Trichomoniasis

By: Trever Jones 2006.03.05

What is Trichomoniasis?
Trichomoniasis is a common sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the single-celled protozoan parasite Trichomonas vaginalis.  It affects both women and men, although symptoms are more common in women.  The most common site of infection in women is the vagina, and in men the most common site of infection is the urethra.

Transmission 

• Penis to vagina contact with an infected partner.
• Women acquire the disease from infected men or women.
• Men acquire the disease from infected women.

Any sexually active person can be infected with Trichomoniasis.

Signs & Symptoms
Men:

• Most men with Trichomoniasis do not have signs or symptoms.
• Irritation inside the penis.
• Mild discharge. 
• Slight burning after urination or ejaculation.

Women:

• Many women do have signs or symptoms of infection.
• Frothy, yellow-green vaginal discharge with a strong odor.
• Discomfort during intercourse and urination.
• Irritation and itching of the female genital area.
• In rare cases, lower abdominal pain can occur.
• Symptoms usually appear within 5 to 28 days of exposure in women.

Complications
General:

• Genital inflammation caused by Trichomoniasis might increase a woman’s risk of acquiring HIV infection if she is exposed to HIV.
• Trichomoniasis in a woman who is also infected with HIV can increase the chances of transmitting HIV infection to a sex partner.

Pregnancy:

• Premature rupture of the membranes
• Preterm delivery

Diagnosis 
A health care provider must perform a physical examination and laboratory test.
Women:

• A pelvic examination can reveal small red ulcerations on the vaginal wall or cervix.
• Laboratory test are performed on a sample of vaginal fluid to look for the disease-causing parasite.

Men:

• Laboratory test are performed on a sample of urethral fluid.  The parasite is harder to detect in men than in women. 

Treatment

• Trichomoniasis can usually be cured with the prescription drug metronidazole given by mouth in a single dose.  Metronidazole can be used by pregnant women.

The symptoms of Trichomoniasis in infected men may disappear within a few weeks without treatment. However, an infected man, even a man who has never had symptoms or whose symptoms have stopped, can continue to infect a female partner until he has been treated. Therefore, both partners should be treated at the same time to eliminate the parasite. Persons being treated for Trichomoniasis should avoid sex until they and their sex partners complete treatment and have no symptoms.

Prevention

• Use latex or polyurethane condoms correctly every time you have sex.
• Condoms do not provide complete protection from all STDs.  Sores and lesions of other STDs in infected men and women may be present in areas not covered by the condom, resulting in transmission of infection to another person.
• Limit the number of sex partners.
• Practice sexual abstinence, or limit sexual contact to one uninfected partner.