Trichomoniasis in Chile: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment | aihealz
Infectious Disease
Trichomoniasis.Care & specialists in Chile
In Chile, trichomoniasis is managed by infectious diseases. Trichomoniasis is the most common non-viral sexually transmitted infection worldwide, caused by the flagellated protozoan parasite Trichomonas vaginalis. WHO estimates 156 million new cases per year globally, surpassing chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis combined.
Trichomoniasis (ICD-10: A59) is genitourinary infection caused by Trichomonas vaginalis, a 10-20 micrometer flagellated protozoan parasite with four anterior flagella, an undulating membrane, and a posterior axostyle. The parasite exists only as a trophozoite — there is no cyst form — which means it cannot survive outside a moist mucosal environment for long. In women, T. vaginalis infects the vagina, urethra, and paraurethral glands; in men, it infects the urethra, prostate, and sometimes the epididymis.
key facts
Prevalence
156 million new global cases per year (WHO); US prevalence 2.1% in women aged 14-49 (NHANES)
Demographics
Women affected at roughly twice the rate of men in surveillance data; Black women in the US have prevalence approximately 10x higher than white women due to network effects
Avg. age
Sexually active adults of any age; highest prevalence in women aged 40-49 in NHANES data (unlike chlamydia, which peaks in younger women)
Global cases
WHO estimate 156 million incident cases per year, 4-5x the rate of chlamydia
Specialist
Infectious Disease
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How you might notice it
The key symptoms of Trichomoniasis are: Yellow-green frothy malodorous vaginal discharge — the classic presentation in symptomatic women, often more profuse than the discharge of bacterial vaginosis or candidiasis., Vulvar and vaginal itching, burning, and irritation, often severe enough to interfere with daily activities and sexual function., Dyspareunia (painful intercourse) and postcoital bleeding from inflamed friable mucosa., Dysuria, urinary frequency, and urgency from concurrent urethritis — sometimes mistaken for a urinary tract infection until vaginal symptoms are elicited., Vulvar erythema and edema visible on inspection; small petechial hemorrhages on the cervix produce the pathognomonic 'strawberry cervix' (colpitis macularis) in approximately 2% of cases., Symptoms may flare around menstruation due to changes in vaginal pH and immune response., Urethral discharge in men — typically scant, watery to mucopurulent, often noticed only as morning urethral 'crusting' or staining of underwear..
01Yellow-green frothy malodorous vaginal discharge — the classic presentation in symptomatic women, often more profuse than the discharge of bacterial vaginosis or candidiasis.
02Vulvar and vaginal itching, burning, and irritation, often severe enough to interfere with daily activities and sexual function.
03Dyspareunia (painful intercourse) and postcoital bleeding from inflamed friable mucosa.
04Dysuria, urinary frequency, and urgency from concurrent urethritis — sometimes mistaken for a urinary tract infection until vaginal symptoms are elicited.
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How it’s diagnosed
diagnosis
Modern diagnosis of trichomoniasis relies on nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT), which has replaced wet-mount microscopy as the standard of care in the 2021 CDC STI Treatment Guidelines. Wet-mount microscopy of vaginal fluid — visualizing motile flagellated trophozoites — has sensitivity of only 51-65% in symptomatic women and lower in asymptomatic patients or men. NAAT (PCR or transcription-mediated amplification) has sensitivity over 95% and can be performed on vaginal swabs (self- or clinician-collected), endocervical swabs, urine, and in some assays urethral swabs in men. Point-of-care molecular tests (OSOM Trichomonas Rapid Test, Solana Trichomonas) provide results in 10-45 minutes with sensitivity 80-95%. Culture in modified Diamond's medium has 75-95% sensitivity but takes up to 7 days. Pap smear cytology occasionally reports T. vaginalis but has poor sensitivity and should not be used for diagnosis. The CDC recommends screening with NAAT in HIV-positive women annually, women in correctional facilities, women with symptoms or partners of infected men, and men who have sex with women in high-prevalence settings if they have symptoms. Routine screening of asymptomatic men is not recommended outside research and high-risk settings. All patients diagnosed with trichomoniasis should be tested for other STIs including chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV — co-infection is common. Partner notification and treatment are essential because reinfection from untreated partners is the leading cause of apparent treatment failure. Test-of-cure (repeat NAAT 3 weeks after treatment) is not routinely required for women treated with the recommended 7-day metronidazole regimen, but retesting at 3 months catches reinfection.
