WHAT IS TRICHOMONIASIS?
Trichomoniasis (also called "trich" by pronounced "trick") is a sexually-transmitted disease
(STD) caused by a germ that grows and reproduces very well in a warm, moist, slightly acidic environment such as the vagina. Once considered almost entirely a "female disease," medical science now recognizes that males also can have the
infection in the urinary tract. However, most infected males have no symptoms. Rather, they simply "carry" the infection.
IS SEXUAL CONTACT THE ONLY WAY TO TRANSMIT TRICH?
No. The trich germ can survive for several hours in wet places such as hot tubs, pools, showers and saunas, and in wet objects such as sponges, washcloths or douching equipment. The infection also can spread from mothers to their female infants during childcare. However, transmission of trich in these "non-sexual" ways is rare. In fact, its incidence is almost nil in adult virgins.
HOW COMMON IS TRICH?
Trich is one of the most common women’s STDs in America. Trich infects about three million American women each year. Some estimates suggest that one in five sexually active females has trich during her lifetime.
WHO IS AT RISK TO GET TRICH?
Perhaps as many as 10% of all females have trich, however, not all of them exhibit the symptoms. Some females seem to have immunity; others are very vulnerable. Those people most at risk to get trich include the following.
Males and females who engage in unprotected sex (do not use condoms, foams or jellies throughout the sexual encounter)
Males and females who have multiple sex partner
Males and females whose sex partner has multiple sex
partners Females who have a high level of sexual activity
Uncircumcised males (a slightly higher risk than circumcised males)
-1-
WHAT IS THE RATE OF INFECTION BETWEEN SEX-PARTNERS?
Trich appears in about 40% of the male sex partners of infected females and in at least 85% of female sex partners of infected men.
WHAT ARE SYMPTOMS OF TRICH?
Spotting the symptoms of trich can be difficult, since most males and some females have no symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they may include the following.
Symptoms in females
Frothy, foul-smelling discharge
Soreness and itching of the vulva and the inner thighs (often most noticeable near or during menstruation)
Pain when urinating
Unusual frequency of urination
Intercourse may be difficult or impossible
Symptoms in males
Discomfort inside the penis
Slight wetness at the end of the penis
Mild itch
Redness of the penis
Discomfort during urination
Pain during intercourse
Slight urethral discharge
Uncircumcised men may notice a discharge from under the foreskin
For males, these symptoms often disappear spontaneously. For females, however, once symptoms appear, they seldom go away by themselves.
HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE TRICH?
Many people do not know they have a trich infection. The only sure way to know is to be tested. Diagnosis of trich most often results from females, since they usually require medical attention due to the presence of bothersome symptoms. Detecting the infection can be as simple as a vaginal smear taken and examined in a doctor’s office. This test reveals trich even when there are no symptoms.
-2-
HOW CAN I PROTECT AGAINST TRICH?
Sexual abstinence (not having sex) is the best way to protect against trich. Several other ways to lower the risk of getting this STD include the following.
Practice monogamy (having sex only with a non-infected partner who has sex only with you)
Properly use a latex condom throughout the sexual encounter
Use spermicidal foams and jellies in addition to condoms for added protection
Urinate a few minutes after sex to wash away germs
Wash the hands and genitals immediately after sex to remove germs