Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentPreventionNext in Trichomoniasis GuideSigns and Symptoms of Trichomoniasis
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention
Next in Trichomoniasis Guide
Trichomaoniasis Symptoms
Thesymptoms of trichomoniasismay begin between several days to a month after you become infected, and there can even be a delay of several months before symptoms even surface. In fact, the great majority of people do not have symptoms at all, but can still spread the infection to others.
Women are more likely than men to experience symptoms if they become infected with trichomoniasis.
Symptoms in Women
Symptoms in women are usually more noticeable than the symptoms in men. Women generally experience symptoms of trichomoniasis within 1 to 4 weeks of initial infection.
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The symptoms of trichomoniasis in women include:
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Complications in Women
Symptoms in Men
Most men with trichomoniasis don’t have any symptoms. When they do, their symptoms are generally mild and include:
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How It’s Spread
The CDC estimates that each year more than 2 million people in the United States are infected with trichomoniasis.The more common and prevalent it is, the higher the likelihood of getting the infection. If you have unprotected sex with someone who may be infected, this makes you more likely to contract the infection yourself.
Effects on the Body
In women, trichomoniasis causes a vaginal infection calledvaginitis. In men, it infects the urethra, the tube inside the penis that carries sperm and urine. The parasite invades the layer underneath the skin and produces an inflammatory reaction. The presence of the parasite and the resulting inflammation produces the characteristic itching, pain, discharge, and odor associated with trichomoniasis.
The symptoms of trichomoniasis are somewhat vague and similar to the symptoms of skin conditions or other STDs. A medical evaluation (primary care, urgent care, emergency room, local heath department) is necessary for adefinitive diagnosis, especially because there is a prescription anti-parasitic treatment that can cure the infection.
How the Organism Is Identified
For both men and women, samples can be tested for the parasite itself, which can be visualized under a microscope. Apolymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, which can detect the genetic components of the parasite, may be also used in diagnosing the infection.
Diagnosis in Women
If you have trichomoniasis, your physical examination may show irritation of the vagina as well as discharge, and there may also be a characteristic odor. Trichomoniasis can also cause irritation of the cervix, which is inside the body and can only be visualized with a medical examination.
A swab of the vagina or cervix provides a small sample of vaginal secretions. Your healthcare providers can then look at this sample under a microscope. This diagnostic method is called using awet mount.It can be used to visualize the parasite itself.
The parasite that causes trichomoniasis is not always visible on a wet mount, though. A nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) can look for the parasite’s genetic material to help with diagnosis.
Diagnosis in Men
The physical examination is rarely abnormal in men who have trichomoniasis infection. If you have symptoms of the infection, your healthcare provider may test for the infection using a urine sample or a urethral swab.
How Trichomoniasis Is Diagnosed
Thetreatment of trichomoniasisis generally effective if you are otherwise in good health. For women, 500 mg of Flagyl (metronidazole) twice a day for seven days is the recommended regimen, while a single, 2-gram dose of metronidazole is recommended for men. An alternative regimen for both men and women is a single 2-gram dose of Tindamax (tinidazole).
For men and women who were treated and the infection recurred, additional doses are prescribed. Repeating the regimen above is recommended for those whose recurrent infection was due to reexposure from an untreated sex partner.
If the treatment of an initial infection failed and the infection persists, a once-daily, 2-gram dose of metronidazole or tinidazole for seven days is recommended for women. For men, 500 mg of metronidazole twice a day for seven days is recommended.
There are cream and gel forms of metronidazole, but they are generally not effective for treating trichomoniasis.
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After using the medications, it is recommended that you abstain from unprotected sexual activity for a week and until your symptoms are clear. This is because It takes approximately one week for the medication to get rid of the infection. It is also important that you and your sexual partners be treated for trichomoniasis at the same time to reduce the risk of reinfection.
How Trichomoniasis Is Treated
While abstaining from vaginal, oral, and anal sex is the only unfailing way to prevent trichomoniasis infection, consistent and correct usage of condoms has been shown to reduce the risk of infection.
Signs and Symptoms of Trichomoniasis
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Trichomoniasis.
Planned Parenthood.Trichomoniasis (Trich).
Van der pol B.Clinical and Laboratory Testing for Trichomonas vaginalis Infection. J Clin Microbiol. 2016;54(1):7-12. doi:+10.1128/JCM.02025-15
Gaydos CA, Klausner JD, Pai NP Kelly H, Coltart C, Peeling RW.Rapid and point-of-care tests for the diagnosis ofTrichomonas vaginalisin women and men. Sex Transm Infect. 2017 Dec;93(S4):S31-S35. doi: 10.1136/sextrans-2016-053063. Epub 2017 Jul 6.
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