Home / Sexual Health Clinic / Mycoplasma g.

Do I need a test for Mycoplasma genitalium?

Testing for Mycoplasma is recommended when you have symptoms which can be caused by Mycoplasma Genitalium. This allows a clear diagnosis to be made and ensures the correct antibiotics are prescribed.

We also recommend this test if you may have been exposed to this infection and feel anxious about passing it to your regular or new partner.

Currently, BASHH guidelines do not recommend this test on a routine basis if you do not have any symptoms. This is due to limited availability and high cost of this test in the NHS.

When should I get tested for Mycoplasma Genitalium?

If you are experiencing symptoms of Mycoplasma genitalium or your partner has tested positive for Mycoplasma, please get tested without delay. Otherwise, we recommend waiting 5 days after sexual contact to get a Mycoplasma genitalium test.

Do I need a physical examination when getting tested?

We will only conduct a physical examination with your informed consent. Those with symptoms are recommended an examination with a male or female (as you prefer) clinician.

What strains of Mycoplasma are tested?

There are 18 different species of Mycoplasmas which can infect humans, of which only 4 species infect the genital area. Of these, Mycoplasma Genitalium is the only species that is considered to be sexually transmitted.

At Clarewell Clinics, we only test for Mycoplasma genitalium, which is the only sexually transmitted member of the Mycoplasma family.

We can also test for Mycoplasma Hominis in certain situations. However, this is not recommended on a routine screen.

What happens if my Mycoplasma genitalium test is positive?

If you test positive for Mycoplasma genitalium, we will offer you a course of antibiotics and request a test of cure in 5 weeks time to ensure the infection has cleared.

We will also discuss what a positive result means for you and how to ensure you don’t pass it on to your partner.