Mycoplasma Genitalium Linked to Infertility; Scientists Are Worried It Could Spread Silently Amid Lack of Testing, Research

Scientists recently warned about a little-understood sexually transmitted disease, called Mycoplasma genitalium linked to infertility, that could spread silently amid a lack of research and testing.

As indicated in an Insider report, STD is not tracked by health officials so it could be spreading sans detection, possibly causing harm, experts explained.

Associate professor of maternal-fetal medicine Dr. Irene Stafford at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston said early this week during the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Conference that Mycoplasma genitalium infections "were a real concern."

In an NBC News report, Dr. Stafford asked, "Why are we not looking into this?" The said report also specified that this sexually transmitted disease has been around since the early 1980s, although FDA-approved testing for it only became available in 2019 and people are not routinely screened for it, the CDC said.

Probability of Infection

Information on the severity of its transmission, who it is affecting most, and its long-term effects still remains unknown.

Professor of epidemiology Lisa Manhart from the University of Washington School of Public Health approximated that as many as 20 percent of sexually active women and 17 percent of sexually a

Active men from 15 to 24 years of age could be infected with Mycoplasma genitalium.

To compare, chlamydia is the most common STD in the United States, and five percent of sexually active women from 14 to 24 years old are infected with it.

Mycoplasma Genitalium

Essentially, mycoplasma genitalium does not cause symptoms in most people although some are experiencing symptoms from two to 35 days from infection.

In male individuals, mycoplasma genitalium can cause urethra infection. The urethra is the tube that's carrying urine out of the penis, causing watery discharge from the penis when urinating.

In females, mycoplasma genitalium can lead to inflammation of the cervix, the opening to the womb, which causes discomfort when urinating, unusual vaginal discharge, and bleeding between periods, typically after sexual intercourse.

The infection can then transmit to the fallopian tubes, connecting the ovaries and the womb and causing PID pelvic inflammatory disease or PID which causes symptoms such as fever, low abdominal pain, and pain during sexual intercourse.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

If left untreated in women, PID can result in fallopian tube scarring, which raises the risk of ectopic pregnancy, not to mention, infertility.

The choice of antibiotic for mycoplasma genitalium treatment presently relies on the strain. More so, this STD is resistant to at least one antibiotic typically used for sexually transmitted diseases called azithromycin.

In a Mail Online report, associate professor in cellular microbiology Simon Clarke from the University of Reading, United Kingdom, said that it was completely feasible that mycoplasma genitalium could turn resistant to all existing antibiotics although this was, perhaps "some way off."

Clarke explained that its so-called "silent spread" was a problem, as people do not get tested for it and then pass it on.

Unknown Long-Term Effects of an Infection

More studies are needed to identify the long-term risks of mycoplasma genitalium, which include in those who do not have symptoms.

The sand news report also specified that Stafford also wanted to raise public awareness of mycoplasma genitalium to try to boost research initiatives.

The implications of untreated mycoplasma genitalium on sexual health and fertility are real, the expert said.

Related information about Mycoplasma genitalium is shown on Hologic, Inc.'s YouTube video below:

Check out more news and information on Medicine & Health in Science Times.