Trichomoniasis
Trichomoniasis (pronounced trick-oh-mon-eye-a-sis) is infection with Trichomonas vaginalis. This is not a type of bacterium; it is a microscopic organism consisting of a single cell, like an amoeba. Under the microscope, it looks a rather attractive creature, because it swims around in a wobbly and rotating fashion, waving its four tiny antennae.
In the UK, trichomoniasis has become less common (whereas most other sexually transmitted infections have increased). No one knows why.
How is trichomoniasis transmitted?
Trichomoniasis is sexually transmitted. It does not always cause symptoms, so people may not know that they are carrying it. In fact, most men and about half of all women with Trichomonas have no symptoms themselves, but can unknowingly pass it on to someone else.
Symptoms of trichomoniasis
- Trichomoniasis seems to be most common in young sexually-active women, and in women nearing the menopause. In about half the women who have it, Trichomonas causes no symptoms. In the other half, it causes a foul-smelling discharge. The vulva (area round the opening of the vagina) is often itchy and sore. Passing urine may be painful.
- Men commonly have no symptoms, or they may notice burning when they pass urine and/or a discharge from the urethra (pee hole).
What you should do
- To relieve the itching and discomfort, put a couple of handfuls of salt in a bath of warm water, and sit in it for a while. If passing urine is painful, it may help to pee into the bath water. The salt bath will help symptoms, but will not get rid of the Trichomonas.
- See a doctor for treatment with metronidazole tablets. You should not drink alcohol while you are taking it. It is a good idea to go to a genitourinary medicine clinic, because the clinic will be able to test you straight away, and tell you whether or not you have Trichomonas, and give you the treatment. The clinic will also be able to check for other infections, which are quite common in people with trichomoniasis.
- If metronidazole does not clear the infection, other treatments can be used, such as tinidazole (Prescriber 2006;17:2942)
- Your partner will also need to be checked and treated, and you should not have sex until both of you have completed the treatment.
If you are pregnant
Trichomonas infection can cause a premature birth, so doctors are keen to treat it if you are pregnant. However, there have been worries about using metronidazole in pregnancy, so a low dose is used.
Written by: Dr Margaret Stearn
Edited by: Dr Margaret Stearn
Last updated:
Friday, February 12th 2010
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Trichomoniasis
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