LOS ANGELES, CA – Free Speech Coalition Performer Availability Screening Services (FSC PASS) has issued an advisory on Mycoplasma genitalium (M. Gen) a sexually-transmitted infection that is “rarely tested for in the US but may be increasing in prevalence,” according to the advisory.
“Given the available data and screening guidelines from the CDC and other institutions, we do not at this time believe that it is a serious threat to the performer pool, but we want to provide information to performers as to how to best protect themselves,” FSC PASS said in its advisory.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), M. Gen was “first identified in the early 1980s and has become recognized as a cause of male urethritis, responsible for approximately 15%-20% of nongonococcal urethritis (NGU) cases, 20%–25% of nonchlamydial NGU, and approximately 30% of persistent or recurrent urethritis.”
In its advisory, FSC PASS said M. Gen “has symptoms similar to Chlamydia, including inflammation of the pelvis, vaginal bleeding, painful and/or burning urination, and/or discharge from the urethra.”
“People have also reported itching and general discomfort in their genitals, similar to a yeast infection,” FSC PASS added. “However, like most STIs, it might not present any symptoms. Left untreated over time, it could potentially harm reproductive organs.”
FSC PASS also noted that “the biological makeup of M. Gen makes it difficult to diagnose and treat, however, it is curable.”
Treatment of M. Gen “is typically a course of antibiotics, similar to other bacterial STIs,” FSC PASS said in its advisory.
“Due to possible antibiotic resistance, retesting will be required to confirm that the infection has been cured,” FSC PASS added. “Performers who have been diagnosed should abstain from sexual contact until you have received a confirmation of a negative test result – which can be anywhere from a week to a month after completion of the treatment regimen.”
FSC PASS said the organization is “working with medical professionals and PASS-affiliated testing centers to monitor current research and make sure diagnostic tests are available.”
“FSC is assessing risk and will discuss whether M. Gen will be added to the mandatory panel at the next PASS advisory meeting, anticipated for early April,” FSC PASS added in its advisory. “If you think you have been exposed to M. Gen or have been experiencing any of the above symptoms and have been unable to get a successful diagnosis, we recommend talking to your doctor about M. Gen.”
In its statement, FSC PASS also offered the following links for more information on M. Gen:
https://www.cdc.gov/std/tg2015/emerging.htm
https://www.nhs.uk/news/medical-practice/new-guidelines-issued-sti-most-people-have-never-heard/
