According to estimates by the World Health Organization (WHO), around 170 million people worldwide are infected with trichomonads every year.
Trichomonas infection is therefore one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases. Men are less frequently affected by trichomonas than women, who account for 70 percent of new infections with 120 million cases per year. In Germany, infection with trichomonads is not notifiable.
The causative agent of trichomoniasis infection is a parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis. This 25 µm long and 15 µm wide, single-celled flagellate settles in the reproductive organs, especially the vagina of women.
Trichomonads are unicellular parasites that infest the urinary and reproductive tract and can cause inflammation in the affected areas @ timonina /AdobeStock
The parasites prefer a moist environment and a moderately acidic or neutral pH value. They can therefore survive for a long time in the vagina and urethra of women.
In men, the trichomonas pathogen mainly occurs in the urinary tract and prostate. Doctors then also refer to the parasite as Trichomonas urogenitalis.
Trichomonas pathogens are transmitted through direct mucosal contact with an infected person during unprotected sexual intercourse.
People who also have other sexually transmitted diseases such as chlamydia, syphilis or HIV have a high risk of becoming infected with trichomonads .
Infection via the shared use of towels, unchlorinated bath water or a visit to the sauna is possible, but rarely occurs.
It takes one to three weeks from the time of infection with the trichomonas pathogen until the first symptoms appear. This is followed by purulent inflammation of the mucous membranes of the genitals and urinary tract. This is usually accompanied by itching and burning in the genital area as well as an unpleasant smelling discharge.
Women in particular suffer from these characteristic symptoms of an infection with trichomonads.
In women, an infection with trichomonads often leads to inflammation of the vagina and urethra.
These are manifested by
- Severe burning
- Unpleasant itching
- redness
- Swelling in the vaginal area
- Pain when urinating and during sexual intercourse
- Frequent urge to urinate
- Yellowish-green, foamy discharge from the vagina with an unpleasant smell of spoiled fish
- Mild lower abdominal pain
In men, the pathogens settle in the urethra, under the foreskin or in the prostate. There they cause inflammation.
However, infection with trichomonads in men often occurs without any noticeable symptoms. Men are therefore often carriers of the trichomonas pathogens without realizing it.
If the infected man experiences symptoms, they are as follows:
- Slight burning sensation during urination and ejaculation
- Itching in the genital area
- Purulent discharge from the urethra
If you suspect an infection with trichomonads, you should definitely consult a doctor. A specialist in skin and sexually transmitted diseases or a urologist or gynecologist is responsible.
They will first carry out a urological or gynecological examination. The doctor often makes a suspected diagnosis of an infection with trichomonads based on the characteristic symptoms.
The doctor will also take a swab of the man's urethral secretions or the woman's vaginal secretions. This is followed by a microscopic and laboratory examination.
Under the microscope, the trichomonas pathogens can usually be recognized by their pear-like shape, the flagella and their wriggling movement.
Laboratory sample for suspected Trichomonas @ luchschenF /AdobeStock
Treatment is usually carried out with special antibiotics. You can choose from drugs such as
- Metronidazole
- ornidazole
- Tinidazole and
- nimorazole
As a rule, the patient should take these in tablet form over a period of one week. In order to prevent a new mutual infection with trichomonads, the partner should also be treated.
Patients should refrain from sexual intercourse during trichomonas therapy. Once the antibiotic therapy has been completed, the doctor will check whether the trichomonas therapy was successful by means of a control smear test.
With consistent trichomoniasis therapy, the cure rate is very good and is 95 percent.
As there is no immunity after successful treatment, new infections with trichomonads are possible. Untreated trichomonas infections can become chronic and lead to severe inflammation of the reproductive organs.
