This page is general health information, not medical advice. It cannot tell you whether you have an infection. A clinician can, and the testing options on this site are a good place to start.

Mycoplasma genitalium is a bacterium that can infect the urinary and genital tract. Many people have never heard of it. It is not on most standard STD panels, it can look like chlamydia, and it is harder to treat than most bacterial infections.

This guide covers what the organism is, what research suggests about it, when the CDC recommends testing, and how to ask about testing in Dallas. It is a science-focused guide, so it uses the same headings as our other deep dives, adapted to a germ instead of an ingredient.

What mycoplasma genitalium is

Mycoplasma genitalium (often shortened to MG or M. genitalium) is a sexually transmitted bacterium. The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) include it among the causes of urethritis in men and of cervicitis in women. The guidelines also link it to pelvic inflammatory disease.

Bacteria are usually described by their chemistry and structure. MG has a notable feature: it has no cell wall. Many common antibiotics work by attacking the cell wall, so they have no target in this organism. That is one reason a clinician cannot treat MG the way they treat many other bacterial infections.

MG is also very small and slow growing. In a lab, that makes it hard to culture. Testing therefore relies on molecular methods that detect the organism's genetic material.

Mycoplasma genitalium symptoms

Many people with MG have no symptoms at all. When symptoms do occur, they overlap with other infections, which is why symptoms alone cannot say what is causing them. Only a test and a clinician can do that.

The CDC describes the following patterns.

In people with a penis: urethritis, which can mean burning when urinating or discharge from the penis. Some people notice only mild irritation.
In people with a cervix: cervicitis, which can mean unusual discharge, bleeding after sex or between periods, or pain during sex.
In the upper genital tract: the CDC says research suggests MG may be associated with pelvic inflammatory disease, which can cause lower abdominal or pelvic pain.

These mycoplasma genitalium symptoms are the same ones people notice with chlamydia and gonorrhea. In Dallas County, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) reported 22,073 chlamydia cases (848.7 per 100,000 people) and 10,696 gonorrhea cases (411.3 per 100,000) in 2022. Those two infections are far more common causes of these symptoms. MG usually comes into the picture when symptoms continue after the first round of care. You can read about the more common cause in our guide to chlamydia symptoms, testing and treatment in Dallas.

Anyone with discharge, burning, pelvic pain or bleeding that is new or not going away can ask a clinician about it. Any gender, orientation or relationship status can be involved. These symptoms are not a sign of anything about the person who has them.

When the CDC recommends testing

The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) are specific about this. They recommend testing for MG in these situations.

Persistent or recurrent urethritis in men, meaning symptoms that continue or return after treatment.
Persistent or recurrent cervicitis in women.
The guidelines also say clinicians should consider MG testing for women with pelvic inflammatory disease.

The CDC also says that routine screening of people without symptoms is not recommended. Testing people who have no symptoms can lead to treatment that is not needed, and it adds to antibiotic resistance. A clinician can explain how this applies to a particular person's situation, including recent partners.

The CDC guidelines also say that sex partners of someone with MG should be evaluated. A clinician can explain what that means in practice.

Why it is not on standard panels

Most routine STD panels cover chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV, and sometimes trichomoniasis or hepatitis C. MG is usually left out for three reasons.

The CDC does not recommend screening people without symptoms. A test with no recommended use in that group is not added to routine panels.
Testing is more specialized. The CDC guidelines note that an FDA-cleared MG test became available in the United States only recently, and not every lab offers it.
Test results are most useful when paired with a clinician's judgment. A result matters most when someone has the persistent symptoms the CDC describes.

The CDC guidelines do not give a window period for MG. We will not guess at one. If you are wondering how soon after an exposure a test can be useful, that is a question for a clinician. For the infections that do have CDC window periods, your visit can cover those as well.

Research findings, framed as observations

The research on MG is still developing. Here is what the CDC guidelines and the studies behind them suggest.

Research suggests MG is a cause of non-gonococcal urethritis, which is urethritis that is not gonorrhea.
Studies suggest MG is also found in some women with cervicitis, and it may be associated with pelvic inflammatory disease.
The CDC notes that MG often persists after treatment with doxycycline, an antibiotic commonly used for urethritis. Doxycycline may reduce the amount of bacteria but often does not clear MG.
The CDC notes that resistance to macrolide antibiotics is common in MG, and resistance to a second class of antibiotics, fluoroquinolones, has also been reported. Resistance patterns vary by place and over time.

The evidence on some questions, such as how much MG contributes to long-term complications, is still limited. The CDC describes these as areas of ongoing study.

Treatment and safety profile

MG can be treated, and it can be cured with treatment from a clinician. Because the bacterium is often resistant to common antibiotics, treatment takes more planning than for most bacterial STIs.

The CDC guidelines support a resistance-guided approach. In short, a clinician may order a test that looks for genetic markers of macrolide resistance. The result helps decide which antibiotics to prescribe and in what order. Everything about the medicines, including the specific drugs, is chosen and monitored by a prescribing clinician. Do not use leftover antibiotics or antibiotics from a friend. Using the wrong antibiotic can make resistance worse.

