What is Trichomoniasis?
Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the parasite Trichomonasvaginalis. Trichomoniasis affects women more than men, elder women are more prone than younger ones.
You are at a higher risk of getting trichomoniasis if you do not consistently use a condom when having sex, have multiple sex partners, and have got a history of other sexually transmitted infections.
Causes
Trichomoniasis is caused by having sex with someone who has the infection. It can spread from a male or a female partner through genital contact during sex.
Symptoms
Most people who have trichomoniasis have no symptoms and do not even know they have it.
If you do have symptoms, you may experience:
- Burning sensation when urinating or after ejaculation in men
- Unusual foul-smelling vaginal discharge in women
- In men, irritation inside the penis and abnormal discharge from the penis
- In women, pain with urination or during intercourse and genital redness, itching, and burning
Diagnosis
Trichomoniasis is usually diagnosed with the help of a pee or fluid sample from your genitals and examining it under a microscope to spot the parasite. Sometimes laboratory tests might be needed which include:
- Antigen tests
- Cell cultures
- Tests that look for Trichomonas DNA
Treatment
Trichomoniasis is usually treated with antibiotics. You may be given one large dose or a longer course of medicine to take for a week.
You need to take a few precautions while you are on antibiotics such as avoid having sex until your infection has cleared up to help in preventing the spread of the disease to your partner. You need to wait for a week after the medicine to have sex again.
Prevention
You can prevent or lower your risk of getting trichomoniasis with the following steps:
- Use condoms every time you have vaginal or anal sex
- During oral sex, cover the penis with a condom
- Do not share sex toys
- Get tested for sexually transmitted infections
- Have sex with only one partner