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 not on most routine STD panels, and that surprises people who have been tested "for everything."

This guide explains what the organism is, what research suggests about it, and when the CDC recommends testing. It also covers what the Austin clinics publish about their services, so you know what to ask before you book.

What mycoplasma genitalium is

Mycoplasma genitalium (often shortened to M. genitalium or MG) is a very small bacterium. The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) describe it as an organism linked to urethritis in men, and to cervicitis and pelvic inflammatory disease in women.

A science-minded way to think about it is by structure instead of ingredients. Research suggests that mycoplasma bacteria have no cell wall. That is one reason some common antibiotics, which work by attacking the cell wall, are not expected to help against it.

Because it is a bacterial infection, it can be cured with the right treatment from a clinician. The harder part is that the bacterium can become resistant to some antibiotics. We cover that below.

It spreads through sexual contact. People of any gender or orientation can have it. Having it says nothing about a person's character, and it is not rare enough to be unusual.

Mycoplasma genitalium symptoms

Many people with M. genitalium have no symptoms at all. When symptoms do appear, the CDC guidelines connect the infection with a few patterns.

Urethritis (inflammation of the urethra): burning with urination, or discharge from the penis.
Cervicitis (inflammation of the cervix): unusual vaginal discharge, or bleeding after sex or between periods.
Pelvic inflammatory disease: lower abdominal or pelvic pain. The CDC says M. genitalium has been associated with this condition.

These symptoms are not specific. Chlamydia and gonorrhea can cause the same ones, and so can non-infectious causes. A symptom list cannot tell you which cause is behind it. A clinician and a lab test can.

If you are sorting through overlapping symptoms, our guide to chlamydia symptoms, testing and treatment in Austin covers the infection most often checked first.

Local numbers show why those first checks matter. The Texas DSHS Texas STD Surveillance Report (2022 Annual Report) lists a chlamydia rate of 712.6 per 100,000 people in Travis County. The same report lists 519.9 per 100,000 for Texas as a whole. DSHS also lists a gonorrhea rate of 351.4 per 100,000 in Travis County, against 207.0 statewide. The sources in our research did not provide an M. genitalium rate for Travis County, so we do not quote one.

When the CDC recommends testing

The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) are specific about when M. genitalium testing fits. In summary, the CDC recommends considering testing in these situations:

Men with persistent or recurrent urethritis, meaning symptoms that continue or return after treatment.
Women with persistent or recurrent cervicitis.
Women with pelvic inflammatory disease, where the guidelines say testing can be considered.

The CDC also notes that sex partners of a person with M. genitalium may be offered evaluation. Your clinician can explain what that looks like for your situation.

The CDC does not recommend routine screening of people without symptoms who are not in one of these groups. That is not a reason to skip a conversation with a clinician. It is a reason to describe your symptoms and history clearly, so they can decide which tests make sense.

Why it is not on standard panels

There are two main reasons, and neither is about the infection being unimportant.

First, the CDC does not recommend screening people who have no symptoms. Standard panels are built around infections where routine screening is recommended, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV, depending on a person's age, sex and risk factors.

Second, the test is different. It uses a nucleic acid amplification test that looks specifically for M. genitalium. A routine chlamydia and gonorrhea swab does not detect it. A separate order from a clinician is usually needed.

The CDC guidelines do not list a window period for M. genitalium. If you are asking when a test would be reliable after a possible exposure, ask the clinician directly. We will not guess at a number.

What research suggests about resistance

The research on M. genitalium has shifted over the last decade. Here is what the CDC guidelines and the studies they draw on suggest, framed as observations and not guarantees.

Research suggests that resistance to macrolide antibiotics is common in M. genitalium, and that treatment failure has become a real concern.
The CDC guidelines describe an approach where, when a test is available, the lab also checks for markers of macrolide resistance. The clinician then chooses treatment based on that result.
This is often called resistance-guided treatment. The goal is to match the prescription to what the bacterium is likely to respond to.
Without that testing, treatment can be less predictable. This is why clinicians may want a confirmed result before prescribing, and why they may recheck if symptoms continue.

Treatment is only what a clinician prescribes. Please do not use leftover antibiotics or take someone else's. Using the wrong antibiotic can make symptoms linger and may add to resistance.

Safety, allergies and who should speak up

Antibiotic choice depends on your history, so tell the clinician about these things:

Allergies or past bad reactions to any antibiotic.
Pregnancy, or a chance you might be pregnant, because some medicines are handled differently.
Other medicines you take, including over-the-counter products and supplements.
Kidney or liver conditions.
Symptoms that keep returning after earlier treatment.