Safety is a real consideration here, because the antibiotic choices differ in side effects and in who can take them. Points a clinician will usually weigh include the following.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding: some antibiotics are used differently or avoided. Tell the clinician if you are pregnant or could be.
Other medicines and allergies: any prior reaction to an antibiotic is important to mention.
Age and health conditions: some antibiotic classes carry warnings for particular groups, which is why a prescriber, not a website, should choose.
Finishing the course and follow-up: a clinician will explain whether and when a follow-up check is needed, and how long to wait before sex.

Condoms reduce the chance of passing along many STIs, but the CDC notes that no method removes the risk completely. A clinician can talk through options in a way that fits your life.

Quality indicators when you ask for a test

There is no product to buy here, and we do not recommend any kits or labs. But you can look for signs that a test is being handled well.

A clinician is involved. Testing for MG should connect to a plan for results and treatment.
The test detects the organism's genetic material. Ask what method the lab uses and whether it is FDA-cleared. The clinic can tell you.
Resistance testing is available. Ask whether the lab can also check for macrolide resistance markers, since the CDC supports using that information.
Results lead somewhere. You should leave knowing who will contact you, how, and what comes next.
Testing for other infections is part of the visit. The CDC also recommends testing for chlamydia and gonorrhea when symptoms are present.

Where to ask about MG testing in Dallas

We checked the published service lists for Dallas clinics. None of them lists mycoplasma genitalium testing by name. That does not mean a clinic does not offer it. It means you should ask before you go. A short call can save a trip.

Questions to ask when you call:

Do you test for mycoplasma genitalium, and can you test for macrolide resistance?
If not, can your clinician refer me to a place that does?
What do you charge, and is there a sliding scale?

Here are the places most likely to be useful starting points.

Sexual Health Clinic, Dallas County Health and Human Services, 2377 N. Stemmons Freeway, 1st Floor, Suite 100, Dallas, TX 75207, (214) 819-1819. The county page lists testing for HIV, hepatitis C, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis and mpox, and treatment for several of these. It does not list MG. Appointments are required, and same-day or next-day appointments are offered. The county directs people who need routine testing without symptoms to its Mobile Medical Unit. The county page lists no fees. The CDC GetTested listing says Medicaid is accepted and says to contact the organization about eligibility. Hours listed by the county are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The phone line opens at 7:45 a.m. On the second Thursday of each month the clinic closes at 3:30 p.m.
Prism Health North Texas, Oak Lawn Health Center, 2801 Lemmon Ave, Suite 200, Dallas, TX 75204, 214-521-5191. Prism lists STD testing and treatment. Prism says its fees follow a sliding scale based on household income and size, and that it accepts Medicaid, Medicare, CHIP and most private insurance. Prism says appointments should be scheduled in advance, and that same-day and walk-in appointments are available for urgent issues depending on availability. Prism lists other Dallas health centers at the same phone number.
Resource Center Health (Nelson-Tebedo clinic), 2603 Inwood Rd., Dallas, TX 75235, 214.528.2336. Resource Center lists a gonorrhea and chlamydia test free with a $40 office visit. Its page does not mention MG, a sliding scale or insurance. Walk-in is not mentioned, and the page says to request an appointment online.
Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine Clinic, Children's Health, 2350 N Stemmons Fwy, Ste F5200, Dallas, TX 75207, (214) 456-9099. This is a teen and young adult clinic. Its page says a parent or guardian must give general consent for a minor to be treated in the clinic.

For the full local list with more clinics and details, see the Dallas clinic list. For costs, what to bring and how a visit works, read our guide to STD testing in Dallas: where to get tested and what it costs.

You can also use the CDC's GetTested locator to find testing sites by ZIP code. The locator shows the services each site reports, but it is worth calling to confirm that a site offers a specific test.

Privacy and age

Texas Family Code Sec. 32.003 says a minor of any age may consent to diagnosis and treatment of a reportable infectious or communicable disease, and parent or guardian consent is not necessary for that care. The same section lets a physician tell a parent or guardian about the treatment, with or without the minor's consent. So a provider cannot promise that a parent will never be told. A teen who is worried can ask the clinic about its practices before the visit.

Texas DSHS lists chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV as notifiable conditions. MG is not on that list.

What to take from this

MG is a bacterium that can cause urethritis and cervicitis, and many people have no symptoms.
The CDC recommends testing when urethritis or cervicitis is persistent or recurrent, and does not recommend routine screening without symptoms.
It is usually not on standard panels, so you have to ask for it by name.
Treatment is prescribed by a clinician and works best when it is guided by resistance testing.
No Dallas clinic page we checked lists MG testing, so call first and ask.

If you have symptoms that have not gone away, the next step is a conversation with a clinician, and several Dallas options are free or sliding scale.

Mycoplasma Genitalium: What It Is and Where to Get Tested in Dallas