Trichomoniasis

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• Diagnosis and Tests

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Summary

Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted disease caused by a parasite. It spreads from person to person during sex. Many people do not have any symptoms. If you do get symptoms, they usually happen within 5 to 28 days after being infected.

It can cause vaginitis in women. Symptoms include:

• Yellow-green or gray discharge from the vagina
• Discomfort during sex
• Vaginal odor
• Painful urination
• Itching burning, and soreness of the vagina and vulva

Most men do not have symptoms. If they do, they may have:

• Itching or irritation inside the penis
• Burning after urination or ejaculation
• Discharge from the penis

Trichomoniasis can increase the risk of getting or spreading other sexually transmitted diseases. Pregnant women with trichomoniasis are more likely to give birth too early, and their babies are more likely have a low birth weight.

Lab tests can tell if you have the infection. Treatment is with antibiotics. If you are infected, you and your partner must be treated.

Correct usage of latex condoms greatly reduces, but does not eliminate, the risk of catching or spreading trichomoniasis. If your or your partner is allergic to latex, you can use polyurethane condoms. The most reliable way to avoid infection is to not have anal, vaginal, or oral sex.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Start Here

• Trichomoniasis (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
• Trichomoniasis (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Trichomoniasis (Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health)

Diagnosis and Tests

• Trichomoniasis Test (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish

Statistics and Research

• Trichomoniasis Statistics (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Trichomonas Infections (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Clinical Evaluation of a New Molecular Test for the Detection of...
• Article: Signature of real-time PCR in detection of Trichomonas vaginalis infection and...
• Article: Association between red blood cell folate and Trichomonas vaginalis infection among...
• Trichomoniasis -- see more articles

Find an Expert

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Also in Spanish
• National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Teenagers

• Trichomoniasis (Nemours Foundation)
• Trichomoniasis (Nemours Foundation)

Patient Handouts

• Condom Fact Sheet in Brief (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - PDF Also in Spanish
• Trichomoniasis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish