Trichomoniasis Signs and Symptoms

What is Trichomoniasis?

Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by a one-cell parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis. It's estimated that 7.4 million men and women get trichomoniasis each year. This common sexually transmitted disease affects both men and women; however, symptoms are more common in women, appearing in about 50% of those who are infected. In men, infection lasts only a short time and is usually urethral, meaning it affects primarily the urinary tract. While the infection in men lasts only a short time, infected men can easily transmit the parasite to a female partner.

How Does Trichomoniasis Infection Occur?

Because the parasite does not survive in the mouth or rectum, trichomoniasis is spread from person to person during unprotected sexual intercourse. In women, the most common site of infection is the vagina, while the urethra (urinary tract) is the most common infection site for men. Women can get infected by men or women through direct sexual contact, while men are most commonly infected by women.

What is the Risk When Women Have Sex with Other Women?

What Are the Symptoms of Trichomoniasis?

If trichomoniasis signs and symptoms do occur, they usually appear within four weeks of exposure, and include:

Women

• Genital inflammation
• Foul-smelling, yellow-green vaginal discharge
• Pain with intercourse and/or urination
• Itching and irritation of the vagina and thighs
• Abdominal pain (uncommon)

Important Information!
Pregnant women with trichomoniasis have an increased risk of premature or low birth weight babies.

Men
Most men have few or no symptoms after being infected. However, if they do have symptoms they are usually mild and don't last very long. They include:

• Irritating sensation "inside" the penis
• Penile discharge
• Burning after urination and/or ejaculation

Important Fact!
Women with genital inflammation, including inflammation due to trichomoniasis, have an increased risk of HIV infection. Furthermore, trichomoniasis infection in HIV-positive women increases the risk of passing HIV to male sexual partners.

The Link Between HIV and STDs

How is Trichomoniasis Treated?

Women are easily treated with a single dose of an antibiotic called Flagyl (metronidazole). In men, trichomoniasis infection will usually go away without treatment. However, because men are often unaware of their infection, they re-infect their female partners over and over again. Therefore, both partners are treated when one partner has been diagnosed, halting the cycle of reinfection.

Detailed Information About the Drug Flagyl (metronidazole)

How Can We Prevent Trichomoniasis?

• Use latex condoms during each and every sexual encounter, especially during vaginal intercourse.


• If a trichomoniasis infection is expected, sexual activity should stop until treatment of the infected person and their sexual partners is completed and all symptoms have resolved.

Think Before Having Unprotected Sex

_Source:

_{Centers for Disease Control; "Trichomoniasis Fact Sheet"; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 2007}