Trichomonas Vaginalis - How Can You Prevent It?

Trichomonas vaginalis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI). It is sometimes referred to as trichomonas or trichomoniasis, or shortened to TV. The term trichomonas is used here. 

If you are suffering from trichomonas vaginalis, it is important for you to know about protecting yourself against this condition. Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that is caused by an organism known as trichomonas vaginalis. This disease is more common in women than in men. Men too can get infected and pass on the infection to their sexual partners.

Signs & Symptoms-

Up to half of infected men and women will not have any signs or symptoms at all. Signs and symptoms usually show up within a month of coming into contact with trichomonas. You might notice:

Women

1. Soreness, inflammation and itching in and around the vagina. This can cause discomfort when having sex.
2. A change in vaginal discharge – there may be a small amount or a lot, and it may be thick or thin, or frothy and yellow. You may also notice a strong smell that may be unpleasant.
3. Pain when passing urine.

Men

1. A discharge from the penis, which may be thin and whitish.
2. Pain, or a burning sensation, when passing urine.
3. Inflammation of the foreskin (this is uncommon).

Diagnosis
A physical examination and certain laboratory tests are carried out for the diagnosis of trichomonas’s. Tests are carried out on a sample of the vaginal fluid to find out disease-causing parasites. It is harder to detect the parasite in men, than in women.

Treatment
Commonly, a certain oral antibiotic is prescribed for treating trichomonas’s. It is the only medicine used for this purpose, but should be avoided by pregnant women. If you are infected, your partner should also be treated at the same time for the prevention of reinfection and further spreading. If you are undergoing treatment for trichomonas’s, it is advised that you avoid having sex until the treatment gets over and all symptoms get eliminated. You should take your medicine even if you improve and after the symptoms are gone. A retest should be carried out after three months to know about the infection’s status.

Prevention
You can prevent or protect yourself from trichomonas’s vaginalis by taking the following steps:

• Have protected sex by using condoms every time.
• Sexual abstinence or limiting your sexual contact to one partner is recommended.
• Avoid sexual contact if you think you are affected.

You should consult a doctor on experiencing any genital symptoms such as burning urination, discharge, and the development of sores or rashes. Also, you must stop having sex with anyone after experiencing these symptoms.