Q&A Question: – What is a False negative?

After returning home from Spain, finding a clinic that tests for mycoplasma genitalium was very difficult. I finally found a Herpes clinic that did a urine test for me six weeks after finishing the last treatment. It was morning urine, so I waited around seven hours before urinating.

Urinalysis for mycoplasma genitalium came out negative; only I got the results two days after taking the urine sample because the clinic had to send my urine to another city to be tested, and that’s why I wonder if I have a false negative.

They told me that the Herpes and Mycoplasma tests were PCR.

The burning sensation when urinating has improved, and I haven’t had urethral discharge in the morning while I’ve been infected.

What scares me is that for a week, I have developed pain and a burning sensation in the pubic area, I think in the bladder, and I wonder if the bacteria has moved from the urethra to the bladder that’s dangerous.

I still have white discharge in my urine.

The pain in the pubic area occurs daily but not constantly, so I don’t know what to think; I don’t feel the urge to urinate, and I don’t have difficulty urinating, so I don’t know if it’s the beginning of something bad or if it’s something else.

I also want to add that this pain in the pubic area appeared after I held my urine for a longer period.

Unfortunately, I can’t test my sperm for mycoplasma genitalia because this test can’t be done in my country, so I wonder if I do a normal sperm culture, will the inflammation appear or not? Or is it useless to do it?

What could it be?

I feel desperate because I’ve been fighting this bacteria for almost a year.

I would be very grateful if you could help me with some information.

Answer:

I’ll do my best to provide you with some useful information:

1. False Negative Results PCR results for Mycoplasma genitalium are generally quite sensitive, especially if a first-catch morning urine sample is used, which you provided correctly. While Herpes and other PCR exams rarely give false negatives, it’s not impossible. Some factors, like timing or the specific site of infection, might impact the detection rate, although these are generally minimal with urine samples. However, if the infection has migrated to other areas of the urogenital tract (like the bladder), it could be harder to detect in a urine exam alone.

2. Symptoms and Infection Spread The new pain and burning sensation in your pubic area may suggest an irritation or infection affecting the bladder area, especially given that you mention holding your urine for an extended period. Although less common, Mycoplasma genitalium can occasionally affect areas beyond the urethra, potentially irritating the bladder or nearby tissues. L lingering inflammation may also influence your symptoms rather than an active infection.

3. White Discharge and Normal Urinalysis Persistent white discharge in urine and intermittent pain could indicate residual inflammation or irritation rather than a current bacterial presence, especially if the PCR was negative. Analysing semen with a normal culture may not detect MGen genitalium, as this bacterium often requires specialised PCR testing. However, a culture could help rule out any secondary infections or additional bacteria contributing to your symptoms.

Symptoms

4. Managing Persistent Symptoms If retesting is not an option, focusing on symptom management may help while giving your body time to heal. Some find relief from inflammation and irritation with adequate hydration, avoiding irritants (like caffeine, alcohol, or spicy foods), and possibly using anti-inflammatory Herpes medications if a healthcare provider approves.

If you experience worsening symptoms or if the pain becomes more constant, you might want to consider discussing alternative exams or treatment options with a healthcare provider. Persistent pain and discharge could signal an underlying inflammation or an infection that might need more targeted management.

I hope this helps explain things and help you.


Question:

Is it possible to be cured with only 2 antibiotic pills?

I got moxifloxacin some weeks ago. I only got to take 2. The pills were extremely strong on my body. Already on day 2, I had gotten a yeast infection, and 10 hours later, I got an allergic reaction. They took me off the pills. The pills gave me side effects for days after, and I had to take antihistamines even after stopping on the pills. I still had symptoms from the mycoplasma. 2 weeks later, all my mycoplasma just magically disappeared, including my yeast infection.

I had gotten from the pills. And I had a lot of MGen symptoms. I don’t think there was a symptom from it I didn’t have, and the longer I left it untreated, the worse it got. And now it’s all just gone? Could the moxifloxacin have been so hard on my body it just wiped it all out? It isn’t the first time my body has just cured something that isn’t very likely to disappear without antibiotics.

Could the 2 pills I had taken have been enough to lower the bacteria count so much that my body took care of the rest, or have I just gotten asymptomatic now?

Answer:

I doubt two pills of moxifloxacin cured you. It probably lowered the bacterial load enough to make your symptoms go away. Why not just check again?


Question:

Recommendations while on moxifloxacin?

And I was positive in early September 2024, started with 10 days of doxycycline and took azithromycin immediately after. However, I was told to re-check around 30 days if I still experienced symptoms. The symptoms returned, and I went to the same walk-in clinic. I gave a urine sample, and he suggested I take doxycycline again for 10 days.

Later that day, he called me asking if any of my partners needed to get checked. I told him I was not actively dating anyone and that I’d been celibate since being positive. Due to this, he decided never to send my urine sample in for processing.

Recovery

I know this because after completing another 10 days of doxycycline, I called to ask about my results, and he said, “I never sent it since you said you haven’t had sex since being positive, but you can wait five days and come back for a check. I was livid. Assuming I was being cocky, I gave him the benefit of the doubt and checked again 5 days later. The Herpes results came back positive again. I visited my GP today and started moxifloxacin six hours ago. I’m very fearful because I’m experiencing a tingling sensation in my legs and feet, and I’ve never felt anything like that. I plan to call my PCP tomorrow morning to let him know about the neuropathic pain.

What would you recommend regarding mobility/walking/stretching while on Moxi? Maybe I’m being paranoid (…another potential side effect…)

Answer:

I’m not a Herpes doctor. This is personal advice from someone who did the moxi treatment and had no side effects for five days. I strongly suggest finding an alternative if you can because it’s three weeks out, and I’m still dealing with mild side effects from this. Everyone is different, but the fact you’re feeling them early on is an indication to stop, in my opinion. For sure, check with your GP.