You may not have heard of Trichomonas vaginalis (also known as trichomoniasis), but if you have had unprotected sex, the chances are you may have come into contact with it. It is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections, and is sometimes shortened to TV. This disease affects the sexual health of thousands of people in the UK, and is caused by a miniscule protozoan parasite.
This sexually-transmitted infection can have a number of unpleasant effects on your wellness, and you are at risk of catching it if you have unprotected sex with someone who is infected with the disease. It is passed from person to person during sex, and the cells then infest the urethra in men and the vagina and urethra in women. It can also be passed on by sharing sex toys.
A pregnant mother with the disease can affect the wellbeing of her baby, as the infection can be passed from mother to baby as the baby passes through the birth canal, in order to be born.
The reason that the disease is so common is that up to half of the women and men affected have no symptoms whatsoever. They then, unknowingly, spread the disease further. When symptoms do occur, they usually manifest as an unusual discharge from the vagina, which may be thin and have an unpleasant odour. They may also feel some pain and inflammation, and have pain when passing urine. Men may also notice an unusual discharge from the penis and feel pain or a burning sensation when passing water. These symptoms can appear up to 21 days after the sexual encounter.
Testing for the disease involves using a swab to collect sample cells and treatment usually comes in the form of oral antibiotics – usually metronidazole, which need to be taken for up to a week.
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