PASS Statement on Genital Mycoplasmas
In response to recent concern by the industry, we have issued current guidance regarding genital mycoplasmas. Mycoplasmas are a type of very small, slow-growing bacteria - because of this they can be very difficult to study. There are over 100 different types of mycoplasmas, though not all affect the human body. The three types of mycoplasmas that most commonly affect the genitals are Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, and Mycoplasma genitalium.
Mycoplasma hominis (M. hominis) and Ureaplasma urealyticum
M. hominis and Ureaplasma are bacteria that are commonly found in the genitourinary tract. While they may be transmitted by sexual activity, they are not considered a “true” STI as they occur frequently in healthy adults. There is evidence that an overgrowth of either bacteria may contribute to urethritis and bacterial vaginosis, however the vast majority of the time they exist without doing any harm. It is similar to a yeast infection in this way - the microbes that cause yeast infections are present in most people all the time, and yeast is commonly passed during sexual activity, but only causes a problem when there is too much of it. This means it is safe to have sexual activity even if M. hominis or Ureaplasma is detected in your body - they are likely in most people’s bodies.
The only time M. hominis or Ureaplasma should be tested for is if you are experiencing symptoms and other more common causes such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, BV, trichomonas, etc, have been ruled out. If M. hominis or Ureaplasma are present but not causing any symptoms, they should not be treated, as unnecessary antibiotic usage could lead to antibiotic resistance.
Summary Recommendations:
There is no need to routinely test for asymptomatic Ureaplasma or M. hominis
If you are experiencing symptoms in your genitals, and have tested negative for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea, you may consider asking your medical provider to test for Ureaplasma or M. hominis overgrowth
It is safe engage in sexual activity if Ureaplasma or M. hominis are present
Mycoplasma genitalium (Mgen)
Mgen is another bacteria that is similar to M. hominis and Ureaplasma, but unlike the other two it is a true STI - meaning that it is not typically found in your genitourinary tract and is more likely to cause problems. Mgen infections often resolve on their own, and treating every case can contribute to antibiotic resistance. For these reasons, the current CDC guidance is that people should not be tested for Mgen unless they have symptoms (though there is an exception of sexual partners of people with symptomatic Mgen.) PASS is in the process of working with a team of experts to figure out how to best handle Mgen testing in our industry. We need to tackle Mgen differently than other STIs for a few reasons: The medical community lacks familiarity with Mgen; Mgen testing is particularly expensive and inaccessible; and the risks of Mgen, including the risk of overtreatment, are not completely understood. In the meantime, we have the following recommendations:
If you are experiencing symptoms in your genitals, and have been tested and received negative results for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea, talk to your healthcare provider about testing for Mgen.
If you have tested positive for Mgen, we suggest speaking with your healthcare provider about treatment. Your provider should follow the CDC’s treatment guidelines. You should not work with other performers while you have an active Mgen infection.
Mgen testing is available upon request at all PASS Certified testing partners:
TBD Health (in addition to their clinic locations, TBD can also ship at-home test kits)
Note: This information may be outdated, for our most recent Mgen policy please see PASS Updates Testing Policy, Guidance for Mgen.
Updated April 29, 2024
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