❉ Current situation
On the 13th of July, British Association of Sexual Health and HIV or shortly known as BASHH launched guidelines to help prevent a lesser known but common sexually transmitted disease (STD) called Mycoplasma genitalium or shortly known as 'MG', from becoming a ‘superbug’ within ten years. The new guidelines were issued just a few months after the first ever case of the “super-Gonorrhoea” was reported in the UK.
Although awareness of MG is low, it is found to be more prevalent than Gonorrhoea that is caused by (N. gonorrhoeae). BASHH
❈ Superbug: An informal term for any bacterium that has acquired resistance to antibiotics that are usually used to treat it. The most common example is methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Medicinenet
❉ The Culprit
The cause of this so-called "super gonorrhoea" are a group of micro-organisms called Mycoplasma that belong to Bacteria, but have a small difference in their morphology; that is they lack a cell wall. This lack of cell wall gives them resistance to many common antibiotics such as penicillin or other beta-lactam antibiotics that usually target the cell wall synthesis. Wiki
⟦Courtesy of WikiCommons⟧
❉ Symptoms
The symptoms observed are quite vague to be honest and this can be to an extent that many people don’t even know they have it. It can cause vaginal irritation, pain with urinating, pelvic pain or even discharge or bleeding. None of the above symptoms that will give you a direct conclusion about MG since they all have other causes, too—including chlamydia. And some people have no symptoms at all.
But if left untreated, it may be able to cause pelvic inflammatory disease, which could lead to infertility later in life.
So my friends, if you are experiencing anything of such sort. Please get yourself checked and request the health personnel for a specific MG test.
And also don't forget,
❝ Prevention is better than cure. ❞
So take care and Stay safe!
I wish you a great day ahead and thank you for reading :)