Don't ignore trichomoniasis

Trichomoniasis is transmitted primarily through sexual intercourse. It is most common in people who are at their peak of sexual activity. Poor hygiene, infection with other STIs and having multiple sexual partners are primary factors that put women at higher risk.

Symptoms
Around 50 per cent of women infected with trichomoniasis have no noticeable symptoms. Most symptoms occur within three weeks after being exposed to an infected partner. However, in some cases the symptoms may be delayed for years. The most common symptoms are vaginal discharge, irritation itching and a burning sensation during urination.

Trichomoniasis most often manifests itself in women as a yellowish-green, frothy, vaginal discharge. The discharge may sometimes have a bad odour, but usually does not. Itching and soreness of the vagina and vulva also are common. Some women experience abdominal pain due to cervicitis (inflammation of the uterine cervix), which is caused by trichomoniasis. This can be coupled with other infections, particularly pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).

The majority of infected men never have symptoms; of those presenting as the sexual partner of an infected woman, 15-50 per cent are symptom free. The most common symptom is discharge from the penis or a burning sensation during urination. The foreskin of the penis also may become inflamed. When men have symptoms, they often subside without treatment after a week or more.

Diagnosis
For both men and women, making a diagnosis on signs and symptoms alone is inadequate, particularly because of the broad range of symptoms that are shared with other inflammatory conditions of the vagina and cervix. The most common way to diagnose trichomoniasis is by looking at specimens under a microscope. These 'wet mounts,' as they are called, are magnified and clinicians look for the protozoa moving around.