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Mycoplasma genitalium Test
A PCR test for Mycoplasma genitalium from first-catch urine or a self-taken vaginal swab.
- Doctor-reviewed results
- Laboratory analysis
- 1 to 2 working days from lab receipt
- No fasting required
What’s included
1 infection tested for
Mycoplasma genitalium
A bacterium that, along with chlamydia, is one of the two organisms most often found when a man has urethritis (inflammation of the urethra) not caused by gonorrhoea. It has also been linked to urethritis that persists or keeps coming back.
Overview
Mycoplasma genitalium is a sexually transmitted bacterium that a standard chlamydia and gonorrhoea test does not include. UK guidance suggests testing if you have symptoms that have not settled after other infections have been checked, such as discharge, bleeding after sex, pelvic pain or pain passing urine, or if a partner has been diagnosed with it.
Mycoplasma genitalium is a sexually transmitted bacterium that is not included in a standard chlamydia and gonorrhoea screen. Many people carry it with no symptoms at all, and current UK guidance is to test people with symptoms or a diagnosed partner rather than everyone. It is treatable, and a positive result is explained by a doctor along with how to get treatment.
Who this is for and who it isn’t
Who it’s for
- Adults aged 18 and over
- Anyone with symptoms that persisted after a clear chlamydia and gonorrhoea test
- People whose partner has been diagnosed with Mycoplasma genitalium
Who it isn’t for
- This is a single-organism test, so it does not cover chlamydia, gonorrhoea, trichomonas, HIV or syphilis. If you want a routine screen after a new partner, one of the multi-infection kits is the sensible choice. Current UK guidance does not recommend testing people without symptoms or a diagnosed partner, because many people carry this bacterium harmlessly and treating it needlessly is best avoided.
- Under 18s can get free, confidential testing through NHS sexual health services.
- Anyone with a new, severe or worsening symptom: contact your GP or call NHS 111. A test you buy today is not a substitute for being examined.
Common reasons people choose this test
- Discharge, stinging or irritation that persisted after a clear STI test
- A partner diagnosed with Mycoplasma genitalium
- Ongoing pelvic pain or bleeding after sex with no other explanation found
- Urethral discomfort that antibiotics for another infection did not settle
These are reasons people choose to test, not signs that something is wrong. A result is one part of a picture your doctor puts together with your history and an examination.
What your result looks like
Every result is shown with the unit and the reference range exactly as the laboratory reported it, with the doctor’s note underneath.
- Mycoplasma genitaliumDetected
- Result
- Detected
- Range
- Not detected
| Marker | Result | Units | Range | Flag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mycoplasma genitalium | Detected | n/a | Not detected | Detected |
Doctor’s note (example)
Mycoplasma genitalium has been detected. It is treatable with a specific antibiotic course that a sexual health clinic would usually discuss, with a repeat test only if symptoms continue.
Values above are examples. Your report shows your own results with the laboratory’s units and reference range for your age and sex, reviewed, signed and released by a GMC-registered doctor.
How it works
- Your kit arrivesPosted to your door, with instructions and what you need to send your sample back.
- You take your sampleFirst-catch urine or a self-taken vaginal swab, collected at home using the kit we post you
- The laboratory analyses itYour sample is processed for the measurements included in this test. Lab processing typically takes 1 to 2 working days from receipt of your sample.
- A doctor reviews and releases itA GMC-registered doctor reads every result and signs the report before it reaches you.
- Sample
- Home urine or swab kit
- Preparation
- No fasting required
- Who it's for
- Any sex · ages 18+
How to prepare
What we can and can’t tell you
The reference range beside each result is the laboratory’s own. A result in range is not a clean bill of health and a result outside it is not a diagnosis. Most ranges cover about 95% of healthy people, so about 1 in 20 healthy people fall just outside any one range. No test result replaces an examination or your own doctor’s judgement, and none of these panels is a cancer screening programme.
Read the full note
Infection tests are reported as detected or not detected, not against a normal range. A not-detected result applies only to the infections tested, the site the sample came from and the time it was taken: an infection caught too recently to show up can be missed, so a test taken too soon after an exposure may need repeating. Mycoplasma genitalium is often found in people who have no symptoms and is not always the cause of symptoms, so a detected result is read alongside your symptoms and any other tests.
If you have symptoms that are new, severe or getting worse, contact your GP, an NHS sexual health clinic or NHS 111 rather than waiting for a result.
Frequently asked questions
How soon after sex can I test?
The reliable testing window for Mycoplasma genitalium is not established. Ask a sexual health clinician when to test and whether a repeat is needed. If you have symptoms, seek advice now rather than waiting to test.
Which sample do I give?
Either first-catch urine or a self-taken vaginal swab. UK guidance recommends urine if you have a penis, and a vaginal swab if you have a vagina because it is much more reliable than urine for this test. Your kit contains one of the two, with instructions for it, including how long to wait after you last passed urine if it is a urine kit.
What happens if it is positive?
It is treatable. A doctor explains the result and how to get treatment, which is normally through a sexual health clinic because the choice of antibiotic matters. A repeat test is only needed if symptoms continue after treatment. Current partners need testing too.
Is it tested for resistance?
No, resistance testing is not included with this single test. UK guidance recommends it for every positive result where possible, so if yours is positive, the sexual health clinic that treats you can arrange it before choosing an antibiotic. The 7-in-1 STI Test, which includes Mycoplasma genitalium, tests for resistance automatically if it is found.
How long do results take?
The laboratory typically takes 1 to 2 working days from receiving your sample. This does not include kit delivery, sample collection or return postage. A doctor reviews your results before they are released.
Can I choose a home kit or a clinic?
This test uses first-catch urine or a self-taken vaginal swab, not a blood sample. The kit arrives by post with step-by-step instructions and what you need to send it back.
Is a doctor involved?
Yes. Every result is reviewed by a GMC-registered doctor who signs it off and explains what it means and what to do next.
Is it confidential?
Your results are available through your secure patient portal. Our privacy policy explains how your information is handled and when it may be shared to provide your care.
What happens to my sample and results?
Your sample is tested at a UKAS-accredited laboratory (ISO 15189). A GMC-registered doctor then reads every result and signs the report before it is released to your secure portal, so nothing reaches you unreviewed. For each infection tested, the report says whether it was detected or not detected, with the doctor's note on what that means for you. If something is detected, the report explains how to get treatment, usually through your GP or an NHS sexual health clinic, whether recent partners need testing, and whether a repeat test is advised after treatment. If a result needs urgent attention, the reviewing doctor is alerted straight away and we contact you by phone the same working day rather than leaving it in the portal for you to find.
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