Trichomoniasis
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What is it?
Trichomoniasis (Trich) is a single celled protozoan that lives primarily in the genitourinary tract (genital area; urethra, vagina, cervix, bladder).
How do I get it?
Trich is almost always transmitted through sexual contact.
Symptoms?
- Women: moderate to large amount of yellow-green smelly vaginal discharge, abnormal vaginal bleeding, bleeding after sex, vaginal and genital itching, and red irritated genital/vaginal skin
- Some women have no symptoms
- Men: Discharge from the penis, pain with urination, and occasionally ulcers (open skin infection) on the penis
- Some men have no symptoms
Complications?
- Women who are infected with Trich are at much greater risk for having other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI’s) especially HIV
- Pregnant women may have preterm delivery and low birth weight babies
- Men may be more prone to infertility problems with untreated long term Trich infections
Is there a test?
- Women: a ‘wet mount’ can be done by your health care provider to detect the infection
- Men: can be difficult to detect, may be found in a urine sample examined under the microscope. Men are often treated if their partner is diagnosed with the infection
Treatment:
- Trich is usually treated with an oral medication called Metronidazole.
- A person’s sex partner(s) should also be treated or reinfection may occur.
Prevention:
- Abstain from sexual contact with a partner who has Trich
- Use a condom every time you have genital to genital/sexual contact
