The Hook Up Mgen Is The STI You Don’t Know About (And It's Really Hard To Treat)
Aug 20, 2025
Professor Catriona Bradshaw, sexual health physician and researcher at Monash University, explains the little-known STI Mycoplasma genitalium. She outlines why it is hard to detect and treat, how antibiotic resistance develops, and the limits of current testing and treatments. Brief talk on symptoms, transmission routes, prevention with condoms, and the public role in combating resistance.
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Friend's Long Treatment Journey Highlighted GP Awareness Gaps
- Pip shared a friend's months-long struggle with Mgen involving multiple antibiotic courses and a GP unaware the infection existed.
- The friend endured repeated treatments and confusion because some clinicians still lack awareness of Mgen.
Mgen Was Hidden By Limits Of Old Tests
- Mgen was discovered in 1981 but remained 'hidden' because it’s hard to culture and often below detection thresholds of older tests.
- Molecular PCR testing made diagnosis easier, revealing Mgen's role in urethritis once assays improved.
Symptoms Depend On Where Mgen Sits In The Body
- Symptoms depend on anatomical site: urethritis in men causes burning, irritation and sometimes clear discharge; in women Mgen infects the cervix and can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease.
- Oral transmission appears rare so throat testing isn't routine due to low yield.