Trichomoniasis (also called trich) is the most common, curable sexually transmitted infection (STI) in young, sexually active women. An estimated 7.4 million new cases occur each year in women and men.
Trichomoniasis is caused by a parasitic protozoa called Trichomonas vaginalis. Trichomoniasis may cause symptoms in women, but most men do not have symptoms. You may need to talk to your doctor or health care provider about whether or not you should be tested. Having trichomoniasis makes it easier to get and pass HIV, so treatment is important.
Symptoms are more common in women. These include:
It is not possible to diagnose trichomoniasis based on symptoms alone (keep in mind that many cases don’t have symptoms). A healthcare provider must perform a test to diagnose trich.
The parasite is harder to detect in men than in women. General tips for women to help their provider find out what they may have include:
Healthcare providers often diagnose trich in women by putting a sample of vaginal fluid or discharge on a slide (called a “wet preparation”) and viewing the parasite under a microscope. This test is not always reliable.
A culture test is another method to detect trich, and can be used with males and females. Culture tests use urine, or a swab from the vagina or urethra, and make the trich parasite easier to find by “growing” it in a lab.
Recently, tests that are much more accurate have become available, including DNA tests that are reliable in men and women. These tests can be done with vaginal swabs or urine. Women may have a trich test done along with a pelvic exam. One of these tests even allows healthcare providers to check for trichomoniasis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea using the same sample.Trichomoniasis is curable with antibiotics, typically Metronidazole (Flagyl). If you are being treated for trichomoniosis, keep these facts in mind:
Trichomoniasis can cause babies to be born early or with low birth weight (less than 5.5 pounds). If you think you may be pregnant – or are planning to become pregnant-be sure to talk to your healthcare provider and ask about testing for trich. Women in the first three months of pregnancy should not take medicine for trich because it might hurt the baby. You can take medicine after the first three months.
Trich can cause genital inflammation that makes it easier to become infected with the HIV virus or to pass the HIV virus on to a sex partner.
Even though trich is the most common curable sexually transmitted Infection (STI), a new survey conducted by ASHA in January-February 2013 shows that only one in five (22%) women are familiar with it.
As illustrated below, women surveyed perceive trich as the least common STI, when in reality there are more new cases of trich annually in the U.S. (7-8 million) than syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea combined.
The CDC recommends that any sexually active woman seeking treatment for vaginal discharge should be tested for trich. However, 65% of women surveyed would not seek medical attention if they experienced unusual symptoms, instead waiting to see if the symptoms go away or treating themselves with over-the-counter medicine.
Pregnant women with trich are more likely to have preterm or low birth weight (less than 5.5 pounds) babies. Trich also increases the risk of acquiring and transmitting HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Among women surveyed who were concerned about contracting an STD, nearly half (49%) worry about trich increasing their risk of HIV.
ASHA recommends that women encourage their partners to get tested, as 1 in 5 people can be reinfected within three months of treatment. According to the survey, 63% of women cite having only one sex partner as a reason they would not get tested for trich. Yet a woman can be at risk for trich even if she only has one sexual partner.
© 2013 American Sexual Health Association
PO Box 13827
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709
