Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by a parasite.
Symptoms
Many women and most men with trichomoniasis have no symptoms, at least not at first. Trichomoniasis signs and symptoms for women include:
- A profuse and often foul-smelling vaginal discharge — which may be white, gray, yellow or green
- Genital redness, burning and itching
- Pain with urination or sexual intercourse
Trichomoniasis rarely causes symptoms in men. When men do have signs and symptoms, however, they may include:
- Irritation inside the penis
- Burning with urination or after ejaculation
- Discharge from the penis
When to see a doctor
See your doctor if you have a foul-smelling vaginal discharge or if you experience pain with urination or sexual inter
Causes
Trichomoniasis is caused by a one-celled protozoan, a type of tiny parasite that travels between people during sexual intercourse. The incubation period between exposure and infection is unknown, but it’s thought to range from five to 28 days.
Risk factors
Risk factors include having:
- Multiple sexual partners
- A history of other sexually transmitted infections
- A previous episode of trichomoniasis
- Having sex without a condom
Complications
Pregnant women who have trichomoniasis may:
- Deliver prematurely
- Have a baby with a low birth weight
- Transmit the infection to the baby as he or she passes through the birth canal
Having trichomoniasis also appears to make it easier for women to become infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
Tests and diagnosis
The diagnosis of trichomoniasis can be confirmed by looking at a sample of vaginal fluid for women or urine for men under a microscope. Growing a culture used to be the way to diagnose trichomoniasis, but newer, faster tests, such as rapid antigen tests and nucleic acid amplification, are more common now.
Treatments and drugs
The most common treatment for trichomoniasis, even for pregnant women, is to swallow one megadose of either metronidazole or tinidazole . Both you and your partner need treatment. And you need to avoid sexual intercourse until the infection is cured, which takes about a week.
Prevention
As with other sexually transmitted infections, the only way to prevent trichomoniasis is to abstain from sex. To lower your risk, use condoms correctly every time you have sex.