Key tests
01
Nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) on vaginal swab or urineFirst-line diagnostic. Sensitivity over 95%, specificity over 99%. Performs well on self-collected vaginal swabs, urine, and clinician-collected swabs. Detects asymptomatic infection that microscopy misses.
02
Point-of-care molecular test (OSOM, Solana)
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Treatment & cost
medical treatments
✓Metronidazole 500 mg orally twice daily for 7 days (women, first-line per CDC 2021)
✓Metronidazole 2 g orally as a single dose (men, first-line)
✓Tinidazole 2 g orally as a single dose (alternative for both sexes)
✓High-dose tinidazole (2-3 g daily for 7-14 days) for nitroimidazole-resistant cases
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Causes & risk factors
known causes
Sexual transmission through vaginal-penile, vaginal-vaginal, or vaginal-vulvar contact
The exclusive mode of acquisition in adults. Trophozoites are transferred in genital secretions during intercourse and adhere to recipient genital epithelium. Transmission probability per sexual act is high — partner concordance rates often exceed 80% in tested couples.
Vertical transmission from mother to neonate during vaginal delivery
Rare but documented. Female neonates born to infected mothers can develop vaginitis or urinary tract infection in the first weeks of life. Neonatal trichomoniasis warrants treatment and prompts evaluation for other STI exposures.
Shared moist objects (rare)
Theoretically possible because T. vaginalis can survive briefly in moist conditions on towels or in pool water. Documented case clusters are extraordinarily rare; sexual transmission remains the dominant route in essentially all clinical practice.
Lack of barrier protection during sexual activity
Consistent condom use substantially reduces transmission, though incomplete protection because peri-genital contact may still transfer secretions. Inconsistent condom use is the dominant modifiable behavior associated with new infection.
Reinfection from an untreated sexual partner
Untreated partners are the leading cause of apparent treatment failure. CDC recommends expedited partner therapy (EPT) where legal — providing the patient with medication to give their partner without a separate clinic visit. Test-of-cure or retesting at 3 months is recommended.
risk factors
Multiple sexual partners or new partner in past yearmodifiable
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Living with it
01Use latex condoms consistently and correctly with all partners — reduces transmission by 50-70%
02Limit number of sexual partners and choose partners who have been recently tested
03Get tested for trichomoniasis and other STIs annually if you have new or multiple partners, are HIV-positive, are in a correctional facility, or live in a high-prevalence community
04Ensure both partners complete treatment and abstain from sex until cleared — concurrent treatment prevents the ping-pong reinfection pattern
05Discuss STI testing with new partners before sexual contact — knowing status reduces network transmission
06Avoid douching, which disrupts normal vaginal flora and may increase susceptibility to several STIs
recommended foods
•Normal balanced diet — no specific dietary requirements for trichomoniasis recovery
•Adequate hydration during antibiotic treatment to support metabolism and reduce nausea
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When to seek help
why see an infectious disease
Most uncomplicated trichomoniasis is managed in primary care, sexual health clinics, or gynecology. Refer to infectious disease or specialist STI clinic for persistent or recurrent infection despite documented adherence and partner treatment, for suspected nitroimidazole resistance, for management in advanced HIV with frequent recurrence, and for unusual presentations such as neonatal trichomoniasis or complicated genitourinary infection.
