Mycoplasma Genitalium In Men

Are you or your partner experiencing discomfort or pain when passing urine? Or did your partner inform you that he/ she was infected with Mycoplasma Genitalium?

What is Mycoplasma Genitalium?

It is a sexually transmitted infection in which, majority of the people may not experience any symptoms. In those who do experience symptoms, they may have discomfort or pain when passing urine, abnormal vaginal bleeding between menses, bleeding after sex, pelvic pain. Unlike most bacteria, it is very difficult to grow them in the lab thus until recent years, many labs do not test for it.

Another interesting fact about Mycoplasma genitalium is that unlike most bacteria it does not have a cell wall, thus making many common antibiotics used to treat bacterial infection ineffective against it. 

What happens if I get infected with it?

For many people, they may not be aware that they have been infected with it as they have no symptoms. For those with symptoms,

Males:

Symptoms include:

• Pain on urinating
• Discharge from the urethra which is the tube through which urine passes out of the penis
• Penile irritation and pain

Females:

Symptoms include:

• Vaginal discharge
• Pelvic pain
• Bleeding after intercourse
• Bleeding between periods

In addition, studies have shown that infection with Mycoplasma Genitalium puts women at double the risk of developing pelvic inflammatory disease, spontaneous abortion and premature babies. There are some evidence that show that in males, complications such as infection of the epididymis which is part of the delivery system of sperm from the testes; In addition, it has been shown that bacteria can bind to the sperm itself and may have effect on the sperm’s ability to move thus may cause infertility issues.

How can I test if I have been infected with Mycoplasma genitalium?

Up until recently, no commercial laboratory in Singapore is able to offer the test to detect Mycoplasma Genitalium. Dr Tan and Partners recently announced that they are now able to test for Mycoplasma Genitalium with a commercial laboratory in Singapore.

How does the test detect Mycoplasma Genitalium?

The test takes urine or a swab from the cervix and looks for the DNA of the bacteria using PCR technology. This makes the test highly accurate.

What do I need to do for the test?

Your doctor will require either a fresh urine sample or in females, a cervical swab is taken.

How long does it take for the results to be available?

Usually it takes about 7-10 working days for results to be available.

Is there effective treatment for Mycoplasma Genitalium?

Yes there is. If you have been tested positive for the infection, your doctor will discuss with you the appropriate antibiotic to use. Effective treatment of the infection is also more challenging in this current day and age due to increasing antibiotic resistance. Your doctor will be able to advise you further.

Should I ask my partner to get tested if I have been tested positive for Mycoplasma Genitalium?

Certainly, you should ask your partner to see a doctor to get tested and if necessary treated accordingly. Remember that in many cases, infection with Mycoplasma Genitalium causes no symptoms. 

Studies have shown that in heterosexual couples where the male partner was tested positive for the bacteria up to 30% of their female partner were positive for the bacteria as well and it is even higher when heterosexual female who were positive for the bacteria, up to 50% of their male partners are tested positive for the bacteria. In men who have sex with men, up to 40% of their partners were tested positive for the bacteria in the rectum.

Surprisingly, in the same group of men, only about 4% were tested positive for the bacteria in the urine. All in all, this points to the fact that if one partner is tested positive for the bacteria there is a good chance that the other partner is also infected.

Questions?

1) DTAP Clinic @Somerset

Men’s Lifestyle Clinic

Address:
1 Grange Road,
#10-08 Orchard Building (Office Tower),
Singapore 239693

Telephone: +65 6262 0762

WhatsApp: +65 8372 8393 (For Appointment Only)

Email: hello@dtapclinic.com.sg

Opening Time:
Monday to Thursday:
9.30 am – 2.00 pm & 3.00 pm – 6.30 pm
Friday:
9.30 am – 1.00 pm & 2.00 pm – 6.30 pm
Saturday: 9.00 am – 1.00 pm
Closed on Sunday and Public Holidays

Nearest MRT Station:
Somerset MRT Station

2) DTAP Clinic @Novena

Men’s Health & Sexual Health Clinic

Address:
10 Sinaran Drive,
#08-31 Novena Medical Centre,
Singapore 307506

Telephone: +65 6397 2095

WhatsApp: +65 9859 8376 (For Appointment Only)

Email: hello@dtapclinic.com.sg

Opening Time: 
Monday to Friday: 8.30 am – 5.30 pm
Saturday: 9.00 am – 1.00 pm
Closed on Sunday and Public Holidays

Nearest MRT Station:
Novena MRT Station (Exit A)

3) DTAP Clinic @Holland Village

Men’s Health & Sexual Health Clinic

Address:
15B Lorong Liput,
(Next to Holland Piazza),
Singapore 277730

Telephone: +65 6235 1339

WhatsApp: +65 8825 8034 (For Appointment Only)

Email: hello@dtapclinic.com.sg

Opening Time:
Monday – Friday: 8.00 am – 8.00 pm
Saturday & Sunday: 9.00 am – 2.00 pm
Closed on Public Holidays

Nearest MRT Station(s):
Holland Village MRT Station (Exit B) & (Exit C)

4) DTAP Clinic @Robertson

Men’s Health & Anonymous HIV Testing Clinic

Anonymous HIV Testing in Singapore:
(Don’t require any identification, such as passport, NRIC or contact details during registration. )

Address:
11 Unity Street,
#02-06/07 Robertson Walk,
Singapore 237995

Telephone: +65 6238 7810

WhatsApp: +65 8825 8037 (For Appointment Only)

Email: hello@dtapclinic.com.sg

Opening Time:
Monday to Friday: 8.00 am – 9.00 pm
Saturday: 9.00 am – 9.00 pm
Sunday: 9.00 am – 2.00 pm
Closed on Public Holidays

Nearest MRT Station:
Fort Canning MRT Station (Exit A)

5) DTAP Clinic @Raffles Place

Men’s Health & Sexual Health Clinic

Address:
20 Cecil Street,
#02-01 PLUS,
Singapore 049705

Telephone: +65 6962 7144

WhatsApp: +65 9864 3198 (For Appointment Only)

Email: hello@dtapclinic.com.sg

Opening Time:
Monday: 8.00 am – 6.00 pm
Tuesday – Friday: 8.00 am – 5.00 pm
Saturday: 9.00 am – 1.00 pm
Closed on Sunday & Public Holidays

Nearest MRT Station(s):
Raffles Place MRT Station (Exit E) &
Telok Ayer MRT Station (Exit B)

6) DTAP Clinic @Siglap

Men’s Health & Sexual Health Clinic

Address:
914 East Coast Road,
#01-04 The Domain,
Singapore 459108

Telephone: +65 6962 2144

WhatsApp: +65 8892 1023 (For Appointment Only)

Email: hello@dtapclinic.com.sg

Opening Time:
Monday & Friday: 9.00 am – 8.00 pm
Tuesday & Thursday: 10.00 am – 8.00 pm
Wednesday: 10.00 am – 6.00 pm
Saturday: 9.00 am – 2.00 pm
Closed on Sunday & Public Holidays

7) DTAP Clinic @Kovan

Men’s Health & Sexual Health Clinic

Address:
Stars of Kovan, #01-21
988 Upper Serangoon Road
Singapore 534733

Telephone: +65 6962 7191

WhatsApp: +65 8921 6820

Email:  hello@dtapclinic.com.sg

Opening Time:
Monday – Friday: 9.00 am – 7.00 pm
Saturday: 9.00 am – 2.00 pm
Closed on Sunday & Public Holidays

Nearest MRT Station:
Kovan MRT Station

by DTAP Clinic (Singapore | Malaysia)