Prevalence of Mycoplasma genitalium and other sexually transmitted infections causing urethritis among high-risk heterosexual male patients in Estonia

Abstract

Background: We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STI, including Mycoplasma genitalium, Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Trichomonas vaginalis) among high-risk heterosexual male patients and to clarify their potency to cause complaints and inflammation.

Methods: The study group included 825 men (18.0–49.5 y) consulting andrologist at Tartu University Hospital (Estonia) due to subjectively perceived risk of STI. Patients completed STI risk behaviour questionnaire. First voided urine was analysed for white blood cells and STIs.

Results: In total 193 (23.4%) patients were positive for one or multiple STI. The prevalence of C. trachomatis, M. genitalium, N. gonorrhoeae, T. vaginalis and combined STI was 14.3%, 4.4%, 2.7%, 0.7% and 1.3%, respectively. N. gonorrhoeae had the highest potency to generate inflammatory reaction in first voided urine (100%) followed by C. trachomatis (72.0%), M. genitalium (63.9%) and T. vaginalis (33.3%). N. gonorrhoeae and T. vaginalis caused the highest mean number of complaints while half of T. vaginalis cases and nearly fifth of M. genitalium and C. trachomatis cases were asymptomatic.

Conclusions: C. trachomatis has the highest prevalence among Estonian high-risk men but M. genitalium holds an important second place. Prevalence of combined STIs is low. N. gonorrhoeae has the highest potency to generate urethral inflammation followed by C. trachomatis and M. genitalium. The highest number of complaints is also associated with N. gonorrhoeae while half of T. vaginalis cases and nearly a fifth of M. genitalium and C. trachomatis cases are asymptomatic.

Keywords:

• Chlamydia trachomatis
• inflammation
• male
• Mycoplasma genitalium; Neisseria gonorrhoeae
• risk behaviour
• sexually transmitted infections; Trichomonas vaginalis
• urethritis

Acknowledgements

We thank the personnel of the involved departments of Andrology Centre of Tartu University Hospital, namely, in Tartu, Tallinn and Pärnu, for collecting samples and patient data.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

Estonian Research Council10.13039/501100002301IUT34-19PUT181

Estonian Ministry of Education and ResearchKOGU-HUMB

Enterprise Estonia10.13039/501100006598EU48695

This study was supported by Estonian Research Council (Grants No. IUT34-19 and PUT181), Estonian Ministry of Education and Research (Grant No. KOGU-HUMB) and Enterprise Estonia (Grant No. EU48695).