01Increased HIV acquisition and transmission — trichomoniasis raises per-act HIV transmission risk approximately 1.5-fold via local inflammation and disruption of vaginal mucosa
02Adverse pregnancy outcomes including preterm rupture of membranes, preterm delivery, and low birth weight — observed in multiple cohort studies
03Pelvic inflammatory disease and tubal infertility — observed in some studies but the causal contribution is less established than with chlamydia or gonorrhea
04Prostatitis and epididymitis in men with prolonged untreated infection
05Neonatal trichomoniasis with vaginitis or urinary tract infection — rare but documented in female neonates born to infected mothers
Symptomatic vaginitis in womenApproximately 30-50% of infected women develop symptoms. Yellow-green frothy discharge, vulvar erythema, dyspareunia, postcoital bleeding, and dysuria are typical. The 'strawberry cervix' is highly specific but seen in only 2% of cases.
Symptomatic urethritis in menApproximately 30% of infected men have urethritis with watery or purulent discharge, dysuria, and urethral itching. Most cases overlap clinically with other non-gonococcal urethritis and require specific testing.
Asymptomatic infectionOver 70% of infected men and 50% of infected women have no symptoms but remain infectious and contribute substantially to ongoing transmission within sexual networks.
Complicated trichomoniasis (prostatitis, epididymitis, PID-associated)Uncommon. Men can develop prostatitis and epididymitis with prolonged infection; in women, trichomoniasis is associated with upper genital tract infection though it is not classically considered a primary cause of pelvic inflammatory disease.
Trichomoniasis in pregnancyAssociated with preterm rupture of membranes, preterm delivery, and low birth weight. CDC recommends symptomatic pregnant women be treated; routine asymptomatic screening is not recommended in pregnancy due to mixed evidence on outcome benefit.
Living with Trichomoniasis
Timeline
Symptoms typically resolve within 5-7 days of starting nitroimidazole therapy. Cure is microbiologically established within 3-7 days for most patients; persistent symptoms beyond 1 week warrant re-evaluation. Sexual activity can resume once both the patient and all partners have completed treatment and symptoms have resolved — typically 1-2 weeks. Retesting at 3 months catches asymptomatic reinfection.
Lifestyle
01Complete the full prescribed antibiotic course even after symptoms resolve — partial treatment risks recurrence and resistance
02Avoid alcohol during nitroimidazole treatment and for 24-72 hours after — disulfiram-like reactions are common
03Abstain from sex during treatment and until all partners are also treated and symptom-free
04Notify all sexual partners from the prior 60 days so they can be tested and treated
05Schedule retesting at 3 months to detect reinfection — the most common cause of recurrent positive tests
06Practice gentle vulvar hygiene with water only during recovery — avoid scented soaps, douches, and bubble baths
Daily management
01Take metronidazole twice daily with food to reduce nausea (women on 7-day regimen)
02
Complementary approaches
Intravaginal boric acid (600 mg vaginal capsule daily for 7-14 days) as adjunct for resistant casesLimited evidence; case series suggest some benefit when combined with high-dose oral nitroimidazoles in metronidazole-resistant trichomoniasis. Not first-line monotherapy. Should be supervised by an STI specialist.
Choosing a doctor
Look for a clinic that offers NAAT testing rather than relying on wet-mount microscopy — sensitivity differences are substantial. Sexual health clinics and STI specialty centers offer the fastest access to NAAT, point-of-care testing, expedited partner therapy, and comprehensive co-infection screening. Many sexual health clinics provide same-day diagnosis and treatment in a single visit.
Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the protozoan parasite Trichomonas vaginalis. WHO estimates 156 million new global cases per year, making it the most common non-viral STI worldwide. About 70% of infected men and 50% of infected women have no symptoms. It is curable with oral antibiotics.
How is trichomoniasis transmitted?▾▴
Trichomoniasis spreads through vaginal-penile, vaginal-vaginal, or vaginal-vulvar sexual contact. Per-contact transmission is high; partner concordance rates often exceed 80%. Transmission through shared towels or pool water is theoretically possible but extraordinarily rare. Condoms reduce but do not eliminate risk.
