Trichomoniasis is an infection that affects many women, and it’s characterized by a foul smell in the genital region due to a gooey vaginal discharge. It is a sexually transmitted disease that’s common among women. At times, this disease is also termed as fish fanny syndrome and trich, and it’s a curable disease that is caused by a protozoan parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis. This disease mainly affects women, although in rare cases men might be affected too.
Under this disease, the urogenital tract gets infected and the problem mainly centers on the vagina and urethra. This is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases and it affects around 7.4 million people every year (including men and women).
Causes of Trichomoniasis
Trichomonas vaginalis is the parasite that causes this infection, and this is a single celled parasite that puts all host cells under mechanical stress. The cell fragments are later ingested by this parasite, once it causes cell death.
On a worldwide scale, the parasite affects 174 million people, and this makes it the most common sexually transmitted disease (that’s curable in nature). The parasites reproduce every eight to twelve hours, and they are invisible to the naked eye, with a size of 15 mm.
Women are more likely to be affected by this infection than men, and this may be because of the presence of zinc in their prostatic fluid. Zinc can hamper the growth of trichomonads, and the presence of zinc in the fluid can bring down the risk of infection in men.
This disease can be transmitted through two ways – through sexual contact and genital contact. There are rumors abound that this infection can also be transmitted through toilet seats, although these haven’t been scientifically proven yet. Apart from vaginal intercourse, direct contact between the genital regions can also cause trichomoniasis.
Symptoms of Trichomoniasis
The symptoms associated with this disease can vary between men and women. Women experience the following symptoms during the onset of trichomoniasis:
- An itching sensation in the vaginal region
- A burning sensation in the inner reaches
- Inflammation in the urethra, vagina
- Inflammation in the cervix
- Discomfort during urination
- Discomfort during sexual intercourse
- Dyspareunia and painful sensation in the genital region
Women may also experience a foul smelling discharge from their genital region during this time, and this discharge will normally be frothy and yellow-green in color. The symptoms of this disease are more pronounced in women than in men, and they start showing anywhere between five to twenty eight days of contracting the infection. A third of women who suffer from trichomoniasis will hardly notice any symptoms, though.
Men experience far lesser symptoms than women, and for this reason, this infection in men goes vastly ignored. Some minor symptoms that men with trichomoniasis experience are:
- Pain during urination
- Painful urethral discharge
- Any form of pain in the scrotum (or even swelling)
You should consult your physician immediately after identifying the primary symptoms, which are vaginal discharge and vaginal itching. Trichomoniasis is a treatable condition that’s one of the few STDs that have a cure, and the faster you detect this infection, the sooner you can return to normalcy.
The Need for Proper Diagnosis
Trichomoniasis should be immediately diagnosed and treated as it can expose you to other infections.
- People with trichomoniasis are more prone to HIV than others
- Premature babies are born to people who suffer from trichomoniasis, and in some cases, the infant can be underweight as well
- Your risk of contracting cervical cancer will increase if you’re infected with trichomoniasis
- In males, prostate cancer is more common among people who are affected by trichomoniasis
Diagnosis of Trichomoniasis
Trichomoniasis can be diagnosed by running a pelvic examination and doctors normally observe the behavior of the trichomonads under a microscope. A speculum is first inserted into the vagina of the affected individual and a sample is collected with the help of cotton tipped applicator. This sample is taken to the lab to be analyzed under a microscope, and it is tested for trichomoniasis.
Since this condition leads to other sexually transmitted infections, it’s normal for physicians to run a routine check for other infections when a person tests positive for trichomoniasis. Sexually transmitted diseases that physicians look for include HIV, gonorrhea, syphilis, and Chlamydia.
Treatment of Trichomoniasis
Trichomoniasis is treated through the use of antibiotics and alternative types of medicine. Metronidazole is a popular drug that’s used in the treatment of trichomoniasis, and this drug can be provided to both non pregnant and pregnant women.
Women should ensure that they undergo treatment after consulting with a doctor, as this is the only way through which they can get rid of the infection. The infection is released from the system after a period of 14 days in the case of men, so they need not take immediate measures. Learning more about this disease can be useful for women in the long run as they can avoid such STDs and the effects that they bring along.
