All about Trichomoniasis

Trichomoniasis is a fairly widespread infection with a very high transmissibility, affecting, at same time both sexes, about 30% of sexually active women and 25% of sexually active men.

This condition is part of the so-called low infection. Trichomoniasis is the disease fow which women most often seek medical advice - one third of women went to the doctor for consultation complaining of symptoms related to vulvovaginal infections.

From the beginning it should be noted that vulvar and vaginal infections are almost never isolated only to vulva or vagina, they coexist and for this reason they develop together. Evolution of trichomoniasis depends on incriminated pathogen as well as vaginal environment.

Pathogens:

- Microbial;

- Fungal;

- Parasitic;

- Mixed.

50% of women notice a normal vaginal discharge (whitish, thick as buttermilk, very acidic). Instead, pathological secretion is slightly acid, sometimes alkaline, yellow or green, or aerated fluid, like a foam.

Diagnosis

History must specify the following:

- Date of onset of the disorders;

- Characteristics of the secretions: abundance, appearance, odor, variations during the menstrual cycle;

- Circumstances of occurrence - after intercourse (sexually transmitted trichomoniasis);

- After a gynecological exploration.

- Associated functional signs - vulvar or vaginal pruritus (itching);

- Burning;

- pelvic pain

- Dyspareunia;

- Dysuria and urinary frequency (frequent urination and burning).

Gynecological exam - will be performed outside the menstruation period, without prior excessive hygene (at least 12 hours after external toilet and three days after the introduction of eggs into the vagina).

In addition to local signs - trichomoniasis can also produce general signs:

- Asthenia;

- Lymph nodes;

- biliary pain.

Transmission is done primarily through sexual contact.

Nonsexual transmission is almost nonexistent - except the transmission from mother to newborn.

In exceptional cases is admitted that the disease can be transmitted through water and toiletries.

This infection is recognized by vaginal secretion - abundant, greenish gray, fluid, foam, aerated - which can be accentuated after menstruation and accompanied by a persistent vaginal pruritus (itching).

The vagina may have edemas, leading to installation of painful intercourse.

Diagnosis is made by a microscopic examination of vaginal secretions, or urethral secretions or in difficult cases, the examination of urine cultures.

The risk of infection increases if:

- Not using a condom during sex with a new partner or a partner who was allegedly exposed to STDs. The parasite can be transmitted even if the person infected have no symptoms

- you have multiple sex partners, which increase the risk of exposure to sexually transmitted diseases. Teenagers and young adults have higher risk of pelvic infection and other STDs because their sex partners often have had other partners before that could be infected.