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 sexually transmitted bacterium that many people have never heard of. It is rarely part of a routine screening panel, so questions about it usually come up after symptoms that do not go away.

This guide covers what the organism is, what research suggests about it, when the CDC recommends testing, and how to ask about testing in Miami. It is written for people of every gender and orientation.

The short version

Mycoplasma genitalium is a bacterium. The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) list it among the infections that can cause urethritis, cervicitis and pelvic inflammatory disease.
Many people who carry it have no symptoms.
The CDC recommends testing in specific situations, such as urethritis or cervicitis that persists or comes back. It does not recommend screening people who have no symptoms.
Treatment is something a clinician prescribes, and the CDC describes a resistance-guided approach.
None of the Miami clinic pages we reviewed list this test by name, so ask before you go.

What mycoplasma genitalium is

Mycoplasma genitalium is a bacterium that lives in the urinary and genital tracts. Researchers have studied it for decades because it is unusually small and simple for a living cell.

Its structure explains two things that matter in practice. Both are general features of this group of bacteria.

Structure and key features

No cell wall. Most bacteria are surrounded by a rigid wall. Mycoplasmas are not. Antibiotics that work by attacking cell walls are therefore not expected to act on them.
A very small genome. Research suggests the organism depends heavily on its human host for nutrients. That is one reason it is hard to grow in a lab.
A tip structure for attaching to cells. Studies describe a specialized tip that helps it attach to the lining of the genital tract. Researchers think this may relate to inflammation.
Genetic targets for testing. Because lab culture is so difficult, testing relies on finding the organism's genetic material. This is called a nucleic acid amplification test, or NAAT.

The same genetic approach also lets a lab look for mutations linked to antibiotic resistance. That matters for treatment, which is covered below.

Mycoplasma genitalium symptoms

The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) describe the conditions linked to this infection. They do not describe a symptom that is unique to it. The symptoms below overlap with chlamydia, gonorrhea and several non-infectious causes, so symptoms alone cannot say what is causing them. Only a clinician and a test can.

Symptoms people may notice

Urethritis, which is irritation of the urethra. It can involve burning with urination or a discharge from the penis.
Cervicitis, which is inflammation of the cervix. It can involve unusual discharge or bleeding between periods or after sex.
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which is inflammation of the upper reproductive tract. It can involve lower abdominal or pelvic pain. The CDC notes that M. genitalium is associated with PID.

Many people have no symptoms at all. That is part of why testing is guided by circumstances rather than done for everyone.

Rectal infection is possible, according to research. The CDC guidelines describe the evidence for it as limited.

If you notice any of these, a clinician can sort out the likely causes. Our guide to chlamydia symptoms, testing and treatment in Miami covers a closely related infection that is much more commonly tested for.

What research suggests

The points below are observations from research and CDC summaries. They are not claims about any one person.

Persistent urethritis. The CDC guidelines note that M. genitalium is associated with urethritis that does not respond to first-line treatment. Researchers have also found it in a share of people whose urethritis came back.
Cervicitis and PID. Research suggests the organism is associated with cervicitis and with PID in women. The CDC guidelines say its role in other outcomes, such as infertility, is less certain.
Resistance. Studies suggest that resistance to some commonly used antibiotics has become common. The CDC guidelines describe resistance to macrolide antibiotics in particular as widespread in the United States.
Screening. The CDC does not recommend testing people who have no symptoms, and it does not recommend testing the partners of people with a negative result as a routine step.

These findings are still developing. Ask a clinician what they mean for your situation.

When the CDC recommends testing

The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) point to testing in a few situations:

Persistent or recurrent urethritis in men, meaning symptoms that continue or return after treatment.
Persistent or recurrent cervicitis in women.
Women with PID, where testing can be considered.
Sexual partners of someone diagnosed with M. genitalium, where a clinician may recommend evaluation.

The guidelines do not recommend screening for it in people without symptoms. A clinician decides whether testing makes sense, so describe your symptoms and any past treatment openly.

Why it is not on standard panels

If you have had a routine screen before, it probably did not include this infection. The reasons come from the CDC guidance and the science above:

Screening guidance. The CDC does not recommend routine screening of people without symptoms, so it is not part of standard screening panels.
Limited test availability. The CDC notes that testing is done with a NAAT and that an FDA-cleared test exists. Not every clinic or lab offers it.
Different questions. Panels for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV answer questions where screening has a long track record. M. genitalium usually comes up when a first round of care has not resolved symptoms.

So a normal panel result does not tell you anything about M. genitalium. Ask a clinician what a given panel covers.

Resistance-guided treatment

Treatment is something a clinician prescribes. This guide does not list drugs or doses, and you should not try to treat this on your own.

The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) describe a resistance-guided approach. Where a resistance test is available, the result can help the clinician choose the antibiotics. The CDC guidelines also describe a sequence of antibiotics rather than a single one. Where resistance testing is not available, the guidelines give a different path, and the clinician chooses based on what is on hand.

