Trichomoniasis: Definition, Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention

It is an infection caused by a single-celled protozoan called Trichomonas.

Usually confined to the vagina, this organism can invade the urinary tract and cause cystitis (bladder inflammation). The Trichomonas can also be severe enough to trigger an abnormal Pap smear.

The organism can be detected and reappeared, although it can cause tiny red lesions on the cervix and fallopian tubes, although they do not affect fertility.

We are talking about a sexually transmitted disease (STD). It is one of the most common STDs and can be called “trich.”

Symptoms include itching, irritation, discharge in women, and painful urination in men. A parasite causes it, can be diagnosed with a physical exam and microscopic analysis and can be treated with Flagyl ( metronidazole ), an antimicrobial.

Symptoms of trichomoniasis

Trichomoniasis symptoms can begin several days to a month after the person becomes infected, and there may even be a delay of several months before symptoms appear.

Many people have no symptoms, but they can still pass the infection to other people. Women are more likely than men to experience symptoms if they become infected with trichomoniasis.

 

Symptoms in women

Symptoms in women are generally more noticeable than symptoms in men. Women typically experience trichomoniasis symptoms within 1 to 4 weeks of the initial infection.

Symptoms of trichomoniasis in women include:

  • Irritation and itching of the vagina and the surrounding area.
  • Foamy and colored vaginal discharge.
  • Strong vaginal odor.
  • Pain during sexual intercourse.
  • Pain when urinating
  • Trichomoniasis can also negatively affect the outcome of a pregnancy. Pregnant women infected with the parasite are more likely to deliver preterm and are more likely to give birth to a low-birth-weight baby.

Symptoms in men

Most men with trichomoniasis do not have any symptoms. When they do, their symptoms are generally mild and include:

  • Pain when urinating
  • Pain when ejaculating.
  • Discomfort in the penis.

Trichomoniasis and HIV

If you have trichomoniasis, you are more susceptible to infection with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. If you are HIV positive, trichomoniasis also makes it more likely that you will pass HIV on to your sexual partners.

There is a stronger association between trichomoniasis and HIV in women than in men.

Causes

Trichomoniasis affects both men and women and is caused by a single-celled parasitic organism known as Trichomonas vaginalis.

The infection is transmitted sexually and can be spread through sexual intercourse and skin-to-skin contact with the vagina or penis.

The parasite can live in and around the vagina or inside the penis and is not generally associated with the effects on other body areas. It is not spread by holding hands, touching, or kissing it.

How it spreads

The CDC estimates that more than 3 million people in the United States are infected with trichomoniasis. The more common and frequent it is, the greater the chance of contracting the infection.

If you have unprotected sex with someone who might be infected, you are more likely to get the infection yourself.

Effects on the body

In women, trichomoniasis causes a vaginal infection called vaginitis. In men, it infects the urethra, the tube inside the penis that carries sperm and urine.

The parasite invades the layer under the skin and produces an inflammatory reaction. The presence of the parasite and the resulting inflammation makes the characteristic itching, pain, discharge, and odor associated with trichomoniasis.

Diagnosis of trichomoniasis

The symptoms of trichomoniasis are somewhat vague and similar to the symptoms of skin conditions or other sexually transmitted diseases. A doctor’s appointment is necessary for a definitive diagnosis, especially since a prescription deworming treatment can cure the infection.

How the organism is identified

Samples can be tested for the parasite and viewed under a microscope for both men and women.

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, which can detect the genetic components of the parasite, can also be used to diagnose infection.

Diagnosis in women

If you have trichomoniasis, your physical exam may show vaginal irritation and discharge, and there may also be a distinctive odor.

Trichomoniasis can also irritate the cervix inside the body and can only be visualized with a medical exam.

A sample from the vagina, urethra (urine tube), or cervix provides a small piece of vaginal discharge. Your doctors can see this sample under a microscope.

This diagnostic method is done using a wet mount. It can be used to visualize the parasite itself.

However, the parasite that causes trichomoniasis is not always visible.

Your doctors can also cultivate vaginal secretions in a particular medium to allow the organism to grow, which increases the chances of identifying it. A urine test can also be used for diagnosis.

Diagnosis in men

The physical exam is rarely abnormal in men who have a trichomoniasis infection. If you have disease symptoms, your doctor may examine the condition with a urine sample or a urethral swab.

Treatment

Treatment for trichomoniasis is generally effective if you are otherwise in good health. It is usually treated with a single oral dose of Flagyl (metronidazole) 2 grams or Tindamax (tinidazole) 2 grams.

If you received treatment and the infection did not resolve, you may need a prescription for metronidazole 500 mg by mouth for seven days to take twice a day. These drugs are also used to treat bacterial vaginosis.

There are cream and gel forms of metronidazole, but it is ineffective for treating trichomoniasis.

It would help if you did not drink alcohol for several days when using these medications. The combination can induce a severe physical reaction characterized by high blood pressure, shortness of breath, nausea, and vomiting.

After using the medications, it is recommended that you abstain from unprotected sexual activity for a week until your symptoms disappear entirely.

This is because the medicine takes about a week to get rid of the infection. It is also essential that your sexual partners receive treatment for trichomoniasis while reducing the risk of reinfection.

Prevention of trichomoniasis

Condoms have been shown to reduce the risk of trichomoniasis infection. They should be used consistently if either partner is infected or may be at risk of disease.

The parasite can also be spread on fingers, sex toys, or other objects.