%0 Journal Article %A Berit Andersen %A Ineta Sokolowski %A Lars Østergaard %A Jens Kjølseth Møller %A Frede Olesen %A Jørgen Skov Jensen %T Mycoplasma genitalium: prevalence and behavioural risk factors in the general population %D 2007 %R 10.1136/sti.2006.022970 %J Sexually Transmitted Infections %P 237-241 %V 83 %N 3 %X Background:Mycoplasma genitalium has been shown to cause urethritis in men and cervicitis in women and may also be a causative agent in female infertility. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of urogenital M genitalium infection and identify sexual behavioural risk factors in the general population. Methods: Participating individuals were 731 men and 921 women aged 21–23 years and not seeking the healthcare system because of symptoms. They answered questionnaires on sexual behaviour and provided samples for M genitalium testing. Results: In women aged 21–23 years, the prevalence of infection was 2.3% (21/921) and in men of the same age it was 1.1% (8/731). For both sexes, an increasing number of partners was associated with a greater chance of being infected. Among women a shorter duration of a steady relationship and having a partner with symptoms was associated with being infected, and for men younger age at first intercourse was associated with M genitalium infection. Conclusions: We conclude that the prevalence of infection in the general population is too low for population-based screening. However, the development of test algorithms based on behavioural risk factors is a promising alternative. %U https://sti.bmj.com/content/sextrans/83/3/237.full.pdf