Trichomoniasis

Trichomoniasis General Information

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are usually caused by different parasites, such as bacteria, fungi, viruses etc. and represent a real danger for the patient’s reproductive system; untreated, these medical conditions lead to infertility that, in most cases, is untreatable. Trichomoniasis, caused by the parasite trichomonas vaginalis (a single-celled protozoan) is a very common and curable sexually transmitted disease (STD), sometimes referred to as Trich or trichomonas vaginitis. This medical condition is found all around the world and most patients who get the parasite are between 15 and 50 years old. Only in the United States 7 million people get infected with Trichomoniasis each year; more than 150 million cases are reported from all over the world.

This parasitic disease affects both men and women, although the symptoms are more obvious and different in women, affecting the urethra, the vagina or other parts of the genitourinary tract. Men are usually infected if they are uncircumcised; in this case, the most common site of the disease is the tip of the penis. Trichomoniasis does not cause symptoms in men and it usually resolves itself in three to six weeks. In women, is one of the most three common vaginal infections. Most women experience fishy odor, genital irritation and itching, yellow-green vaginal discharge and pain felt while urinating and during sexual intercourse. Men may accuse only burning sensations during ejaculation or while urinating and minor discharge from the penis. Occasionally, they can develop epididymitis or prostatitis, which are more severe and harder to treat.

Trichomoniasis Symptoms

As any other sexually transmitted disease (STD), Trichomoniasis produces specific signs and symptoms that are quite common for this type of medical condition. This type of parasitic disease affects both men and women, but women are more prone to experience various symptoms that are different from those accused by men. The manifestations of Trichomoniasis appear within one to four weeks after the exposure. We will present you a list containing some of the most encountered signs and symptoms and experienced by the majority of patients. Women may complain of one or more of the following: vaginal itching, labial swelling, itching of the inner thighs, discomfort or pain during intercourse or while urinating, valvular itching and gray or yellow-green, foamy or frothy vaginal discharge that may have a strong or foul odor. Women can also develop urethritis (inflammation of the urethra) or cervicitic (inflammation of the cervix). In rarer cases, pain felt in the lower abdomen may occur. Most men do not present signs and symptoms, but when they do, they usually experience slight pale discharge from the urethra, sensations of burning during ejaculation or urination, itching urethra and temporarily irritation inside the penis. The list may not be complete because the symptoms usually depend on how each organism reacts when it is attacked by various harmful agents. If you consider you still have questions, we advise you to contact you health care provider or a trained specialist in the domain, usually an urologist or a gynecologist. Left untreated, Trichomoniasis produces severe complications.

Trichomoniasis Treatment

A fast diagnosis followed by the proper treatment increases the chances for a full recovery. We strongly advise you to seek medical attention as soon as you start experiencing any of the signs and symptoms that we have listed above and are specific for Trichomoniasis. Also, contact a doctor if you think you have been exposed to the disease. This type of parasitic disease is very common and probably the most curable STD (sexually transmitted disease).  During the medical examination, you will be asked about your signs and symptoms, your personal medical history and about your sexual habits. In order to rule out other possible similar infections, the doctor will do a physical exam followed by several tests. The most reliable way to diagnose Trichomoniasis is to culture a sample of the patient’s discharge. The samples are collected by introducing a swab (a cotton-tipped applicator) into the woman’s vagina or man’s urethra and then analyzed under the microscope. The results are ready after ten days.

In men, this disease is hard to detect but they are treated if any of their sexual partners are infected with this parasite. In women, the doctor can choose to do other several tests, including Pap smear, a microscopic analysis of the vaginal fluid, urinalysis or examination or the cervix to look for hemorrhaging. Trichomoniasis can often occur with other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and this is why the patients are usually screened for HIV, gonorrhea, Chlamydia or syphilis. If the results of these tests are positive and the patient is diagnosed with this medical condition, the doctor will proceed immediately with the adequate treatment option. The most common class of drugs used to treat this infection is the antibiotics. Health care providers usually prescribe Flagyl (metronidazole) and Tindamax (Tinidazole). These two drugs are administered in a single dose so it is unlikely for patients to lose a dose. They should follow the advices of the doctor and the indications on the prescriptions. Patients must avoid drinking alcohol while taking the medications or after two days after the antibiotics are completed. Otherwise, a chemical reaction will produce severe side effects, for example continuous sensations of nausea and intense vomiting.

Sexual intercourse must be avoided until the therapy has been completed. Your sexual partners should also be examined and treated at the same time, even if they do not present any signs and symptoms. With an adequate treatment option applied in time, the prognosis is good and the expectations are high because the patient usually fully recovers after several weeks of treatment. Treating Trichomoniasis helps preventing the spread of the disease to other sexual partners. Untreated, the chances to get infected with HIV from a sick partner increase significantly if you suffer from Trichomoniasis. This parasitic disease can be very easily prevented if you practice healthy and monogamous sexual relationships with a well known partner. Using correctly and consistently, condoms or total abstinence remains the most reliable and best protection against any sexually transmitted disease.