Trichomoniasis is considered the most common curable STI. On this webpage, you will find answers to questions like, "What causes Tricohmoniasis?" and, "How is it spread?" A common name for trichomaniasis is Trich. The only way to have complete protection against contracting an STI is to stay abstinent. Abstinence is not having sexual intercourse.
What type of infection is it?Trichomoniasis is caused by a parasite. This parasite is called Trichomonas vaginalis. It is more common for women to get it than for men to. Older women are more susceptible to this.
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How is it spread?This parasite is spread through sexual intercourse. It is passed from an infected person to a person who is uninfected during sex. The parasite can be passed from penis to vagina, vagina to penis, or vagina to vagina. It is uncommon for the hands, mouth, or anus to get infected. The most common infected area on a woman is the lower genital tract. This is the vulva, vagina and urethra. The most common area infected on a man is the urethra inside the penis.
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What are the symptoms?
Seventy percent of people with trich are unaware they have it. Only about 30% of people actually get symptoms. Symptoms can range from mild irritation to severe inflammation. Trichomonaisis can make it displeasing to have sex. It is undetermined why only 30% show symptoms. It could depend on age and overall health. Even if you don't show any symptoms of trich but have the parasite, it can still be passed on during sexual intercourse. If you have them, symptoms can appear anywhere from 5 to 28 days. For some, symptoms take much longer. Symptoms in men include:
- Burning or itching inside the penis
- The need to pee frequently
- Burning after urination or ejaculation
- A little discharge
- Itching, burning, or soreness
- Redness of the genitals
- Swelling of the groin
- The need to pee more and discomfort while urinating
- A thin discharge with an abnormal smell. It can be greenish, yellowish, white, or clear.
- Blood spotting with discharge
How Do I know if I have Trichomoniasis?
Because trichomoniasis can't be diagnosed by symptoms alone, you have to go to a health care provider to have a test done. Your health care provider must do a check and then a laboratory test. For men, your health care provider will take a swab of your urethra to get a sample of discharge and then will look at it under a microscope. For women, your health care provider will perform a pelvic exam and take a swab of vaginal discharge. They will look at the discharge under a microscope. Your health care provider might test you for other STIs. Trich makes you more susceptible to HIVs and other STIs. They might test you for gonorrhea and chlamydia because these sometimes occur with trichomoniasis.
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Can it be cured?Trichomoniasis is curable. Without treatment, trich can last for months, even years. If you find out you have trichomoniasis, it can be cured with a single dose of antibiotic pills taken by mouth for about a week. Antibiotics, like Metronidazole or Tinidazole People who drink alcohol within 24 hours of taking the pill can experience weird side effects.
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After being treated, can I get it again?
Yes. About 1 in 5 people get infected again within 3 months of being treated. To prevent being infected again, wait until your symptoms are gone before having sex. And, make sure to inform your sex partners that you have trich. Have them tested and/or treated.
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What if I'm pregnant?Having trichomoniasis and being pregnant is okay. The medicine that treats trich is safe for pregnant women. But, your baby could be born early and have a low birth weight of less than 5.5 pounds.
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How can I prevent getting trich?The only way to fully prevent yourself from contracting an STI is to stay abstinent. But, if you are sexually active, there are ways to protect yourself. Using a condom is a good way to prevent this STI. Condoms are the only birth control method that protects against trichomoniasis. A condom doesn't cover everything. You can still get or spread trich while using one. However, a condom does lower the risk of contracting it.
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