What are the symptoms of trichomoniasis in women?▾▴
Symptomatic women typically have frothy yellow-green malodorous vaginal discharge, vulvar itching and burning, painful intercourse, dysuria, and postcoital bleeding. The 'strawberry cervix' — petechial hemorrhages on the cervix — is highly specific but seen in only about 2% of cases. Most infected women have no symptoms.
What are the symptoms of trichomoniasis in men?▾▴
Most infected men have no symptoms. About 30% develop urethritis with watery or purulent urethral discharge, urethral itching, and dysuria. Symptoms may be subtle — morning urethral 'crusting' or stains on underwear. Complications such as prostatitis and epididymitis can develop in untreated infection.
Is trichomoniasis curable?▾▴
Yes. Oral nitroimidazole antibiotics — metronidazole or tinidazole — cure over 90% of cases. The 2021 CDC guideline recommends metronidazole 500 mg twice daily for 7 days for women and metronidazole 2 g single dose for men. Treating all sexual partners simultaneously prevents reinfection.
How is trichomoniasis diagnosed?▾▴
Nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) on a vaginal swab or urine sample is the gold standard, with over 95% sensitivity. The traditional wet-mount microscopy has sensitivity of only 51-65% and misses many cases. Point-of-care molecular tests provide results in 10-45 minutes.
Does my partner need to be treated?▾▴
Yes. All sexual partners within the prior 60 days should be tested and treated, regardless of symptoms. Treating partners is essential to prevent reinfection — the most common cause of apparent treatment failure. Expedited partner therapy (medication for the partner without a separate clinic visit) is legal in 46 US states.
Can I drink alcohol while taking metronidazole for trichomoniasis?▾▴
No. Metronidazole and tinidazole cause a severe disulfiram-like reaction with alcohol — flushing, vomiting, tachycardia, hypotension. Avoid all alcohol during treatment and for at least 24 hours after metronidazole or 72 hours after tinidazole.
Why did the CDC change the trichomoniasis treatment for women?▾▴
The 2021 CDC update moved first-line treatment for women from single-dose 2 g metronidazole to 500 mg twice daily for 7 days, based on the 2018 Kissinger trial which showed approximately 50% lower relapse rate. The single-dose regimen remains acceptable for men.
Can I get trichomoniasis again?▾▴
Yes. There is no lasting immunity to trichomoniasis, so reinfection from a new or untreated partner is common. CDC recommends retesting 3 months after treatment to detect asymptomatic reinfection. Consistent condom use and treating all partners reduces reinfection risk substantially.
Is trichomoniasis dangerous in pregnancy?▾▴
Yes. Trichomoniasis in pregnancy is associated with preterm rupture of membranes, preterm delivery, and low birth weight. Symptomatic pregnant women should be treated with metronidazole, which is safe in all trimesters. Routine screening of asymptomatic pregnant women is not recommended due to mixed outcome evidence.
Can trichomoniasis cause infertility?▾▴
Trichomoniasis is associated with pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility in some observational studies, but the causal contribution is less established than chlamydia or gonorrhea. Adequate treatment cures the infection and prevents long-term sequelae. The biggest fertility risk comes from delayed diagnosis allowing complications.
Does trichomoniasis increase HIV risk?▾▴
Yes. Trichomoniasis raises per-act HIV transmission risk approximately 1.5-fold by causing local inflammation that disrupts the genital mucosal barrier. This is why CDC recommends annual screening in HIV-positive women and prompt treatment of all infected individuals.
Can I get trichomoniasis from a toilet seat?▾▴
Practically no. Trichomonas vaginalis is fragile outside the body and does not survive on dry surfaces. Transmission virtually always requires direct genital-to-genital contact or shared moist objects (theoretically possible but extraordinarily rare). Sexual contact accounts for essentially all clinical cases.
How long after exposure do symptoms appear?▾▴
Symptoms, when present, typically appear 5-28 days after exposure. Many infected people remain asymptomatic for months or years. Because most carriers are asymptomatic, sexual partners should be tested even when they feel well.
