Trichomoniasis

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on May 4, 2025.

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What is trichomoniasis?

Trichomoniasis is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI). It is spread between people during sex or genital contact. Trichomoniasis is caused by tiny parasites that are too small to be seen.

What are the signs and symptoms of trichomoniasis?

You may not have any symptoms. You are still able to spread the infection to your partner, even if you have no symptoms. If you have symptoms, they usually appear 5 to 28 days after you were exposed. If young children and teenagers get trichomoniasis, it may be a sign of sexual abuse. Tell a healthcare provider immediately if you suspect sexual abuse. One or more of the following may develop:

• In females:
  • Green or yellow discharge from your vagina that smells bad
  • Vaginal itching or pain
  • Pain when you urinate and the urge to urinate often
  • Lower abdominal pain or pain during sex
• In males:
  • Itching, irritation, burning, or pain in your penis during or after urinating or ejaculating
  • Clear, or white or yellow discharge from your penis

How is trichomoniasis diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider will ask questions about your symptoms and sexual history. Tell your provider if you have a history of STIs. Your provider will examine your genitals. You may need the following:

• A pelvic exam is also called an internal or vaginal exam. Your provider will gently put a warmed speculum into your vagina. A speculum is a tool that opens your vagina. Your provider will look to see if you have red patches on your cervix or vagina. This may mean you have trichomoniasis.
• A culture or smear test is used to take a sample of discharge from your penis or vagina to be tested.

How is trichomoniasis treated?

You will need to take antibiotics to treat the parasite infection, even if you have no symptoms. Tell your sex partners that you have trichomoniasis. Anyone you have had sex with recently must also be treated. If your partner is not treated, they may give the infection back to you or infect someone else. Take your medicine as ordered until it is completely gone, even if you feel better. Do not have sex until both you and your partner have taken all your medicine, and your symptoms are gone. Ask your healthcare provider when it is safe to have sex again.

Treatment options

The following list of medications are related to or used in the treatment of this condition.

• metronidazole
• Flagyl
• Flagyl 375
• Tindamax
• Flagyl IV

View more treatment options

How can I prevent another trichomoniasis infection?

You can get trichomoniasis more than 1 time. Ask your healthcare provider for more information about the following safe sex practices:

• Limit your number of sex partners. This will help lower your risk for another trichomoniasis infection and other STIs.
• Use a male or female condom during sex. This includes oral, genital, or anal sex. Use a new condom each time. Condoms help prevent pregnancy and STIs. Use latex condoms, if possible. Lambskin (also called sheepskin or natural membrane) condoms do not protect against STIs. A polyurethane condom can be used if there is an allergy to latex. Condoms should be used with a second form of birth control to help prevent pregnancy and STIs. Male and female condoms should not be used together.
• Get tested for STIs regularly if you are sexually active. You should get tested 1 time a year, or after a new sex partner. Get tested if you have sex without a condom. This includes oral, genital, or anal sex.
• Do not have sex with someone who has an STI. This includes oral, vaginal, and anal sex.
• Do not have sex while you or your partner are being treated. Ask your provider when it is safe to have sex.

Drugs used to treat this and similar conditions

What are the risks of trichomoniasis?

Trichomoniasis increases the risk that other STIs, including HIV, will be spread from person to person. Tell your healthcare provider if you know or think you are pregnant. A trichomoniasis infection can be dangerous if you are pregnant. It may cause your water to break too soon, or your baby to be born too early or too small.

Where can I find support and more information?

• Division of STD Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  1600 Clifton Rd.
  Atlanta , GA 30333
  Phone: 1- 800 - 232-4636
  Web Address: http://www.cdc.gov/std
  

• American Social Health Association (ASHA)
  P.O. Box 13827
  Research Triangle Park , NC 27709
  Web Address: http://www.ashastd.org
  

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