What Is It?
Trichomoniasis is one of the most common
sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
. The parasite that causes trichomoniasis can be passed from
one person to another during sexual intercourse.
Unlike most STDs, the parasite can live for about an hour on
damp towels, washcloths, and bathing suits. If someone uses these
towels or washcloths or puts on the bathing suit, the disease may
be passed on that way. The good news is that trichomoniasis is
curable.
How Does a Girl Know She Has It?
A girl with trichomoniasis can get vaginitis, which is the
medical term for inflammation of the vagina. A girl who has
trichomoniasis will usually have vaginal discharge that can be gray
or yellowish green, and may be foamy. This discharge may have a
foul odor, and a girl's vagina may feel very itchy.
A girl with trichomoniasis may find it very painful to urinate.
Trichomoniasis can also cause an achy abdomen and pain during
sexual intercourse.
How Does a Guy Know He Has It?
In most cases, guys won't notice any symptoms. However, a
guy who has trichomoniasis may notice some temporary irritation
inside his penis or a mild burning feeling when he pees.
When Do Symptoms Appear?
Symptoms usually appear 5 to 28 days after a person has been
exposed.
What Can Happen?
Trichomoniasis by itself isn't very dangerous to a
person's health, but it can be uncomfortable. It can
also make someone more susceptible to getting other STDs. In
pregnant women, trichomoniasis can cause the baby to be born early
or to be born with a low birth weight.
If a patient has trichomoniasis a doctor will typically also
test for gonorrhea and chlamydia because these STDs sometimes occur
together.
How Is It Treated?
If you think you may have trichomoniasis or if you have had a
partner who may have trichomoniasis, you need to see your family
doctor, adolescent doctor, or gynecologist. He or she will do an
exam and swab the vagina or penis for secretions, which will then
be tested.
Doctors usually prescribe antibiotics for people who are
diagnosed with trichomoniasis. Sexual partners should be treated at
the same time, and people being treated should not have sex until
they have finished their treatment and no longer have symptoms.
It's better to prevent trichomoniasis than to treat it, of
course. The only way to completely prevent infection is to not have
any type of sexual intercourse (called abstinence). People who
choose to have sex should use a latex
condom
every time. This is the only birth control method that will help
prevent trichomoniasis.
Reviewed by:
Larissa Hirsch, MD
Date reviewed: March 2007
Originally reviewed by:
Catherine L. Lamprecht, MD
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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