LAUSR

Higher genital cytokine profiles were not associated with Mycoplasma genitalium infection. Chlamydia trachomatis infection, bisexual behavior, self-reported Black race, and genitourinary symptoms were associated with an increased risk of M. genitalium infection. Supplemental digital content is available in the text. Background Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) is a prevalent sexually transmitted infection, but little is known about the associated inflammatory signatures in the genital tract of adolescents and young adult women. Methods Adolescents and young adult women aged 13 to 24 years were recruited. Demographic information, sexual behavior history, and medical history were collected. Vaginal swab samples were tested for MG, Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Trichomonas vaginalis, bacterial vaginosis, and measurement of 13 cytokines, chemokines, and antimicrobial proteins. Vaginal cytokine concentrations were compared by MG infection status. The strength of associations between multiple factors and MG infection was evaluated. Results Of 215 participants, 16.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 12.0%–22.4%) had MG infection. Inflammation was not associated with MG infection (P > 0.05). M. genitalium infection was associated with C. trachomatis infection (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPrR], 3.02; 95% CI, 1.69–5.39), bisexual behavior in the past 3 months (aPrR, 2.07; 95% CI, 1.18–3.64), genitourinary symptoms (aPrR, 2.06; 95% CI, 1.22–3.49), and self-reported Black race (aPrR, 3.53; 95% CI, 1.11–11.18). Conclusions Higher levels of genital tract cytokines were not associated with MG infection. C. trachomatis infection, bisexual behavior, self-reported Black race, and genitourinary symptoms were associated with an increased likelihood of MG infection.