Original article
Mycoplasma genitalium among Adolescent Women and their Partners

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2006.12.005Get rights and content

Abstract

Purpose

Mycoplasma genitalium is a possible sexually transmitted pathogen and its study among the adolescent age group has been limited. In this longitudinal study, the epidemiology, natural history, and associated clinical findings of M. genitalium among adolescents in a primary care setting were explored.

Methods

A sample of 383 young women (14–17 years of age) and 117 male partners provided sexual behavior data and urogenital samples for polymerase chain reaction testing to detect M. genitalium, Chlamydia trachomatis, and other sexually transmitted infections. Women were tested quarterly for up to 27 months and, during every other quarter, tested weekly. The presence of any signs or symptoms of infection among the female subjects was also documented.

Results

Cumulatively, 13.6% (52/383) of women tested positive for M. genitalium. All women with M. genitalium, except one, were sexually experienced. M. genitalium was associated with number of sexual partners (p < .001) and C. trachomatis infection (p < .03). M. genitalium was more likely among male partners of M. genitalium-positive women (p < .02); 31.3% of untreated M. genitalium cases had infection lasting over 8 weeks. M. genitalium was not associated with the presence of clinical signs or symptoms of infection.

Conclusions

Findings support sexual transmissibility of M. genitalium and add to understanding of M. genitalium natural history and clinical findings.

Section snippets

Participants and procedures

Women aged 14–17 years were enrolled from one of three participating urban primary health care clinics located in a large, Midwestern city from 1999 to 2006. Young women attending the clinics were approached in waiting areas and informed consent was obtained following an explanation of study procedures. Recent male sexual partners of the index women were identified and invited to participate by telephone call or field visit. Informed consent was obtained from those agreeing to the study.

Results

A total of 383 women (90% African-American) were enrolled, and mean age at enrollment was 15.8 years. Fifty-five women eventually dropped out of the study (24 due to reasons initiated by the subject [most frequently other time commitments] and 31 due to repeated missed visits). Therefore, the discontinuation rate for our study was 14.4% (55/383).

At enrollment, about 83% of the participants reported at least one experience of vaginal intercourse, and mean age of first intercourse was 13.5 years.

Discussion

The cumulative prevalence of M. genitalium among urban adolescent women in this study was 13.6%, suggesting that it is a relatively common organism in this population. Point prevalence ranged from .8% to 4.1%. Previous cross-sectional studies that included some adolescents found a point prevalence between 3.5% and 7% [10], [17], [18]. The difference in point prevalence found here may be attributable to the target population for this project, as the young women were not recruited from STD or

Acknowledgments

This research was supported in part by the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (U19 AI1131494) and Maternal and Child Health Bureau (T71 00008). Assistance in data collection and data analysis by Patricia Brooks, Les Meyer, and the Young Women’s Project staff is deeply appreciated.

References (21)

  • J.G. Tully et al.

    A newly discovered mycoplasma in the human urogenital tract

    Lancet

    (1981)
  • H.M. Palmer et al.

    Development and evaluation of the polymerase chain reaction to detect Mycoplasma genitalium

    FEMS Microbiol Lett

    (1991)
  • P.J. Horner et al.

    Association of Mycoplasma genitalium with acute non-gonococcal urethritis

    Lancet

    (1993)
  • C.M. Fraser et al.

    The minimal gene complement of Mycoplasma genitalium

    Science

    (1995)
  • J.S. Jensen et al.

    Polymerase chain reaction for detection of Mycoplasma genitalium in clinical samples

    J Clin Microbiol

    (1991)
  • A. Blanchard et al.

    Use of the polymerase chain reaction for detection of Mycoplasma fermentans and Mycoplasma genitalium in the urogenital tract and amniotic fluid

    Clin Infect Dis

    (1993)
  • F.E.A. Keane et al.

    The association of Chlamydia trachomatis and Mycoplasma genitalium with non-gonococcal urethritis: observations on heterosexual men and their female partners

    Int J STD AIDS

    (2000)
  • P.A. Totten et al.

    Association of Mycoplasma genitalium with nongonococcal urethritis in heterosexual men

    J Infect Dis

    (2001)
  • L. Mena et al.

    Mycoplasma genitalium infections in asymptomatic men and men with urethritis attending a sexually transmitted diseases clinic in New Orleans

    Clin Infect Dis

    (2002)
  • L.E. Manhart et al.

    Mucopurulent cervicitis and Mycoplasma genitalium

    J Infect Dis

    (2003)
There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

Cited by (0)

View full text