What it means
Trichomoniasis is caused by Trichomonas vaginalis, a single-celled parasite. It infects the vagina, penis, urethra and throat, and spreads through vaginal, anal and oral sex.
Two things are worth knowing: it is very common, and it is curable in a single dose of medication, so it is one of the more straightforward infections to deal with.
What can vary
Most people have no symptoms at all. When symptoms do occur in a vagina, they may include:
- Foamy or frothy yellow-green discharge, often with an unusual smell
- Genital itching or soreness
- Pain or burning when urinating
- Discomfort in the lower abdomen
In a penis, symptoms — if any — usually include discharge or soreness at the tip, or pain when urinating. Throat infection is usually symptomless.
Unlike bacteria, trichomonas does not stay in the body untreated. It tends to clear spontaneously, though recurrence is possible.
Possible explanations
Diagnosis requires testing — a vaginal swab, a urine test, or a throat or rectal swab depending on contact. A discharge on its own does not identify the cause, because several conditions look similar.
Treatment is with a single dose of medication. Partners should be treated at the same time.
Warning signs
- Foul-smelling or frothy discharge with itching.
- Persistent genital soreness that does not improve.
- Any genital symptoms that are new and persistent — these need a diagnosis rather than a guess, because trichomonas, bacterial vaginosis and yeast infection are treated very differently.
What to do next
Get tested. If diagnosed, treatment is straightforward and single-dose.
Self-care
There is no self-care that treats trichomonas.
What you can do: complete the full treatment, avoid sexual contact until you and any partners have finished treatment, and avoid alcohol during and for a short period afterwards, as the medication interacts with it.
When to seek help
Routine: testing after a possible exposure.
Prompt: symptoms, or a partner diagnosed.
Emergency: not applicable to trichomonas itself.
How to talk about it
“I have an unusual discharge and I’d like it tested.”
“I was told trich is possible and I’d like a test.”
“My partner is being treated and I’ve been exposed.”
Myths and stigma
“Trich is an STI you get from lots of partners.” It is common, it is often asymptomatic, and it is very much treatable with a single dose.
“Only women get it.” It is more often diagnosed in people with a vagina because it causes symptoms more often there, but it infects and is transmitted to all bodies.
Prevention
- Condoms reduce transmission and are the practical option during treatment.
- Treating all partners at the same time matters, because trichomonas reinfects quickly if only one partner is treated.
- Avoiding sex until treatment is finished, and for the period your clinician advises, prevents reinfection and onward transmission.
Related articles
Sources
Public sources are linked so you can read the detail rather than take this site’s word for it. None of this has yet been reviewed by a qualified clinician — see how we handle medical review.
References
Where this comes from
Linked so you can check it against a recognised public health source rather than take this site's word for it.
- Trichomoniasis — CDC US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (opens in a new tab)
- Trichomoniasis — WHO World Health Organization (opens in a new tab)
These are public sources from recognised health organisations, linked so you can read the detail rather than take this site's word for it. Reading them does not tell you whether any of it applies to you, and none of these articles has yet been reviewed by a qualified clinician. How we handle sourcing and review.