Trichomoniasis is the most common curable sexually transmitted disease (STD) among men and women. It is often called “trich”. This disease is caused by protozoan known as trichomonas vaginalis and is spread through sexual intercourse or even just sexual contact. Vaginal, anal or oral intercourse can transmit the disease from one person to another. Women can get the disease from both men and women while men get it only from their female sex partners. The parasite that can be transmitted through sexual contact may also live in towels, clothing and bedding.
Although both women and men can get infected, women are usually more susceptible. Trichomonas vaginalis parasite can get transmitted to women from infected men or women, but in men the parasite is usually contracted only from infected women partners.
Trichomoniasis Symptoms
Usually symptoms in men are milder than women, and in women it usually occurs in 1-4 weeks of the initial infection. As mentioned above infected men do not have any symptoms this they do not visit the doctor to receive medical treatments. To prevent re infection of the woman the sexual partner should be treated and evaluated as well.
The symptoms include:
Women
·Vaginal discharge
·Vaginal itching
·Itchy, smelly, and typically foamy or frothy discharge
·Yellow or green- gray discharge
·Pain during urination
·One-third of women who are infected do not have symptoms.
Men
·The majority do not have any symptoms
·Urethral discharge
·Pain during urination
·swelling and pain in scrotum -from epididymitis
Medical Treatment
The treatment is metronidazole “Flagyl” which incase of pregnancy should not be taken during first trimester. It should be kept in mind not to take the medicine and drink alcohol same time, as the combination can cause vomiting and abdominal pain.
Apart from medical treatments there are home treatments, Click here to view.