Pregnancy has its own testing rules in Texas. Under Texas Health and Safety Code Sec. 81.090, a syphilis, HIV and hepatitis B test is done at the first prenatal visit. Syphilis and HIV are tested again in the third trimester, not earlier than the 28th week. The law lets a woman object to the HIV tests, but not the syphilis tests. M. genitalium is not part of that required set.

If you are under 18, Texas Family Code Sec. 32.003 lets a minor of any age consent to diagnosis and treatment of reportable infectious diseases, and Texas DSHS says this includes HIV. Parent consent is not required. The statute also lets a physician tell a parent or guardian about the treatment, with or without the minor's consent. So a clinic may do that, and it is fair to ask about their practice before your visit.

Where to get tested in Austin

Here is the direct answer. The clinic service lists we reviewed do not mention M. genitalium testing at any Austin site. That does not mean no one can order it. It means you should call and ask, and not assume.

Here is what each organization publishes about its standard testing.

Clinic	Published testing	Cost and access
Austin Public Health Sexual Health Clinic, RBJ Health Center, 15 Waller Street, 512-972-5430	HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia. Genital herpes testing only with active symptoms.	The clinic's page says the fee for testing and treatment is $30. Hours are Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 to 5 p.m. Schedule online or by phone.
Kind Clinic, 101 W Koenig Lane, Ste 100, 833-937-5463	Walk-in testing for gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, HIV and hepatitis C.	Kind Clinic says insured patients must use insurance for lab work, and its patient assistance program can help people who are uninsured or cannot afford lab costs.
ASHwell Sexual Health + Wellness, 3100 Red River St, Suite 3, (512) 900-3116	Counseling, testing, diagnosis and treatment of STIs.	ASHwell says these services are always free, though medication may cost something. It does not accept walk-ins, so call first.
CommUnityCare IDEALhealth Program, 1000 E. 41st St., Suite 700, 512-978-9015	STI and HIV testing and prevention.	Fees follow a sliding scale set in a meeting with a financial eligibility specialist.
Vivent Health Austin, 104 E. Highland Mall Blvd, Suite 100, (512) 458-2437	HIV testing, with STI and hepatitis C testing also listed.	Vivent says its HIV testing is free and confidential. Call for walk-in hours or to book.
University Health Services STI Testing Clinic, UT Austin, 512-471-4955	Chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV and syphilis.	Serves UT Austin students. Drop-in testing is for people without symptoms. The clinic's page does not list a price.

Austin Public Health notes that its web content updates may be delayed, so confirm hours and fees by phone. For the full picture of what testing costs around town, see our guide to STD testing in Austin: where to get tested and what it costs.

You can also browse our local testing list. The CDC's locator at gettested.cdc.gov is another way to find a site and see which services it lists.

Quality indicators: how to choose a place to ask

In place of sourcing a product, the useful skill here is judging a care setting. These signs suggest a place can answer your M. genitalium question well.

It can see you as a patient. Testing for M. genitalium usually needs a clinician's order, so a site with clinicians on staff is the best fit. The CDC guidelines treat testing as a clinical decision tied to symptoms.
It states its services plainly. A clinic that publishes which tests it runs makes your call quicker. If a service is not listed, ask.
It uses a confirmed lab method. Ask whether the lab test looks specifically for M. genitalium, and whether it can check for resistance markers.
It can treat and follow up. Clinics that can prescribe and recheck are better placed to handle persistent symptoms.
It is open about cost. A clear fee, a sliding scale or a free service is a good sign. If a price is not published, ask before you go.
It respects your privacy and your identity. You should be able to talk about partners of any gender without judgment.

What to say when you call

A short script can help. You might say: "I have had urethritis symptoms that came back after treatment. Does your clinic test for Mycoplasma genitalium, and can the lab check for antibiotic resistance?" Swap in cervicitis or pelvic pain if that fits you better.

Then ask three practical questions.

Does the visit include a clinician who can order and interpret the test?
What is the cost, and is there a lower fee if I cannot pay in full?
If the result is positive, can you prescribe treatment, or do I need a separate visit?

If a clinic does not run the test, ask whether they can send the sample to an outside lab or refer you. That is a normal question, and clinicians hear it often.

The takeaway

M. genitalium is a treatable bacterial infection that sits outside routine screening. The CDC recommends testing in specific situations, mainly persistent or recurrent urethritis or cervicitis. Because resistance is a real concern, getting a lab-confirmed answer and a clinician-chosen treatment matters.

In Austin, the published service lists do not name M. genitalium, so call first and ask. Low-cost and free options exist, including Austin Public Health at $30, ASHwell at no charge for services, and a sliding scale at CommUnityCare. A clinician can tell you which test fits your situation.

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