Can I have sex during trichomoniasis treatment?▾▴
No. Abstain from sexual activity from the time of diagnosis until you and all partners complete treatment and are symptom-free — typically 7-14 days. Resuming sex too early risks reinfection or transmission to untreated partners.
Will trichomoniasis go away on its own?▾▴
No. Untreated trichomoniasis can persist for months to years, often asymptomatically. Spontaneous clearance is uncommon. Treatment with oral antibiotics is required to cure the infection and reduce risk of HIV acquisition, pregnancy complications, and onward transmission.
How much does trichomoniasis treatment cost?▾▴
Generic metronidazole and tinidazole are inexpensive — typically under USD 10-20 for a complete course in most countries. Many sexual health clinics provide testing and treatment free of charge in the US, UK, and other countries with public sexual health services.
Is there a home test for trichomoniasis?▾▴
Several mail-in self-collection NAAT kits are available in the US that allow patients to collect a vaginal swab or urine sample at home and send it to a laboratory. Results are returned via secure portal in 3-7 days, and positive results can be discussed with telehealth providers for treatment.
What if treatment doesn't work?▾▴
The most common cause of apparent treatment failure is reinfection from an untreated partner. Genuine nitroimidazole resistance is uncommon (estimated 4-10%) but managed with high-dose tinidazole 2-3 g daily for 7-14 days, sometimes combined with intravaginal paromomycin, under specialist guidance.
Vulvar erythema and edema visible on inspection; small petechial hemorrhages on the cervix produce the pathognomonic 'strawberry cervix' (colpitis macularis) in approximately 2% of cases.
06Symptoms may flare around menstruation due to changes in vaginal pH and immune response.
07Urethral discharge in men — typically scant, watery to mucopurulent, often noticed only as morning urethral 'crusting' or staining of underwear.
08Dysuria and urethral itching or burning, particularly at the meatus, in symptomatic men.
09Most infected men and many infected women report no symptoms at all — yet they remain infectious and benefit from treatment to prevent complications and onward transmission.
10Symptoms can be intermittent, with discharge waxing and waning over weeks to months in untreated patients.
early warning signs
•Persistent vaginal discharge with unpleasant odor not responding to over-the-counter candida treatment
•Dysuria with normal urinalysis — consider urethritis from STI rather than UTI
•Postcoital bleeding or recurrent vulvar irritation in a sexually active person
•Asymptomatic partner of a person diagnosed with trichomoniasis — testing and presumptive treatment are warranted
•Routine sexual health screening visit — opportunity to test in high-risk populations regardless of symptoms
● emergency signs
•Severe pelvic pain with fever in a woman with diagnosed trichomoniasis — assess for concurrent pelvic inflammatory disease and other STI co-infection
•Pregnant patient with PROM and confirmed trichomoniasis — obstetric assessment for chorioamnionitis and preterm labor risk
•Persistent or recurrent symptoms despite documented treatment adherence — possible nitroimidazole-resistant trichomoniasis warranting specialist input
•Painful unilateral scrotal swelling and tenderness in a man with trichomoniasis — possible epididymo-orchitis
Rapid molecular testing with results in 10-45 minutes, suitable for sexual health clinics where same-visit treatment is desirable. Sensitivity 80-95%; appropriate for high-prevalence settings.
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Wet-mount microscopy of vaginal fluidTraditional bedside test; visualizes motile trophozoites on saline preparation. Sensitivity only 51-65% in symptomatic women — negative result does not rule out infection. Largely supplanted by NAAT.
04
Culture in Diamond's or InPouch mediumBackup test in centers without NAAT. Sensitivity 75-95% with 5-7 day incubation. Useful for susceptibility testing in suspected resistance.
05
Co-testing for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV, hepatitis BTrichomoniasis-positive patients have high rates of co-infection with other STIs. Comprehensive screening is standard practice at any new STI diagnosis.
