 that only around one in five Brits have ever heard of, as many don't know they're infected. Mycoplasma genitalium, also known as Mgen or MG, is thought to be carried by more than half a million Brits, but in a survey of 500 British adults, a staggering 85% had no idea the STI even existed. The survey, conducted by LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor, found that less than one in five people have heard of Mgen before, and 90% would not feel comfortable identifying the symptoms of the illness. In even more worrying data, almost half (46%) of respondents admitted they had never had an STI test. So what is Mgen, and what are the symptoms you need to look out for? Doctor Neel Patel, a GP at LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor, said Mgen is an STI caused by tiny bacterium called Mycoplasma genitalium, which infects the urinary and genital tracts of both men and women. It can be spread by both vaginal and anal sex, but can even be transmitted without penetration. The STI is relatively "new" and was only discovered in 1981, with reliable tests for it only being made available as recently as 2017. As for symptoms, you may go weeks without knowing you're infected, and as many as 80% of men and between 50-70% of women will never show symptoms. Dr Patel said: "8 in 10 men and 5-7 in 10 women who are infected with Mgen don't show any symptoms but some people can display one or more. Symptoms usually appear 1-3 weeks after infection and can be different for men and women." Those who do show symptoms will have similar symptoms to those associated with chlamydia. Dr Patel added: "Mgen symptoms are very similar to those of chlamydia, though they are both caused by different bacteria. In the past, many doctors have tried to treat M){kind=link}
A doctor has issued a stark warning about the symptoms of a little-known STI that only one in five people have even heard of – as many don’t know they’re infected
A doctor is urging people to be aware of the symptoms of a little-known sexually transmitted infection (STI) that only around one in five Brits have ever heard of, as many don’t know they’re infected. Mycoplasma genitalium, also known as Mgen or MG, is thought to be carried by more than half a million Brits, but in a survey of 500 British adults, a staggering 85% had no idea the STI even existed.
The survey, conducted by LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor, found that less than one in five people have heard of Mgen before, and 90% would not feel comfortable identifying the symptoms of the illness. In even more worrying data, almost half (46%) of respondents admitted they had never had an STI test.
So what is Mgen, and what are the symptoms you need to look out for? Doctor Neel Patel, a GP at LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor, said Mgen is an STI caused by tiny bacterium called Mycoplasma genitalium, which infects the urinary and genital tracts of both men and women. It can be spread by both vaginal and anal sex, but can even be transmitted without penetration. The STI is relatively “new” and was only discovered in 1981, with reliable tests for it only being made available as recently as 2017.
As for symptoms, you may go weeks without knowing you’re infected, and as many as 80% of men and between 50-70% of women will never show symptoms. Dr Patel said: “8 in 10 men and 5-7 in 10 women who are infected with Mgen don’t show any symptoms but some people can display one or more. Symptoms usually appear 1-3 weeks after infection and can be different for men and women.”