[Question #7844] MGEN

51 months ago

Hi Doc,

I recently had an unprotected encounter this past Monday with a girl I have been seeing on/off. I do trust that she is clean as she has been tested prior to our encounter with no other unprotected encounters. I want to get tested anyway just for peace of mind and along with the regular sti screenings, I plan to ask my doc for a MGEN test as I did have it in the past. As I know the length of time varies from contracting something til it shows up positive, I’m just wondering if I’m okay to test 5 days post encounter for it? I haven’t been able to find any documentation about testing windows on it using the NAAT urine method. I don’t have any symptoms other than mild irritation at the tip of my penis which might have come from me looking for discharge but still want to get tested for it anyway. Would you recommend testing as well?

Edward W. Hook M.D.

51 months ago

Welcome to the forum. thanks for your question and congratulations on your decision to get tested. We do recommend periodic screening (testing in the absence of symptoms) following sex with new or casual partners. Testing five days following your encounter will certainly provide reliable information for the most common STIs (gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomonas) but is too early for reliable results related to syphilis or HIV, both of which are statically far, far less likely than the other STIs I mentioned. The CDC does not routinely recommend testing for M. genitalium in this situation and only recommends testing for persons with persisting genitourinary symptoms. The reason for this is that, other than for the strong association with persistent urethritis, the data that asymptomatic urethral infection leads to serious consequences are limited. If you do decide to be tested (it sounds like you already have) there are limited data as to how soon results would be conclusive although I would expect testing at five days to provide reliable results.

I hope that this information is helpful. If anything here is unclear or needs further clarification, please feel free to use your up to two follow-ups for clarification. EWH

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51 months ago

Hi Doc,

Thanks for your reply. I have not been tested yet. I did notice today when I try to express fluid out of my penis to check for discharge I see a small amount of liquid inside that I can squeeze out. Do you think this could be a symptom of an STI just starting? I don’t always see it in there but if I have not checked in a while I do see some. The one I’m most worried about is MGEN just for the fact that it can be difficult to treat and the antibiotics were very harsh on my body. This doesn’t seem like it was it last time however as by day 3 or 4 I had noticeable discharge upon waking without trying to squeeze anything. I assume it’s probably the best idea to test regardless because it could be other STIs I assume as well.

Edward W. Hook M.D.

51 months ago

Thanks for your follow up. You raise an important point. It is entirely normal for there to be a small amount of moisture/fluid present in the urethra which can be expressed when one squeezes or milks the penis. While STI’s can be present as asymptomatically, most typically in men at least mild symptoms and spontaneous discharge is present. What you described could very well be normal. If what you have noticed is abnormal of the amount of fluid present should increase and milking the penis should not be necessary to detective. We not uncommonly I have clients who traumatized themselves in their efforts to look for urethral discharge. These repeated self examinations can actually cause a discharge. I urge you not to repeatedly and vigorously examine yourself.

There is certainly no problem with getting tested. EWH

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