Because resistance is common, treatment can be more complicated than for chlamydia. The CDC describes M. genitalium as an infection that can be cured with the right antibiotics. If symptoms continue after treatment, tell the clinician, since follow-up may be needed.

Sexual partners may also need evaluation, since reinfection can happen. Florida's expedited partner therapy law, Fla. Stat. § 384.27, allows treatment for partners in certain situations. According to the CDC's summary of that law, the conditions include a lab-confirmed or suspected clinical diagnosis, reported sexual activity with the partner, and a partner who is unlikely to seek care in a timely way. Ask the clinician whether it applies to you.

Safety profile and things to discuss with a clinician

A test for M. genitalium is typically a urine sample, or a swab collected by you or a clinician. It carries very little risk. A few points are worth raising at the visit:

Pregnancy. Tell the clinician if you are or might be pregnant. Some antibiotics are not used in pregnancy, and the clinician will choose accordingly.
Allergies and other medicines. Mention any drug allergies and everything else you take, including supplements, since antibiotics can interact with them.
Past treatment. Tell the clinician what you were prescribed before and whether symptoms improved, since that history affects the next step.
Finishing the prescription. Follow the clinician's directions exactly. Incomplete treatment is one way resistance can develop.

There is no sexual health reason to stay silent about symptoms. Clinicians treat these conditions every day without judgment.

Quality indicators: how to judge a test and a source

This is not a product you buy, so the useful question is how to tell whether testing and information are reliable. These indicators can help:

The test type. Ask whether the lab uses a NAAT that is FDA cleared for M. genitalium, and whether a resistance test is available with it.
A clinician in the loop. Results should come with a conversation about symptoms and next steps. A result alone is hard to interpret.
Source of information. Look for the CDC, HHS and the state or county health department. Be cautious with any page that sells tests or supplements.
Honest limits. Reliable sources say what is not known. The CDC does not publish a window period for this infection in the guidance reviewed here, so ask a clinician about timing instead of relying on a number from a site that does.

Getting tested in Miami

No Miami clinic page we reviewed lists M. genitalium testing by name. Check with the clinic before you go.

Here is what the clinics publish. The Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County says it offers low or no-cost testing for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV. The page does not mention M. genitalium. You can call the health department's STI clinics at 305-575-3800 to make an appointment and ask what they can run, or ask a clinician to refer you for a test they do not offer. The Health District Center is at 1350 NW 14th St., Suite 350, and the West Perrine Health Center is at 18255 Homestead Ave. The Health District Center lists hours of Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., closing at noon on the 1st and 3rd Fridays. The page does not state a walk-in policy or a fee schedule.

The community clinics below publish similar information. Our list of Miami clinics has the full details.

Care Resource, Midtown (3510 Biscayne Blvd.; 305-576-1234). CDC GetTested lists free STI tests with no appointment required. Care Resource also offers a sliding fee scale for people who are uninsured or underinsured.
Borinquen Medical Centers (3601 Federal Hwy; 305-576-6611). CDC GetTested lists STI tests as free, with no appointment required.
Jessie Trice Community Health System (5361 NW 22nd Ave; 305-637-6400). CDC GetTested lists chlamydia and gonorrhea tests with sliding scale pricing, and no appointment required.
UM Rapid Access Wellness Clinic (1120 NW 14th St; 305-243-2584). CDC GetTested lists STI tests as free. An appointment is required.

CDC GetTested says hours and services can change, so confirm with the clinic. You can also search the CDC's GetTested locator for other options.

When you call, ask:

Do you test for Mycoplasma genitalium, or can you refer me to someone who does?
Can the lab check for antibiotic resistance with the same sample?
What does it cost, and is there a sliding scale?
Is the visit confidential?

On confidentiality, Florida law (Fla. Stat. § 384.30) sets no minimum age for a minor to consent to examination and treatment for sexually transmissible diseases. The law also says a minor's STD care is confidential and may not be disclosed indirectly, such as by billing a parent or guardian.

For a broader overview of costs and clinics, see our guide to STD testing in Miami.

Local context

There is no published Miami-Dade figure for M. genitalium in the sources reviewed, so this guide gives none. The nearest comparison comes from more commonly reported infections. FLHealthCHARTS (Florida Department of Health) reports a 2025 chlamydia rate of 471.5 per 100,000 in Miami-Dade County, compared with 410.8 per 100,000 statewide. Those numbers describe reported chlamydia cases, not M. genitalium. They show that testing for sexually transmitted infections is a regular part of life in Miami.

Next steps

If symptoms have lasted or returned after treatment, a clinician is the right person to talk to. If you have been treated for urethritis or cervicitis and it has not resolved, say so when you book. If you are unsure where to start, any of the clinics above can help you work out the next step.

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