How is Trichomoniasis Transmitted?

Trichomoniasis is known to be the most widespread yet treatable sexually transmitted disease. It is one of the most frequent infection of a women's vagina.

There are around 7.4 million cases of trichomoniasis in the US each year and 180 million reported cases all over the world.

How is Trichomoniasis Transmitted?

Trichomoniasis is produced by a single-celled parasite, Trichomonas vaginalis. It can affect both men and women. The most general location of infection in men is the urethra, while it usually occur in the vagina for women. Example is penis-to-vagina intercourse or vulva-to-vulva contact with an infected person. Women get trichomoniasis from affected men or women, while men usually acquire the disease only from infected women. Trichomonas vaginal can also be contracted through oral or anal sex with an infected partner. ; newborns with mothers infected with trichomoniasis were evidenced of the parasite in their lungs. You cannot contract this STD from intimate kissing, sharing utensils, or toilet seats.

How is Trichomoniasis Recognized?

The symptoms of this sexually transmitted disease in women may include vaginal discharge that is yellow-green in color, fishy odor of the vagina, pain during sexual intercourse and urination, and irritation or itching of the vulva. Then generally do not show signs and symptoms of trichomoniasis, but may experience burning during ejaculation or urination and evidence of discharge from the penis.

How is Trichomoniasis Diagnosed?

Diagnosis of this STD requires both sexes to undergo physical exam and lab testing. It is diagnosed by observing the trichomonads under a microscope. The infection in men is more difficult to detect compared to the women. For the female community, the specimen is collected during an examination in the pelvic wherein a doctor inserts a speculum into the vagina and swabs the wall using a cotton-tipped applicator to collect the specimen. The sample is then sent to the laboratory to be analyzed. The visual analysis of the specimen under a microscope may reveal small red ulcerations or sores in the vaginal cervix. If this case appears, the term used is "strawberry cervix".

How is Trichomoniasis Treated?

Trichomoniasis can be commonly treated with drugs that are prescribed by the doctor.

Your having trichomoniasis once does not keep you from getting the disease again. People are still prone to reacquiring the disease even after a successful treatment. So in order to be completely sure that you don't have trichomoniasis, you should be sure to get tested every now and then.

trichomoniasis: Symptoms And Treatments

Trich is one of the sexually transmitted infections (or sexually transmitted diseases, STD) caused by a microscopic parasite, a protozoa. Usually it is found in urethral tissues and vagina. Although women are likely to be infected men can be infected too. So let's try to understand that
sexual transmitted disease.
Causes

This disease is the most widespread curable sexual infection. The trichomonad has an average size of 15 mm which cannot be seen by naked eye and the parasites are reproduced every 8-12 hours.

The figures show that men have more resistance to this parasite as only 14%-60% of men and 67%-100% of women with infected partners have the parasite.

It is not clear why women have more chance of getting infected than men. One possibility could be that the zinc and some substances that are harmful to trichomonads exist in the prostatic fluid.

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

Trichomoniasis Treatment

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

Self-Care at Home

Apart from medical treatments there are home treatments which should not be substitute and preferred to the medical treatment. However always keep in mind that it is always better to consult your doctor at first!

·Having a warm bath and a natural douche may help increase the parasite killing activity. Best to add juice of a lemon to the douche :Vinegar douche - vinegar, 1 tea spoon, warm water 1 quart.

·Aromatherapy: bergamot oil -Citrus aurantium var bergamia, helps dry up the irritating discharge. You can add it to bath water or use it in douches.

Metronidazole (Flagyl)

·A high dosage can be very effective but may increase the side effects like vomiting and nausea.

·An alternative is to take pills two times a day for a week.

(Gyne-Lotrimin, Mycelex-7)

In case of having symptoms and pregnancy:

·Clotrimazole is a vaginal Medicine and should be inserted for two weeks at night.

·It decreases the symptoms, with a cure rate of only 20%.

Partners

·The man will have to take either a large dose or be treated for a week.

·Keep in mind that the doctor might not write a prescription unless evaluating her/or him first.

To Your Health!

By: James S. Pendergraft