About Mgen

Mgen symptoms

Most people with Mgen don’t have any noticeable symptoms.

If you do have symptoms, they can be like symptoms of other STIs such as chlamydia or gonorrhoea.

Mgen in women

In women, Mgen may cause:

• Bleeding after sex or between periods
• An unusual vaginal discharge
• Pain low in the tummy
• Pain when weeing

Mgen in men

In men, Mgen may cause:

• Discharge from the penis tip
• Pain or burning when weeing
• Testicle pain

Mgen in the rectum (bum)

This usually has no symptoms.

It might sometimes cause pain or discharge from the anus (bum hole).

Can I do an Mgen test at home?

In most people, Mgen does not cause any problems and will go away without treatment.

This means there’s no need for people without symptoms to get tested for Mgen.

An Mgen test is not part of a standard sexual health screening at sexual health clinics.

SH.UK does not offer a home self-sampling test for Mgen even if you have symptoms.

If you have mild symptoms, you may be able to request a home STI self-sampling kit. This will test for chlamydia and gonorrhoea.

The clinic can test for different STIs and advise if you need an Mgen test.

Mgen tests

A sexual health clinic may advise an Mgen test in certain situations, for example:

• You have certain symptoms and these are not caused by other infections.
• You have non-gonococcal urethritis - this is a painful or sore urethra (wee tube) which has not been caused by gonorrhoea.
• You have signs and symptoms of pelvic inflammatory disease.
• A current sexual partner has Mgen

Mgen tests for women

A swab (like a cotton bud) is wiped over the inside of the vagina. You can often do this yourself, or a healthcare professional may do it.

Mgen tests for men

You’ll be asked for a wee sample. If you have discharge from the penis, a swab (like a cotton bud) may be taken from the tip of the penis by a healthcare professional.

If you’ve had anal (in the bum) sex

A healthcare professional may ask to swab the rectum (inside the bum). You may also be able to take a swab yourself.

Mgen treatment

Mgen can usually be cured with antibiotics. You may be given more than one type of antibiotic. Treatment is free.

The antibiotics are usually taken for around 10 days but may need to be taken for longer.

Your current sexual partner(s) will need testing and may need treatment.

Don’t have sex with anyone until:

• 14 days after both you and any current partners have started treatment and any symptoms have gone.

This helps to stop you passing on Mgen or being reinfected by a partner.

If you have Mgen, testing for other STIs is advised if you haven’t already done so.

Mgen treatment during pregnancy

If you’re pregnant, you’ll usually be advised to wait until after the pregnancy before starting treatment. Your healthcare professional will discuss the options with you. You’ll be advised to use condoms until the Mgen is cured.

How long does Mgen last for?

For most people, Mgen should be cured within a few weeks of starting treatment. It’s important to take all your treatment.

If your symptoms go away, you do not usually need a test to check the Mgen is cured.

Antibiotics don’t always cure Mgen straight away. It’s also possible to get Mgen more than once. So, if your symptoms don’t go away or they go but then come back, it’s important to go back to the clinic.

The clinic can do a test to check the Mgen has gone. If you still have Mgen you’ll need more treatment. Some strains of Mgen are resistant to most antibiotics so sometimes the clinic might have to try different treatments, usually guided by additional testing.

Do I have to tell anyone if I have Mgen?

It’s important for any current sexual partners to get tested so they can be treated if they have Mgen too.

If a partner has Mgen and does not get treatment, they could reinfect you with Mgen.

Telling your partners is called partner notification. If you feel like you can’t tell them yourself, the sexual health clinic can help you with this.

Is Mgen serious?

Mgen won’t usually cause any serious problems or complications.

If you have untreated Mgen for a long time, it can spread from the genitals and urethra (wee tube) to other parts of the body and cause serious long-term health problems.

• In women: Mgen can cause a womb infection called pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). If PID isn’t treated and cured it may cause pain, an increased chance of ectopic pregnancy and problems with fertility.
• In men: It’s not common, but Mgen can spread to the testicles. This can cause pain and swelling called epididymo-orchitis. Very rarely, there is a possibility this could affect your fertility.
• In anyone: Very rarely, Mgen may lead to pain and swelling in joints.

How is Mgen spread?

Mgen is passed on through vaginal/frontal or anal sex without a condom with someone who has Mgen.

It may also be passed on from genital-to-genital contact, even without penetration or ejaculation.

You can’t get Mgen from kissing, hugging, toilet seats, sharing baths or towels, or from swimming pools.

How can I avoid getting Mgen?

The best ways to help protect yourself from Mgen are:

• Use condoms when you have vaginal/frontal or anal sex.
• If you share sex toys, cover them with a new condom or wash them thoroughly before each person uses them.