Studies say it could be common elsewhere too. Here’s what you need to know.
Yikes. A new study by researchers in the United Kingdom discovered a shocking prevalence of Mycoplasma genitalium (MG), a sexually transmitted bacterial infection, among its population. So far, little is known about MG, but scientists believe the STI has gone unrecognized for years.
Despite the fact that MG is being reported as a “new” STI, the bacteria were first discovered back in 1980. Back then, scientists didn’t have the right tests to extensively study it, but this new research adds to the previous hints that MG is transmitted sexually — particularly because the infection was more common in people who had at least four new sexual partners in the past year. It occurred less frequently among those who had only had one partner in the past year, and the 200 virgins who took part in the study were all clear of the STI.
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For clarification, “STD” is the most common reference used for any bacteria or viruses which are sexually transmitted, but the medical community has been shying away from the term due to the stigma that comes with the label. Plus, most people overlook the fact that many STIs don’t actually go on to become STDs. Basically, disease connotates something more permanent and serious, while infection sounds much less scary.
The new MG research analyzed urine samples from 4,500 participants aged 16 to 44 in Britain’s National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles, and the results suggest that up to 1 percent of the population has MG — likely between 200,000 to 250,000 people. Live Science reports that studies in the US have found that a similar number of people in the States are also infected with MG, making it a more common STI than gonorrhea, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
These findings aim to raise awareness about the infection, because according to the study published in the International Journal of Epidemiology, a whopping 90 percent of infected men and over half of infected women showed no symptoms at all. Of the 48 women in the study with MG, just under 45 percent of them reported bleeding after intercourse, which could be a potential symptom of MG. But more research must be done on the STI to further confirm this symptom and any possible others.
Since MG is still on its way to being a confirmed STI, there’s still a lot to learn about the long-term outcomes of the infection. So far, it’s suspected to contribute to pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, and ectopic pregnancy, which occurs when the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus.
The FDA hasn’t yet approved a routine test for MG. Researchers must study the infection more extensively before anything new can be implemented in regular health checkups and STI screenings.
As if high school health teachers and sexual education programs don’t stress the message enough, it’s best to stay on the safe side and always use protection. The findings about this little-known STI make it clear how much we still have to learn about the health risks associated with sexually-transmitted infections.
