Trichomoniasis: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment of this STD

A very common sexually transmitted disease that fortunately has a cure.

Despite the fact that today there is a great deal of information regarding sexually transmitted diseases and infections, these types of disorders continue to be spectacularly frequent in the population around the world.

Some, such as HIV-AIDS, remain an epidemic that kills or greatly alters the lives of millions of people and have no curative treatment. Others, fortunately, can be cured, although they are often socially underestimated. One of the latter is trichomoniasis, which we are going to mention here.of which we are going to mention in this article.

One of the most common STDs: trichomoniasis

Trichomoniasis is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases (or STDs), despite not being one of the most sociallydespite the fact that it is not one of the most socially known.

This disease is caused by a protozoan parasite that is transmitted through vaginal sex and infects the genitourinary tract. Trichomoniasis may or may not have obvious symptoms, often going unnoticed by the person concerned. In fact, this is what happens in about seven out of ten cases.

Between infection or contagion and the onset of possible symptoms there is an incubation period of between five and twenty-eight days. It can appear in both men and women, although in the former it is usually asymptomatic. Symptoms are often so mild that they are confused with other problems, and may appear and disappear intermittently.

When symptoms do occur, it should be noted that first of all, one of the possible alterations generated by this disease is the appearance of inflammations such as vulvitis, vaginitis or urethritis.It is also common for abnormal secretions to appear.

In women it is common for trichomoniasis to generate discomfort, burning and Pain in the genitals when urinating or having sexual intercourse, along with possible secretions generally greenish or yellowish in color and foul-smelling. Dysuria or difficulty urinating, bleeding and macules on the surface of the vagina are also present.

In the case of men, in the few cases in which symptoms occur, there is pain and burning when urinating or ejaculating, difficulty urinating or dysuria and the need to urinate many times during the morning. Purulent discharge from the penis may also appear. Occasionally it can generate inflammation of the prostate..

Possible complications

In either case, and especially in the case of women, trichomoniasis can have relevant health repercussions.

In pregnant women, it has been seen that it can cause prematurity and low birth weight in the newborn, and the disease can even be transmitted to the fetus.

Likewise, in both sexes, it facilitates the appearance of wounds and the transmission or contagion of other venereal diseases, including HIV. In fact, it is not uncommon for this infection to appear together with other infections such as gonorrhea.

Causes and transmission of this disease

Trichomoniasis is a disease caused by the infestation of a parasitic protozoan called Trichomonas vaginalisand is contracted through unprotected sexual intercourse.

The parasite is usually transmitted through vaginal penetration. It is not limited to heterosexual sex, but can also be transmitted during same-sex intercourse (it can also pass from vulva to vulva without penetration). It can also be transmitted by sharing sex toys or by handling one's own or another's genitals after touching infected fluids.

However, it is at least infrequent that the infection is transmitted through anal or oral sex, usually not affecting the mouth or anus. Casual contact, sitting on the same toilet, eating or drinking from the same cup, or contact with saliva through kissing or sneezing are also not routes of transmission of this disease.

In addition to all of the above, it should be noted that it is very easy and common for a person with this disease to infect his or her partner, and that even if treated, he or she can still infect his or her partner.and that even if treated, he/she can be reinfected by it. In this regard, it is essential that when trichomoniasis is detected, both the person and his or her sexual partner(s) are treated.

Treatment

Fortunately, trichomoniasis is a disease that can be treated effectively and is easily curable. Specifically, treatment is based on prescribing and taking antibiotics..

One of the most common is tinidazole, which eliminates and prevents the multiplication of the protozoan that causes the disease (it is also used in other venereal diseases). The other is metronidazole, which can be prescribed in cream or tablets. There are versions in which one dose of the drug is sufficient, although daily doses may be required. The disease usually subsides about a week after starting treatment, although improvement in symptoms may be seen as early as the second day.

As indicated above, it is essential that the treatment be carried out by both partners at the same time. Sexual contact should be avoided until the causative microorganism has disappeared.. Alcohol and other substances should also be avoided, since they interfere with the drug's functioning.

In any case, the easiest way to avoid possible diseases such as this is in prevention, using prophylaxis such as condoms or other barrier methods.

Bibliographic references

• Center for Disease Control and Prevention (n.d.). Trichomoniasis: CDC fact sheet. [Online]. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/std/spanish/tricomoniasis/stdfact-trichomoniasis-s.ht.
• Hobbs, M., Seña, E.C., Swygard H. & Schwebke, J. (2008) Trichomonas vaginalis and Trichomoniasis. In: KK Holmes, PF Sparling, WE Stamm, P Piot, JN Wasserheit, L Corey, MS Cohen, DH Watts (editors). Sexually Transmitted Diseases, 4th edition. New York: McGraw-Hill, 771-793.