Trichomoniasis is a common sexually transmitted infection that affects both women and men, although manifestations are more common in women.

The disease is caused by a single-celled protozoan - Trichomonas vaginalis. In women, the vagina is most often affected, in men - the urinary canal (urethra). The pathogen is transmitted through genital contact (penis - vagina, vagina - vagina) from infected partners. Women get infected from infected men or women, men from infected women. Trichomonas can be transmitted from an infected mother to a child at birth.

Manifestations of trichomoniasis

Symptoms in men:

* burning sensation in the urinary tract;

* unpleasant sensations (burning) after urination and ejaculation;

* slight whitish discharge from the penis.

Symptoms in women:

* foamy yellow-green discharge from the vagina with a sharp unpleasant (fishy) smell;

* pain or discomfort during sexual intercourse or urination;

* burning and itching in the area of the outlet of the urethra and labia;

* frequent urination;

* pain in the lower abdomen is rarely observed.

Usually, the disease in women manifests itself 5-28 days after sexual contact with a sick person.

Complications of trichomoniasis

Inflammation of the genitals in women caused by trichomonas increases the risk of HIV infection if sexual contact occurs with an infected person. In turn, an HIV-infected woman with trichomoniasis has a high chance of infecting her sexual partners with HIV infection.

Complications of trichomoniasis in men rarely develop. Inflammation of the prostate gland (prostatitis) and inflammation of the bladder (cystitis) may occur.

The effect of trichomonads on a pregnant woman and her child:

Trichomoniasis in pregnant women increases the risk of premature birth, inflammation and premature placental abruption. Newborns from infected mothers have a low body weight.

Diagnosis of trichomoniasis:

Diagnosis includes observation of clinical symptoms in men and women, examination for trichomonas of smears from the cervix, scraping from the urinary canal, the first morning portion of urine. It is more difficult to diagnose trichomoniasis in men. When examining women, hemorrhages are detected on the walls of the vagina or on the cervix. Most often, the study is carried out by PCR (polymerase chain reaction). Often trichomonas is detected by ordinary microscopic examination. Smears and scrapings can cause minor discomfort. Since trichomonas is often combined with other STIs, it is necessary to be examined for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV infection.