Trichomonas Infection
Trichomonas vaginalis, also known as TV is a sexually transmitted infection caused by a protozoa, which is a small organism. It mainly causes infection in the vagina, but can live for a short time in the penile urethra (water pipe).
How it’s caught
Trichomonas infection spreads through unprotected sex and the sharing of sex toys. Many people have no symptoms and do not know they have trichomonas. This means you or your partner could have picked up this infection from a previous partner without their knowledge.
Symptoms
Symptoms include increased vaginal discharge, genital itching and soreness. Almost half of people with trichomonas will not experience any symptoms at all.
Testing
Testing for trichomonas is done with a swab or occasionally a urine sample
Treatment
Trichomonas is treated with antibiotics.
It is important that partners are tested and given treatment if needed.
It is important to abstain from sex until you (and your partner, if needed) have completed treatment and your symptoms have gone away.
