Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that affects both women and men, and causes symptoms such as genital discharge, itching and burning sensation and urinary urgency.
This disease is caused by the protozoan Trichomonas vaginalis and can be diagnosed by performing a physical examination and laboratory tests. This is a disease that has a cure, and your treatment can be done using antibiotic medicines like Metronidazole or Tinidazole.
Main Symptoms
Some of the main symptoms of trichomoniasis in women include:
- White, gray, yellow or green vaginal discharge with unpleasant odor;
- Small vaginal bleeding;
- Genital redness and urinary urgency;
- Vaginal itching and burning sensation;
- Pain to urinate.
In addition, trichomoniasis can also cause pain during intimate contact, which tends to be quite uncomfortable. See what to do to relieve some of the symptoms in How to relieve symptoms and cure trichomoniasis.
In men, a smaller variety of symptoms are generally observed, including:
- Foul-smelling discharge;
- Urinary urgency;
- Itching and burning sensation while urinating and during ejaculation.
The sensed symptoms can vary from person to person, being common there are no symptoms. In addition, after the infection, the disease may take between 5 to 28 days to manifest the first symptoms.
How the Diagnosis is done
The diagnosis of trichomoniasis should be made by the gynecologist or urologist, through a physical examination, which should be complemented with laboratory tests that allow the identification of Trichomonas vaginalis . For this, during the physical examination the doctor will collect samples, such as sample of the discharge for example, which are then analyzed in the laboratory.
The symptoms of trichomoniasis can easily be confused with the symptoms caused by other sexually transmitted diseases, and therefore the medical examination always needs to be supplemented with laboratory tests.
How is the treatment?
Treatment of this disease can be done by using antibiotics such as Metronidazole or Tinidazole, which allow the elimination of the microorganism from the body, curing the disease.
As this is a sexually transmitted disease, it is advisable to avoid sexual contact throughout the treatment and up to a week after it is finished. In addition, it is also recommended that all sexual partners consult a doctor, since even if they do not have symptoms, there is a possibility that they may have contracted the disease. Learn more about trichomoniasis treatment.
