What is Trichomoniasis

Trichomoniasis is also referred to as 'Trich' as a short way of saying it, or as the fishy fanny syndrome. You will know the reason why, as you proceed with this article!. It is a sexually transmitted disease which is considered to be more contagious than most other STDs. This disease can spread even with a touch source which consists of the protozoa called Trichomonas vaginalis. As compared to men, women are more prone to getting infected by this protist and develop Trichomoniasis. This is so because a woman's anatomy is more suited to the single celled organism, the Trichomonas vaginalis, which likes to live in the moist and dark regions of the body. Therefore, women tend to develop more symptoms when dealing with this disease, while men generally don't experience any symptoms.

Symptoms of Trichomoniasis

The symptoms appear within 6 months from being infected! Mentioned below are the symptoms of this disease, mentioned in brief.

• Itchiness in the genitals
• A burning sensation in the genital area.
• A thick yellow, white, gray or green discharge from the vagina.
• Fowl smell from the discharge
• Pain while urination
• Pain during sexual intercourse
• Redness in the genital area.

Causes of Trichomoniasis

The main cause of getting infected by this disease is the transmission of the Trichomonas Vaginalis, which is one celled protozoa that travels from the body of one person to another through sexual intercourse. As mentioned earlier, the symptoms show within the first 6 months, but the infection may start within 5 to 28 days from the day the protozoa enters your body!

What is the Treatment for Trichomoniasis

When it comes to the treatment of Trichomoniasis, both the partners should be treated as there are high chances of the infection to have transmitted to the other partner as well during intercourse. A mega-dose of Flagyl is what is used to treat Trichomoniasis. You can also take a mega-dose pill of tinidazole as an alternative. Both of these medications work fine to kill the protozoa and treat the infection. There are also many medicated gels and creams which can be inserted in the vagina in order to cure the infection! However, taking oral medication is always a better choice! While taking the treatment for Trichomoniasis, it is best to avoid having unprotected sex, so make sure to always use a condom! Once under the treatment, it takes about a week for the infection to cure completely. A point to be kept in mind is that if you are consuming tinidazole to treat the infection, then you must refrain from drinking alcohol for the next 72 hours, after consuming the dose. This can lead to severe side effects which include nausea, headache, vomiting, dizziness, and a metallic taste in the tongue.

Trichomoniasis is an STD. Therefore, like all STD conditions, prevention is very important. One must refrain from unprotected sex at all costs. Make sure that you use a condom or a spermicide while indulging in intercourse. Avoid having multiple sex partners or refrain from having sex with people you don't know! Therefore, if you suspect to have this infection, consult your doctor and get the STD testing done to prevent further complications, as a person having this infection is more prone to contracting HIV. So take care of your health and also of your partner's!