Also called: Trich
Important: This page is general information, not medical advice. It does not recommend or prescribe any treatment. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any medicine.
About Trichomoniasis
Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by a parasite. It spreads from person to person during sex. Many people do not have any symptoms. If you do get symptoms, they usually happen within 5 to 28 days after being infected.
It can cause vaginitis in women. Symptoms include:
- Yellow-green or gray discharge from the vagina
- Discomfort during sex
- Vaginal odor
- Painful urination
- Itching burning, and soreness of the vagina and vulva
Most men do not have symptoms. If they do, they may have:
- Itching or irritation inside the penis
- Burning after urination or ejaculation
- Discharge from the penis
Trichomoniasis can increase the risk of getting or spreading other sexually transmitted infections. Pregnant women with trichomoniasis are more likely to give birth too early, and their babies are more likely have a low birth weight.
Lab tests can tell if you have the infection. Treatment is with antibiotics. If you are infected, you and your partner must be treated.
Correct usage of latex condoms greatly reduces, but does not eliminate, the risk of catching or spreading trichomoniasis. If your or your partner is allergic to latex, you can use polyurethane condoms. The most reliable way to avoid infection is to not have anal, vaginal, or oral sex.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
It sits within Infections, Sexual Health Issues and Female Reproductive System.
The lead U.S. institute for this subject is the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
When to speak to someone. Reading about a topic cannot tell you whether it applies to you. Speak to a doctor or pharmacist if symptoms are severe, sudden, getting worse, or simply not going away — and seek emergency care immediately for chest pain, breathing difficulty, sudden weakness or confusion, or a serious allergic reaction.
Research on Trichomoniasis
63 studies areregistered for this condition on ClinicalTrials.gov, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's public registry. A selection is below — the links go straight to the registry entry, not to a summary of ours.
What a registered study does and does not mean. Registration means a study exists and has been declared publicly. It says nothing about whether the treatment being tested works, is safe, or is available to you. Many studies find no benefit — that is what research is for. Never seek out an experimental treatment on the strength of a registry entry alone.
Research currently under way
- Single Arm Trial of Menstrual Cups Among Economically Vulnerable Women to Reduce Bacterial Vaginosis and STIsRush University Medical Center
- STI Testing to Enhance PrEP Use in PregnancyBotswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership
- Association Between Periodontal Status and the Prevalence of Entamoeba Gingivalis and Trichomonas TenaxAbant Izzet Baysal University
- Refining Treatment Options for Trichomonas Vaginalis Infection: A Comparative Analysis of Metronidazole and SecnidazoleTulane University
- Point-of-care Tests for Vaginal Discharge in NepalNorwegian University of Science and Technology
- Improving Maternal and Child Health Through Point-of-care STI TestingEmory University
Research already completed
- Clinical Study of STI Screening to Prevent Adverse Birth and New-born Outcomes (Philani Ndiphile)Foundation for Professional Development (Pty) Ltd
- Point of Care Diagnosis of Vaginal InfectionsSharon L Hillier
- Combination Primary Care and Prevention Services for Women Who Inject Drugs and Exchange Sex in Seattle, WashingtonUniversity of Washington
- Investigating Point-of-care Diagnostics for Sexually Transmitted Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance in Primary Care in ZimbabweLondon School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
- Genital Tract Infections, the Vaginal Microbiome and Gestational Age at Birth Among Pregnant Women in South AfricaUniversity of Bern
- Evaluation of a Rapid Microscopic Diagnostic System for Different Vaginitis ConditionsMeir Medical Center
Study data from ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved 2026-07-30. Registry entries are supplied by study sponsors and investigators; ClinicalTrials.gov does not verify their scientific validity. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and not endorsed by, the NLM or the NIH.
Where to read more
Rather than paraphrase, we point you to the primary sources. Every link below is to a government health agency, a national institute or a recognised medical body — grouped by what you are trying to find out.
Start Here
- About TrichomoniasisCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
- TrichomoniasisDepartment of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health
- TrichomoniasisMayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
Diagnosis and Tests
- Trichomoniasis TestNational Library of Medicine
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Trichomonas InfectionsNational Institutes of Health
Medical subject headings
Clinicians and researchers index this subject under Trichomonas Vaginitis. These are the terms to use when searching medical literature.
This page is built from the MedlinePlus health topic record for Trichomoniasis, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health. Information is from MedlinePlus.gov. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and is not endorsed by, the NLM or the NIH. Retrieved 30 July 2026.