Trichomoniasis
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Trichomoniasis is a protozoal infection of the genitals — you might hear people call it trike.
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What is trichomoniasis?
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Trichomoniasis is a protozoal infection of the genitals. Protozoal infections are caused by tiny parasites.
You can get trichomoniasis from having unprotected vaginal sex, anal sex, oral sex, or close skin to skin contact with someone. Unprotected sex is when you have sex without a condom or an oral dam.
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What are the symptoms of trichomoniasis?
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Some people with trichomoniasis have no symptoms — that’s why regular STI testing is so important!
Symptoms of trichomoniasis are:
- Strong smelling frothy discharge from your vagina or penis
- Itching and irritation around your vulva and vagina
- Pain when you mimi
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How is trichomoniasis tested for?
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The only way to find out for sure if you have trichomoniasis is to get an STI test.
If you have no symptoms of trichomoniasis:
- You can do a self-taken swab, or provide a urine sample for testing
- You won’t need to have an examination
If you have symptoms of trichomoniasis, a nurse or doctor will:
- Perform an external or internal examination to see if there are any visible signs of infection
- Take a sample from the infected area using a swab
Your test sample will be sent to a laboratory for testing. You should be contacted with your test result within a week.
Make an appointment with us — we can test for trichomoniasis.
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How is trichomoniasis treated?
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Trichomoniasis is easy to treat with an antibiotic. One of our nurses or doctors can help with testing and antibiotic prescription.
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How do you protect yourself from trichomoniasis?
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Condoms, oral dams, and lube are good protection against trichomoniasis and other STIs.
Lots of STIs don’t have obvious symptoms — so it’s important to get tested for STIs before and after unprotected sex, or anytime you have sex with a new person.
If you’re having sex with several people — or the person you have sex with is having sex with several people — talk to us about how often you should be screened for trichomoniasis and other STIs.
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What do I need to do if I get trichomoniasis?
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If you find out that you have trichomoniasis, there are a few important things that you need to do:
- Get treatment. Make an appointment with us — one of our nurses or doctors will help you
- It’s much better not to have sex until 7 days have passed since you finished your antibiotic treatment for trichomoniasis
- It’s a good idea to use condoms or oral dams if you do have sex
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