06
Test-of-cure NAAT (repeat at 3 weeks for selected cases) and retest at 3 monthsRepeat testing at 3 months catches reinfection from untreated partners — the most common cause of apparent recurrence. Test-of-cure at 3 weeks is recommended for patients with suspected resistance or persistent symptoms.
Outlook
Trichomoniasis has an excellent prognosis with adequate treatment. The 2021 CDC-recommended 7-day metronidazole regimen achieves parasitological cure in approximately 90% of women, an improvement over the older single-dose regimen. In men, single-dose metronidazole or tinidazole achieves cure in over 90%. Reinfection from an untreated partner is by far the most common cause of recurrence, accounting for the majority of apparent treatment failures. Nitroimidazole-resistant trichomoniasis is uncommon (estimated 4-10% in some US clinic populations) and is managed with high-dose tinidazole or specialist regimens with cure rates of 70-90%. Beyond cure, the broader prognostic story is the contribution of untreated trichomoniasis to HIV acquisition (approximately 1.5-fold increase), pregnancy outcomes (preterm rupture of membranes, preterm delivery, low birth weight), and ongoing transmission within sexual networks. Treatment reduces these risks. Long-term complications of treated trichomoniasis are uncommon — no chronic sequelae, no infertility, no permanent damage. The principal long-term burden is psychosocial: stigma, partner notification stress, and impact on relationships, all of which improve with accurate information and routine clinical handling.
Each additional partner increases acquisition risk. NHANES data show prevalence rising 4-fold from 1 lifetime partner to 5+ partners.
History of other sexually transmitted infectionsmodifiable
Co-infection with chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, or HSV is documented in 10-30% of trichomoniasis cases. Shared risk factors and biological synergy explain the overlap.
Inconsistent condom usemodifiable
Condom use reduces transmission by approximately 50-70% but does not eliminate risk. Consistent rather than occasional use is required for meaningful protection.
Female sexnon-modifiable
Surveillance data show women diagnosed at roughly twice the rate of men — partly because women are tested more often (gynecological visits), partly because symptoms occur more frequently in women.
Older age (especially women aged 40+)non-modifiable
Unlike chlamydia, trichomoniasis prevalence in NHANES is highest in women aged 40-49, possibly because longer infection duration without testing and lower spontaneous clearance.
Lower socioeconomic status and limited healthcare accessenvironmental
Strong association in US data — Black women have approximately 10x the trichomoniasis prevalence of white women, mediated by sexual network density, healthcare access, and partner concurrency rather than individual behavior.
Incarcerationenvironmental
Prevalence in women entering correctional facilities ranges from 14-46% in published US studies; high baseline rates combined with limited screening sustain transmission.
Co-infection with HIVmodifiable
Trichomoniasis and HIV facilitate each other — trichomoniasis increases HIV acquisition risk approximately 1.5-fold and HIV-positive women have higher trichomoniasis prevalence and recurrence rates.
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Probiotic-containing foods (yogurt with live cultures) may help restore vaginal flora after antibiotic treatment, though evidence is limited
foods to avoid
•Alcohol during nitroimidazole therapy and for 24-72 hours after — disulfiram-like reactions are common
•Excessive sugar and refined carbohydrates if recurrent candida is also a problem — common after antibiotic courses
•Douches and intravaginal hygiene products that disrupt the vaginal microbiome
Recurrent or persistent infection due to reinfection from untreated partners or nitroimidazole resistance
Avoid alcohol for 24-72 hours after the last dose
03Use condoms with all partners until both have completed treatment and retested negative
04Notify sexual partners promptly so they can be tested and treated — expedited partner therapy is available in most US states
05Schedule follow-up testing at 3 months even if symptoms have resolved
Exercise
No restriction on exercise during treatment. Sexual activity should be avoided until both partners complete treatment and are symptom-free. Cycling and prolonged friction may aggravate vulvar irritation in symptomatic women — consider modifying or temporarily reducing during the acute phase.