Trichomonas Vaginalis (TV) – A Guide

Trichomonas vaginalis: A Guide to Understanding and Managing the Infection

Trichomonas vaginalis is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by a parasite. It can cause discomfort and complications, mostly in women, if left untreated. It’s important to be aware of this infection and take necessary precautions to protect yourself and your sexual partners.

What is Trichomonas vaginalis?

Trichomonas vaginalis is a parasite that infects the genital area, including the vagina in women and the urethra in men. In women, it can also infect the cervix. Many people, particularly men, infected with trichomonas do not experience any symptoms, which makes it easy to unknowingly transmit the infection to others. When symptoms do occur, they can include itching, burning, redness, and an abnormal discharge.

How is Trichomonas Spread?

Trichomonas is primarily spread through sexual contact, including vaginal intercourse. It can also be transmitted through sharing contaminated sex toys. In rare cases, transmission can occur through contact with damp or moist objects, such as wet towels or clothing.

How Can I Prevent Trichomonas?

Practicing safe sex is crucial for preventing trichomonas and other STIs. Here are some steps you can take:

1. Use condoms consistently and correctly during sexual activity, including vaginal intercourse.
2. Limit your number of sexual partners and choose partners who have been tested and treated for STIs.
3. Avoid sharing sex toys. If sharing is unavoidable, make sure to clean them thoroughly between uses or use condoms on the toys and change them between partners.
4. Get tested for STIs regularly, especially if you have multiple sexual partners or engage in high-risk sexual behaviour.

How Can I Get Tested for Trichomonas?

You can get tested for trichomonas at Unity Sexual Health, local community clinics, or your general practitioner (GP). Some clinics or GP’s may not routinely test for Trichomonas, so if you have a local sexual health clinic, such as Unity, it is best to test through those dedicated providers. Testing typically involves a swab of the genital area or a urine sample. It’s important to discuss your concerns and symptoms with a healthcare provider to determine the appropriate testing method.

If I Test Positive for Trichomonas, What Happens Next?

If your test results confirm a trichomonas infection, it’s important to seek treatment promptly. Here’s what you should do:

1. Contact the service where you were tested or your healthcare provider to discuss your results.
2. Treatment for trichomonas usually involves a course of antibiotics, such as metronidazole, which can effectively eliminate the infection.
3. Follow your healthcare provider’s instructions regarding medication dosage and duration. It’s important to complete the full course of treatment, even if symptoms improve or disappear.
4. Inform your current and recent sexual partners about your diagnosis, so they can get tested and receive treatment if necessary. This helps prevent reinfection and the spread of trichomonas.
5. In some uncommon cases, you may need further or extended treatment if symptoms persist.

Partner Notification for Trichomonas

If you test positive for trichomonas, it’s important to notify your sexual partners so that they can get tested and treated as well. Use various methods to communicate this information, such as face-to-face conversations, phone calls, emails, social media messages, or text messages. Being honest and providing them with testing and treatment information is crucial to protect their health. Health Advisers at Unity can assist in contacting partners if you struggle to do so yourself.

Here are some tips for talking to your partners about your diagnosis:

1. Be honest and direct about your diagnosis.
2. Let your partners know when you were last tested and what the results were.
3. Inform them that they can get tested for free at a sexual health clinic.
4. Offer to help your partners get tested and provide support throughout the process.
5. Remember, you are ultimately looking out for their ongoing health as well as reducing your own risk of re-infection if they are a regular partner.

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