Definition
Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the parasite trichomonas vaginalis and is often shortened to just Trich.
The parasites are single-celled living organisms that have the ability to invade human cells causing a range of non-threatening health concerns, including serious diseases. They differ from bacteria in that they need to survive on other living tissue, so do not survive for long outside of a host like bacteria or a virus might
Symptoms
Signs & Symptoms of Trichomoniasis
Most people who have trich won’t experience any symptoms and it can go unnoticed for long periods of time. Other infected people will experience symptoms similar to other STDs. Those symptoms can be different for men and women
Trichomoniasis symptoms in men
- Stinging pain when peeing or ejaculating
- Hazy white discharge from the penis
- Feeling the need to pee more often than normal
- Swelling and redness around the head of the
Trichomoniasis symptoms in women
- Thick yellow or green (irregular) vaginal discharge
- Fishy smell from discharge
- Irregular amount of discharge compared to normal
- Sore and itchy vagina
- Discomfort when peeing or during sex
Treatment
How Is Trichomoniasis Treated?
Trich is treated with antibiotics, with a course of around 7-10 days normally enough to cure the infection.
If you test positive for Trichomoniasis, it's important that you seek out treatment as it rarely heals on its own.
Infection
How Do You Get Trichomoniasis?
Trichomoniasis is mainly spread through sexual contact during vaginal sex. The parasite is transmitted through contact with areas in which it is living and spreading like the tip of the penis or the vagina.
Trichomoniasis can spread through the use of shared sex toys, where one person carries the parasite and the toys are quickly shared during a sexual encounter.
Risks
Is Trichomoniasis serious?
It's a low-risk STD but still progresses enough to offer some uncomfortable symptoms if it's left untreated.
Diagnosis & Detection
How is Trichomoniasis detected?
A sexual health practitioner or doctor might offer an examination of the genitals to see if visible symptoms are consistent with people infected with trichomoniasis. But this will almost always lead to a test being administered.
Trichomoniasis is diagnosed through a positive test result from either a urine or swab sample and can be obtained through a sexual health center, a walk-in testing lab or by buying an at-home STD test kit that has trich listed as one of the tested infections.
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Other Types
Are There Other Types Of Trichomoniasis?
Trichomoniasis is one of the most curable STDs and doesn’t really carry too many complications.
It can cause premature birth if you carry the disease while pregnant
Prevention
How Do You Prevent Trichomoniasis?
You prevent trichomoniasis like with any other STD, by being responsible and wearing protection during sex in the form of a condom. But also by being honest with your sexual partners about your sexual history and maintaining a regular testing program if you are sexually active.
