Trichomonas vaginalis was always a favorite find in the days when scientists performed microscopic wet mount preparations of urine samples in microbiology. If the urine was really fresh, and the unlucky patient had a T. vaginalis infection, you could often find viable, motile T. vaginalis cells flipping across the microscope slide.
T. vaginalis looks very much like a white blood cell when nonviable: in order to identify as T. vaginalis on a wet prep, the organism had to be motile so that you could detect the difference between a white blood cells, suggestive of a urinary tract infection, and the parasite T. vaginalis. The characteristic that allowed a presumptive identification by microscopic assessment was the presence of flagella: white blood cells do not have flagella and are not motile; whereas, T. vaginalis in a fresh urine should exhibit both of these features.
T. vaginalis is a pathogen that can be found infecting both men and women: in men the organism causes urethritis, and in women it is usually causes vaginitis. Trichomoniasis (T. vaginalis infection) is a common sexually transmitted infection, although symptoms are more common in women than men. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that T. vaginalis is responsible for approximately 7.4 million cases of infection each year in the U.S.
T. vaginalis is a single-celled protozoan parasite that is most often transmitted sexually during male/female intercourse, or female/female vulva to vulva (exterior region of the vagina) contact. Whereas women can acquire trichomoniasis from men or women, men usually contract infection only from women.
Men are often asymptomatic and because of this can pass the infection unknowingly. Women are more likely to be symptomatic than men. Symptoms can occur as early as 5 days following exposure, or as late as 28 days following exposure.
The symptoms of trichomoniasis include the following:
- Frothy yellow/green vaginal discharge with a strong odor
- Discomfort during intercourse and urination
- Irritation and itching of the female genital region
Rarely, trichomoniasis is associated with lower abdominal pain.
There is evidence to suggest that individuals with trichomoniasis have a greater chance of contracting HIV infection during sexual contact with an HIV-infected partner.
Diagnosis is generally made based on symptoms and the presence of T. vaginalis cells on smears prepared from vaginal discharge.
Trichomoniasis is relatively easy to treat: a single dose of metronidazole is usually effective in clearing infection, although it may take a few weeks before symptoms to clear. Therefore, abstinence during this period is recommended to prevent transmission of the parasite to sexual partners. To prevent reinfection by an infected partner who may be asymptomatic, both partners should be treated. Infection does not prevent against reinfection: if you have had trichomoniasis, you are just as likely to contract it in the future during sexual contact with an infected partner.
The best way to prevent contracting trichomoniasis is to abstain from sexual contact, although condoms when used consistently and correctly can reduce the chances of acquiring trichomoniasis.
If you have symptoms suggestive of trichomoniasis, abstain from sexual contact, consult your physician, and if diagnosed with trichomoniasis, inform your sexual contacts that they should abstain from sexual contact with others and seek treatment.
