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Trichomoniasis (often called trich) is a sexually transmitted disease. It is caused by a parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis, which is a protozoa made of just one cell.[1] Trichomoniasis can affect both men and women. It is usually an infection of the urinary system and genitals.

Cause[change | change source]

The Trichomonas vaginalis parasite can only live in the human genital tract. Trichomoniasis is only spread through sex, or if two people's genitals touch.[2]

Signs and symptoms[change | change source]

Most people with trichomoniasis do not have any symptoms.[3]

When people do have symptoms, they usually start about 5 to 28 days after the person got infected. Symptoms may include:[4]

Complications[change | change source]

Complications are serious problems that can happen because a person has a disease. These problems do not happen to everyone with trichomoniasis. They are the most serious problems that trichomoniasis can cause. Some of the most dangerous problems that can happen to a person with trichomoniasis include:

  • People with trichomoniasis are more likely to get (or spread) HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.[5][6]
  • If a woman is pregnant, trichomoniasis can cause her to have a premature infant, or an infant that weighs less than normal.[5]
  • Trichomoniasis may work together with human papillomavirus (HPV) to cause cervical cancer, although this has not been proven.[7]
  • In men, trichomoniasis can cause inflammation (swelling) of the urethra and the prostate. In the prostate, trichomoniasis may create chronic (long-term) inflammation that may eventually cause prostate cancer.[8][9]

Treatment[change | change source]

Treatment for trichomoniasis is usually metronidazole (Flagyl), which kills protozoa like Trichomonas vaginalis.[10] However, this medication has to be used carefully with woman who are in the early stages of pregnancy.[11] Anyone the infected person has had sex with should also get treatment, even if they have no symptoms.[12]

About 95% to 97% of people with trichomoniasis are cured after one dose of metronidazole.[13][14]

Without treatment, trichomoniasis can stay in a woman's body for months to years. In many (but not all) men, it seems to go away on its own.[5]

Prevention[change | change source]

Trichomoniasis can be prevented by having safe sex (for example, by using condoms).[15]

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests that women who are having vaginal discharge should get tested for trichomoniasis.[13]

How common is trichomoniasis?[change | change source]

Trichomoniasis is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the world that is not caused by a virus. Every year, about 248 million more people get trichomoniasis.[16][17] It is more common in women than men.[18]

It is also the most common non-viral sexually transmitted disease in the United States. In the U.S., about 3.7 million people have trichomoniasis, and about 1.1 million more people get infected every year.[19][20] Recent research has said that 3% of the U.S. population (3 in every 100 people) have trichomoniasis.[21][22] In people who are at higher risk of getting trichomoniasis, like people with HIV and people in prison, between 7.5% to 32% are infected.[23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30]

Related pages[change | change source]

References[change | change source]

  2. "Trichomoniasis - CDC Fact Sheet". Retrieved 12 January 2011. 
  3. "STD Facts - Trichomoniasis". 
  4. Trichomoniasis symptoms.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 Secor W, Meites E, Starr M, Workowski K (2014). "Neglected parasitic infections in the United States: trichomoniasis". Am J Trop Med Hyg 90 (5): 800–804. doi:10.4269/ajtmh.13-0723. 
  6. Kissinger P and Adamski A. "Trichomoniasis and HIV interactions: a review". 
  7. Donders GG (2013). "Association of Trichomonas vaginalis and cytological abnormalities of the cervix in low risk women.". 8: e86266. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0086266. PMC 3875579. PMID 24386492. 
  10. Vaginitis/Trichomoniasis :Treatment for trichomoniasis, American Social Health Association. Retrieved March 12, 2008.
  12. Rob, Lukáš; Martan, Alois; Citterbart, Karel (2008). Gynekologie (in Czech) (2nd ed.). Prague: Galen. p. 136. ISBN 978-80-7262-501-7. 
  13. 13.0 13.1 Workowski KA, Berman S. "Sexually transmitted diseases treatment guidelines, 2010" MMWR Recomm Rep 2010;59(RR-12):1–110.
  14. Niccolai LM, Kopicko JJ, Kassie A, Petros H, Clark RA, Kissinger P (2000). "Incidence and predictors of reinfection with Trichomonas vaginalis in HIV-infected women". Sex Transm Dis. 27 (5): 284–288. doi:10.1097/00007435-200005000-00009. 
  15. Vaginitis/Trichomoniasis :Reduce your risk, American Social Health Association. Retrieved March 12, 2008.
  20. Satterwhite CL, Torrone E, Meites E (2013). "Sexually transmitted infections among US women and men: prevalence and incidence estimates, 2008". Sex Transm Dis. 40 (3): 187–93. doi:10.1097/OLQ.0b013e318286bb53. 
  21. Ginocchio C, Chapin K (2012). "Prevalence of Trichomonas vaginalis and coinfection with Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae in the United States as determined by the Aptima Trichomonas vaginalis nucleic acid amplification assay". J Clin Microbiol 50 (8): 2601–2608. doi:10.1128/JCM.00748-12. 
  22. Sutton M, Sternberg M, Koumans EH, Mcquillan G, Berman S (2007). "The Prevalence of Trichomonas vaginalis Infection among Reproductive-Age Women in the United". Clin Infect Dis 45: 1319–1626. doi:10.1086/522532. 
  23. Rogers SM, Turner CF, Hobbs M (2014). "Epidemiology of undiagnosed trichomoniasis in a probability sample of urban young adults". PLOS ONE 9 (3): e90548. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0090548. 
  24. Javanbakht M, Stirland A, Stahlman S (2013). "Prevalence and Factors Associated With Trichomonas vaginalis Infection Among High-Risk Women in Los Angeles". Sex Transm Dis. 40 (10): 804–807. doi:10.1097/OLQ.0000000000000026. 
  25. Helms DJ, Mosure DJ, Metcalf C (2008). "Risk factors for prevalent and incident Trichomonas vaginalis among women attending three sexually transmitted disease clinics". Sex Transm Dis. 35 (5): 484–8. doi:10.1097/OLQ.0b013e3181644b9c. 
  26. Swartzendruber A, Sales JM, Brown JL, Diclemente RJ, Rose ES (2014). "Correlates of incident Trichomonas vaginalis infections among African American female adolescents". Sex Transm Dis. 41 (4): 240–5. doi:10.1097/OLQ.0000000000000094. 
  27. Muzny C, Rivers C, Austin EL, Schwebke JR (2013). "Trichomonas vaginalis infection among women receiving gynaecological care at an Alabama HIV Clinic". Sex Transm Infect 89 (6): 514–8. doi:10.1136/sextrans-2012-050889. 
  28. Munson E, Kramme T, Napierala M, Munson KL, Miller C, Hryciuk JE (2012). "Female epidemiology of transcription-mediated amplification-based Trichomonas vaginalis detection in a metropolitan setting with a high prevalence of sexually transmitted infection". J Clin Microbiol 50 (12): 3927–31. doi:10.1128/JCM.02078-12. 
  30. Nijhawan AE, DeLong AK, Celentano DD (2011). "The Association Between Trichomonas Infection and Incarceration in HIV-Seropositive and At-Risk HIV-Seronegative Women". Sex Transm Dis. 38 (12): 1094–1100. doi:10.1097/OLQ.0b013e31822ea147.