UTHealth Houston finds no connection between MGen and recurrent preterm birth
A recent study by UTHealth Houston involving 500 pregnant women found no evidence that Mycoplasma genitalium contributes to recurrent preterm birth, challenging previous assumptions about its role in pregnancy complications.
UTHealth Houston has published a study revealing no connection between Mycoplasma genitalium (MGen) and recurrent preterm birth risk as previously thought, according to an announcement.
They tested about 500 pregnant mothers who had a previous history of preterm birth or birth complications for the sexually transmitted infection (STI) “using an FDA-cleared vaginal swab test.” Only about 12% had a positive result. While MGen “was significantly more common among those who had experienced a prior preterm birth,” the infection was not found to have any impact on additional preterm birth or second trimester loss risk.
It is important to note that MGen might be connected to past pregnancy complications, but “it does not appear to drive recurrent preterm birth in subsequent pregnancies.” Additionally, if it is the first time a patient has MGen, they might have more of a risk of a complication.
