Trichomoniasis
Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted disease caused by a parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis. It is also known as “trich” commonly. Sexually active individuals are at greater risk of trichomoniasis as it is transferred during intimate or unprotected intercourse.
Causes
In Women
A woman can get trich if her sex partner is suffering from this or vice versa. This infection is mostly found in the lower genital tract which includes the vulva, vagina, urethra, or cervix.
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In Men
If we talk about men, the infection is found inside the penis; the urethra. During intercourse, if not protected, this infection can transfer from a vagina to a penis, from a penis to a vagina, and also from a vagina to another vagina.
Symptoms
Symptoms of trichomoniasis are not so clear to be diagnosed at early stages. Almost 70% of people suffering from this disease do not have any single symptom and it is unclear yet why it happens, but it is guessed that it is because of age factor or overall health. Talking about symptoms can be from a very mild rash to even severe inflammation of affected parts.
In Men
In men, these symptoms are
- Unusual irritation or itching in the penis
- Burning after ejaculation and urination
- Unusual discharge from the penis
In women
The following symptoms appear in women
- Rash on the genitals
- Irritation during peeing
- Transparent white or greenish or yellowish discharge from the vagina with foul smelling
- Discomfort around lower ribs
During sexual intercourse, partners feel uncomfortable or uneasy if they have trichomoniasis.
Risk Factors
It is not clearly stated by any expert or professional that sexually active people are only supposed to get trichomoniasis. But the fact is that there is a greater risk for them to get this infection who
- Do not use condoms during sex
- Have more than one sex partner
- Have got trichomoniasis once in a life
- Have a history of any sexually transmitted disease
Facts
This infection is spread through a single-celled protozoan, that’s called a parasite. The exact incubation period is not known, however, it is estimated from 4 to 28 days. Even if not having symptoms, the carriers of this parasite can spread infection through intercourse. There are so many complications caused by this infection.
Pregnant women, if they have this infection can suffer from delivery complications and might transfer the infection to newborn babies. This infection if once happens can lead to severe diseases like AIDS or other STDs that can ultimately lead to more complications. If not treated well, this infection can last from months to years.
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Prevention
Preventive measures one can take to avoid this infection is well-protected sex and better to not have sex if the partner has trich.
- Be careful during sexual intercourse.
- External or internal condoms should be used properly every time when having sex.
- There should not be any kind of gap between the health care provider and the patient to get proper guidance from professionals.
- Everyone should take care of hygiene, but people who are infected should be more cautious about it.
- The most effective way to avoid it is to not have sex with an infected person until he/she gets treated completely
Treatment
Timely treatment should be done to avoid severe infection and should communicate openly to health providers. Often antibiotics such as Metronidazole are often prescribed – 500 mg 2 times/day for 7 days for women and 2 g orally in a single dose for men (Source) or Tinidazole 2g orally for both. Source
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