Trichomonas Infection

Basic facts:

• Trichomonas infection is an STI transmitted during anal, oral, or vaginal sex.
• Many men and women who have this infection have no symptoms, but they can still pass the infection to others.

Symptoms:

• In men, urethral discharge
• Unusual vaginal discharge
• Burning or pain during urination
• Itching or tingling in the genital area

Complications:

• In pregnant women, trichomonas infection can cause early labor and delivery.

Prevention of transmission to others and repeat infections:

• An infected client should inform all sexual partners he or she has had in the last month about the infection (if possible) and encourage them to come to the clinic for more information and treatment—even if a partner does not have any symptoms—to avoid reinfection. Remind the client that if a sexual partner does not get treated, the client can get the infection again.
• An infected client should avoid sex (1) until treatment is completed (for seven days if one-dose therapy is used) to make sure he or she does not pass the infection to others, and (2) until after any partner completes treatment (or for seven days if one-dose therapy is used) so he or she does not get infected again. If abstinence is not possible, the client should use a male or female condom during anal, oral, or vaginal sex.

If you prescribe metronidazole or tinidazole to treat the infection, tell clients that the drug can make them very sick if they drink alcohol (beer, liquor, or wine) during treatment. To prevent this, they should not drink any alcohol until 24 hours have passed since taking the last dose.

© 2007 EngenderHealth