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What is trichomoniasis and how do you get it?
What are the symptoms of trichomoniasis?
Is there a test for trichomoniasis?
How is trichomoniasis treated?
Does trichomoniasis cause problems during pregnancy?
How is trichomoniasis prevented?
See also
Trichomoniasis (pronounced trih-kuh-muh-nye-uh-sus), also called “trick,” is a sexually transmitted disease (STD). It is caused by a parasite that can be passed from one person to another. The parasite is sexually transmitted through penis-to-vagina intercourse or vulva-to-vulva contact with an infected partner. The vulva is the genital area outside the vagina. Women can get the disease from infected men or women.
While trichomoniasis is usually passed sexually, it may be picked up from contact with damp or moist objects such as towels, wet clothing, or a toilet seat, if the genital area gets in contact with these damp or moist objects.
Many women do not have any symptoms, but still have the STD. If women do have symptoms, they usually appear 5 to 28 days after exposure and can include:
If you have any of these symptoms, stop having sex and contact your doctor right away.
To tell if you have trichomoniasis, your doctor or nurse will do a pelvic exam and lab test. During the pelvic exam, your doctor may be able to see small red sores inside the vagina or on the cervix. Your doctor will also take a fluid sample from the vagina and look for the parasite under a microscope or send the sample to a lab for analysis. Other tests, like a vaginal culture or DNA test can also be used for testing.
Trichomoniasis can usually be cured with the prescription drug, metronidazole (also called Flagyl), or with a related drug, tinidazole. Topical medicines, or medicines applied to the skin, may be used in people who are allergic to metronidazole and tinidazole. The topical medicines are less effective and may not cure you. They might, however, ease the symptoms.
All women and men diagnosed with trichomoniasis should be treated. Even without symptoms, it can be passed to others. Having trichomoniasis also increases a person’s chances of getting HIV. People being treated for trichomoniasis should avoid sex until they and their sex partners complete treatment and have no symptoms. Having trichomoniasis once does not protect a person from getting it again.
Yes. Trichomoniasis can cause babies to be born early or at a low birth weight (less than five pounds). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that women with trichomoniasis who have symptoms should be treated, but women without symptoms do not need to be treated.
During the first 3 months of pregnancy, many experts feel that women shouldn't take metronidazole (flagyl) because it may hurt the baby. However, most doctors feel that metronidazole can be given safely after the end of the first trimester.
There are things you can do to protect yourself from trichomoniasis:
You can find out more about trichomoniasis by contacting the National Women's Health Information Center (NWHIC) at 800-994-WOMAN or the following organizations.
CDC Info, HHS
Phone: (800) CDC-INFO or (800) 232-4636
CDC National Prevention Information Network (NPIN), CDC, HHS
Phone: (800) 458-5231
Internet Address: http://www.cdcnpin.org
National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention, CDC, HHS
Internet Address: http://www.cdc.gov/std
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Phone: (301) 496-5717
Internet Address: http://www.niaid.nih.gov/publications/stds.htm
American Social Health Association
Phone: (800) 783-9877
Internet Address: http://www.ashastd.org
Planned Parenthood Federation of America
Phone: (800) 230-7526
Internet Address: http://www.plannedparenthood.org
The trichomoniasis FAQ was reviewed by the Division of STD Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
May 2005
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