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What Is Trichomoniasis?

Trichomoniasis — an infection from a parasite spread primarily through sexual intercourse — is not serious, but it is contagious. An estimated 7.4 million new cases occur each year in men and women. In most men it does not cause symptoms, which makes it notoriously difficult to diagnose. However, women usually do have symptoms, which may include discomfort that lasts for a week to several months and may be more pronounced right after menstruation or during pregnancy.

Left untreated, the parasite may infect tissues throughout the urinary tract and reproductive system. In men, the infection may spread to the urethra, prostate gland, seminal vesicles and epididymis. In women, vulnerable sites for infection include the vagina, urethra, cervix, bladder and various glands. Women have a greater chance of getting the infection if they use oral contraceptives, are pregnant, or frequently use commercial douches, all of which create the right environment in the body for the infection.

What Causes It?

The culprit behind trichomoniasis is a protozoan parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis , which usually is transmitted sexually. Transmission is through penis to vagina or vulva to vulva (the genital area outside the vagina).