Prevalence of Mycoplasma genitalium among female students in vocational schools in Japan

Objective: In Japan it was reported that about 9% of sexually active female teenagers had Chlamydia trachomatis . Most of them were asymptomatic, which may lead to continuing spread of the infection. Like C trachomatis , Mycoplasma genitalium is a pathogen in male non-gonococcal urethritis. However, few studies of the prevalence of M genitalium in the general population have been reported. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of M genitalium infection among younger females and to determine risk factors for this infection. Methods: The study was conducted between October 2005 and January 2006 using first voided urine specimens and questionnaires from female students of three vocational schools in the Miyazaki prefecture, Japan. C trachomatis was detected with Amplicor™ PCR. M genitalium was detected with inhibitor controlled real-time TaqMan™ PCR detecting the MgPa adhesion gene and with a PCR detecting the 16S rRNA. Risk factors associated with infection of M genitalium or C trachomatis were analysed with Fisher’s exact test. Results: Among 298 female, 249 (84%) had had experience of sexual intercourse. The prevalence of M genitalium was 2.8% (95% CI 0.76% to 4.86%) and the prevalence of C trachomatis was 8.8% (95% CI 5.31% to 12.36%). Conclusions: The risk factors of infection with M genitalium were more than five lifetime sexual partners and co-infection with C trachomatis .