The bacterium Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) is sexually transmitted and can cause inflammation of the urinary and genital tracts in men and women. This germ may also be linked to other problems, including some cases of arthritis and, in women, pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility.
MG appears to be spread by unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse, as it can be detected in fluid samples from the penis, rectum and vagina. So far it has not been detected in fluid samples from the throat.
MG, like other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), can cause inflammation of delicate genital tissue. Such inflammation can make the genitals more susceptible to infection with other STIs, including HIV.
In high-income countries, overall rates of MG infection appear to be low, ranging between 1% and 3%. Several studies have found that rates of MG infection tend to be greater among people who seek care for STIs.