers it, which can delay your results significantly depending on where you live.

The good news is that experts are confident that in light of the new findings, more labs will jump at the opportunity to add these tests to their repertoire.

In the meantime, "If you have [symptoms of an] infection, but all the tests come back negative, it's important to consider that MG may be the cause."

Is MG treatable?

Thankfully, yes. The antibiotic azithromycin (the same "Z-pack" you take when you get strep throat) is effective against MG.

How can I prevent it?

"Condoms, condoms, condoms," "The bottom line is it's a bacteria, and condoms are very effective against bacteria."

Credit: CNN; Health.com

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