There’s an STI that causes actual ball ache — and it’s ‘worryingly resistant’ to antibiotics

Less than 15% of people have heard of Mgen (Picture: Getty Images)

You’re likely familiar with chlamydia, which runs rampant throughout the UK in hotspots like Liverpool, which has more than 21,000 infected residents.

But what if we told you there’s another lesser-known STI, with similar infection rates, that has gone under the radar.

Mycoplasma genitalium (also known as Mgen or MG) was discovered in 1981, 74 years after scientists discovered chlamydia, but a reliable test for it was only produced in 2017.

Worryingly, just 15% of Brits have heard of Mgen, according to LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor, despite it affecting 500,000 Brits, about 2% of the sexually active population.

The reason Mgen is so prevalent is because it’s often symptomless, just like HPV, but it’s also antibiotic resistant. So Metro spoke to doctors to get the lowdown on this elusive STI.

What is Mgen?

Mgen is a sexually transmitted bacterial infection, caused by the mycoplasma genitalium bacteria.

‘It affects the urethra, cervix and sometimes the rectum, and behaves a bit like chlamydia, but it’s less well known and harder to treat,’ Dr Nikki Ramskill, founder of The Female Health Doctor Clinic, tells Metro.

Painful inflammation in the rectum and testicles can be symptoms (Picture: Getty Images)

You can contract Mgen by having unprotected vaginal or anal sex with someone who has the infection, although researchers are still determining whether it can spread through oral sex.

If you’re wondering why you aren’t routinely tested for it like other STIs, there’s one simple reason.

‘Mgen isn’t included in standard STI screening unless there’s a specific reason, like persistent symptoms,’ Dr Ramskill, from Doctify, adds.

‘Widespread testing could lead to unnecessary antibiotic use, which is a real concern given how resistant this infection already is.’

What are the symptoms of Mgen?

Mgen is slightly more common in women than in men, according to the British Association of Sexual Health, and it’s usually symptomless for 50 to 70% of women, and 80% of men.

However, some people show symptoms one to three weeks after infection, so here’s what to look for.

Someone with symptoms may notice:

Pain or burning when passing urine Unusual vaginal discharge Discharge from the penis Pelvic pain or discomfort Bleeding after sex Pain in the testicles Genital itching Inflammation in the rectum

‘The tricky part is that these symptoms look very similar to other common STIs,’ Dr Ramskill explains.

According to doctor Babak Ashrafi, a Superdrug Online Doctor, having another STI and unprotected sex both increase the risk of infection, too.

You will only be tested for Mgen if you don’t test positive for other STIs (Picture: Getty Images)

‘With more than half of Brits having unprotected sex and not having been tested for STIs like gonorrhoea, it’s a concern,’ he tells Metro.

Is Mgen dangerous?

Like many other conditions, if left untreated it has the potential to cause more problems.

‘Untreated MG can cause serious complications,’ Dr Ashrafi explains. ‘In men, it’s linked to epididymitis (where a tube behind the testicles becomes swollen and painful) and proctitis (inflammation in your rectum).’

Dr Ramskill says it’s also linked to persistent urethritis, which is pain at the top of the penis.

‘In women, it can lead to cervicitis (inflammation of the cervix) and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which in some cases may affect fertility and cause spotting in between periods,’ she adds. ‘It’s not something to ignore if symptoms are ongoing.’

How is Mgen treated?

Typically, antibiotics would be used to treat an STI like Mgen, although Dr Ashrafi says this infection is becoming ‘worryingly resistant’ to them, meaning it could be classed as a ‘superbug’.

Protected sex is the only sure fire way to keep yourself safe from STIs (Picture: Getty Images)

‘In some regions, resistance rates exceed 90%, making MG one of the fastest-growing antibiotic-resistant STIs,’ he explains.

‘Treatment now usually requires a two-stage antibiotic approach, typically doxycycline followed by azithromycin or moxifloxacin.’

But antibiotics do still work, Dr Ramskill reassures us, we just have to be much more careful and specific about how we use them.

Of course, if you want to avoid Mgen while having sex, the simple answer is to use a condom and get tested regularly if you’re sexually active.

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