This STI you probably haven't heard of is becoming more common than gonorrhea

You probably know of sexually transmitted infections such as herpes, chlamydia, HIV and syphilis. But have you heard of mycoplasma genitalium (m.gen)?

According to the Centres for Diseases Control in the United States, this disease comprising tiny, slow-growing bacterium is becoming more common than gonorrhea.

M.GEN SYMPTOMS DON'T ALWAYS SHOW

Even though m.gen was discovered in the 1980s, the infection can be scarily asymptomatic.

"M.gen is a silent but dangerous STI. Infected individuals may be symptom-free and feel completely fine, so they can continue to spread the infection to their sexual partners" says Dr Grace Huang, a resident doctor at DTAP Clinic.

"The worse thing is, because m.gen is still lesser-known compared to other STIs, doctors sometimes overlook testing for it during such sexual health screenings."

If an infected woman develops symptoms, she will experience an inflammation in the cervix known as cervicitis, which can result in abnormal vaginal discharge, painful intercourse, bleeding after intercourse or spotting when one is not having one's menses.

And if the infection spreads to other organs like the uterus and fallopian tubes or ovaries, she may develop pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can lead to potentially devastating long-term complications like infertility.

"The bacterium was detected in women suffering from PID more frequently," says Dr Huang.

"Some studies have also shown that in pregnant women, m.gen is associated with an increased risk of pre-term delivery."

TESTING AND TREATMENT CAN BE TRICKY

Another reason why m.gen has been under the radar for so long is because its testing and treatment can be very tricky.

"Testing for m.gen has traditionally been very difficult because of its slow growing nature. Treatment of the infection also has its challenges because the bacterium does not have a cell wall, which means antibiotics such as penicillins and other beta lactams commonly used are ineffective against it," explains Dr Huang.

[[nid:468926]]

But thanks to advancement in modern medicine, m.gen can now be tested via something called nucleic acid amplification testing, which for a woman first involves a high vaginal or endocervical swab.

And while treatment can be complex, it isn't impossible.

"M.gen is inherently resistant to antibiotics and this challenge is compounded by an increasing antibiotic resistance around the world. It is therefore important that you are treated properly with the correct antibiotic and for an appropriate duration."

"This makes testing and treatment more crucial than ever. Your doctor will be able to advise you on this."

To better protect yourself against STIs, remember to practise safe sex - from having your partner put a cap on it and asking him about his sexual health history to going for regular STI screenings. Best be safe than sorry.

This article was first published in CLEO Singapore.