Trichomoniosis
Trichomoniasis (‘TV’) is relatively uncommon (6000 cases per year in UK) but curable sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by a protozoon called Trichomonas vaginalis.
A person is infected with TV through unprotected vaginal sex, insertion of fingers into the vagina or sharing sex toys with someone who has TV or a mother may infect her baby during normal childbirth (vaginal delivery). TV cannot be caught from hugging, sharing baths or towels, swimming pools or toilet seats.
Women who represent most diagnosed infections (90%) may not notice anything is wrong but some may notice a vaginal discharge, an unpleasant vaginal smell, burning pain when passing urine, vulval itching or soreness or pain in the vagina during sex.
Men usually do not notice anything is wrong but some may notice a discharge from the tip of the penis, a burning pain when they pass urine, a desire to pass urine more often than normal or soreness around the foreskin
Without treatment, the infection can last for months.
TV can be diagnosed on a vaginal swab in women and a urethral (water pipe) swab or urine sample in men.
TV can be treated with antibiotics, usually metronidazole ortinidazole and, as TV is an STI, it is important that current sexual partner(s) are tested and treated (even if their test result is negative). Do not resume sex until one week after both you and your partner have finished treatment.
It is very unusual for TV not to be treated with available antibiotics but if symptoms persist or recur after treatment a follow up test should be arranged.
Serious complications are rare. In men, TV may infect the prostate gland causing symptoms such as pain in the genital region, pain on ejaculation and problems in passing urine. In pregnant women, TV may cause an increased risk of labour starting early with the baby delivered prematurely or with a low birth weight
Having TV does not prevent re-infection, so all sexual partners must be treated before having sex with them again.
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