Women may have a greenish yellow, frothy, fishy-smelling vaginal discharge with irritation and soreness in the genital area.
Men usually have no symptoms, but a few have a frothy discharge from the penis and mild pain or discomfort when urinating.
Examination of a sample of the discharge under a microscope usually enables doctors to identify trichomoniasis.
Infected people and their sex partners are treated with antibiotics.
Using condoms during sex can help prevent passing trichomoniasis and other sexually transmitted infections from one person to another.
(See also Overview of Sexually Transmitted Infections.)
Trichomonas vaginalis commonly causes a sexually transmitted infection (STI) of the vagina in women and an STI of the urinary tract in men and women. Women are much more likely to develop symptoms. About 5% of women and less than 1% of men worldwide have trichomoniasis.
People with trichomoniasis may also have gonorrhea or other STIs.
Symptoms of Trichomoniasis
In women, the infection usually starts with a greenish yellow, frothy, fishy-smelling discharge from the vagina. In some women, the discharge is slight. The genital area may be irritated and sore, and sexual intercourse may be painful. In severe cases, the genital area and surrounding skin may be inflamed, and the tissues around the vagina's opening (labia) may be swollen. Women may have a frequent urge to urinate or pain when urinating. Urinary and vaginal symptoms may occur alone or together.
Most men with trichomoniasis of the urethra (the tube that runs through the penis and drains urine from the bladder out of the body) have no symptoms, but some men have a frothy discharge from the penis, pain when urinating, and an urge to urinate frequently. Men who have no or mild symptoms can still infect their sex partners.
Did You Know...
|
Diagnosis of Trichomoniasis
In women, nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT), microscopic examination, or culture of a sample of discharge or NAAT of urine
For men, NAAT or culture of urine or discharge or culture of semen
Doctors suspect trichomoniasis in women with vaginal infections, in men with urethral infections, and in their sex partners.
In both women and men, doctors can identify Trichomonas vaginalis by doing NAAT on a sample of discharge or urine. NAAT is used to look for an organism's unique genetic material, its DNA or RNA (which are nucleic acids). NAAT uses a process that increases the amount of the bacteria's DNA or RNA so that it can be more easily identified.
In women, the diagnosis can usually be made quickly by examining a sample of the vaginal discharge with a microscope and identifying the organism. If results are unclear, the sample is cultured for several days. A culture is the process where doctors try to grow a microorganism, such as bacteria, in a laboratory until there are enough to identify.
In men, a sample of the discharge from the end of the penis (obtained in the morning, before urination), urine, or semen may be examined under a microscope and sent to the laboratory for culture.
Tests for other STIs are usually also done because people with trichomoniasis may also have gonorrhea or chlamydia.
Treatment of Trichomoniasis
Antibiotics
Simultaneous treatment of sex partners
Women and men are usually treated with the antibiotic metronidazole. An alternative treatment for women and men is the antibiotic tinidazole or a packet of the antibiotic secnidazole sprinkled on a single serving of pudding, applesauce, or yogurt. Women and men are usually treated with the antibiotic metronidazole. An alternative treatment for women and men is the antibiotic tinidazole or a packet of the antibiotic secnidazole sprinkled on a single serving of pudding, applesauce, or yogurt.Tinidazole and secnidazole are not given to pregnant people.
Metronidazole may cause a metallic taste in the mouth, nausea, or a decrease in the number of white blood cells. Women who take the medication may be more susceptible to vaginal yeast infections (vaginal candidiasis).
Sex partners within the past 60 days and the most recent sex partner should be treated simultaneously or women may be reinfected.
Expedited partner therapy is an option doctors sometimes use to make it easier for sex partners to be treated. This approach involves giving people with trichomoniasis a prescription or medications to give to their partner. Thus, the sex partner is treated, even if they have not yet seen a doctor. Seeing a doctor is better because then the doctor can check for allergies to medications and the presence of other STIs. However, if the partner is unlikely to see a doctor, expedited partner therapy is useful.
Infected people should abstain from sexual intercourse until the infection is cured, or they can infect their partners.
Prevention of Trichomoniasis
People can do the following to help reduce their risk of trichomoniasis and other STIs:
Practice safer sex, including using a condom every time for oral, anal, or genital sex.
Reduce the number of sex partners and not have high-risk sex partners (people with many sex partners or who do not practice safer sex).
Practice mutual monogamy or abstinence.
Vaccinate (available for some STIs).
Seek prompt diagnosis and treatment to prevent spread to other people.
Identify sexual contacts if infected with an STI for the purposes of counseling and treatment.
More Information
The following English-language resource may be useful. Please note that The Manual is not responsible for the content of this resource.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): About Trichomoniasis
Drugs Mentioned In This Article
