Trichomoniasis

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Symptoms

By Mayo Clinic staff

Many women and most men with trichomoniasis have no symptoms, at least not at first. Trichomoniasis signs and symptoms for women include:

  • A profuse and often foul-smelling vaginal discharge — which may be white, gray, yellow or green
  • Genital redness, burning and itching
  • Pain with urination or sexual intercourse

Signs and symptoms may worsen during menstruation. But some women who have trichomoniasis don't have any symptoms. Men who have trichomoniasis rarely exhibit symptoms, but when they do, it's usually painful urination.

When to see a doctor
See your doctor if you have a foul-smelling vaginal discharge or if you experience pain with urination or sexual intercourse.

References
  1. Eckert LO, et al. Vaginitis. Katz VL, et al. Comprehensive Gynecology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/168081625-3/0/1524/148.html?tocnode=53759486&fromURL=148.html. Accessed Jan. 10, 2012.
  2. Weller PF. Protozoal intestinal infections and trichomoniasis. In: Longo DL, et al. Harrison's Online. 18th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2012. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=9125604. Accessed Jan. 10, 2012.
  3. John CC, et al. Trichomoniasis (Trichomonas vaginalis). In: Kliegman RM, et al. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 19th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2011. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4377-0755-7..00276-1&isbn=978-1-4377-0755-7&sid=1252646240&uniqId=311328796-5#4-u1.0-B978-1-4377-0755-7..00276-1. Accessed Jan. 10, 2012.
  4. Trichomoniasis fact sheet. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/STD/Trichomonas/STDFact-Trichomoniasis.htm. Accessed Jan. 3, 2012.
  5. Bachman LH, et al. Trichonomas vaginalis genital infections: Progress and challenges. Clinical Infectious Diseases. 2011;53:S160.
  6. Harp DF, et al. Trichomoniasis: Evaluation to execution. European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology. 2011;157:3.
  7. Moon KT. Rapid antigen testing vs. wet mount for detecting T. vaginalis. American Family Physician. 2008;77:686.
DS01163 May 3, 2012

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