How is trichomoniasis prevention

A person can pass it on through vaginal, oral, or anal sex. A parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis causes trichomoniasis, or trich, which is highly curable if a person seeks treatment. Without treatment, trich can lead to complications.

It can affect a pregnancy, and it also appears to increase the risk of getting and passing on HIV. It is the most common curable STI. A person can transmit it during oral, anal, or vaginal sex or through genital touching. In females, trich is most likely to affect the lower genital tract. In males, it affects the urethra, the tube through which urine passes. The following people have a higher chance of getting trich:. As the number of sexual partners that a person has increases, so does their risk of getting trich.

Symptoms may appear between 5 and 28 days after exposure, or they may appear later or not at all. Minor symptoms include irritation, but someone with a more severe case may have inflammation with discharge.

Experts have linked trichomoniasis with complications during pregnancy, including:. At least one study suggests that there may also be a link between trich and human papillomavirus HPV , the virus that causes cervical cancer. More research is necessary, however, to clarify the association. Scientists believe that this increased risk could be due to:. To diagnose a trichomoniasis infection , a doctor will:.

The results of a lab test will come back in about a week. Call the National Sexual Health Helpline on for confidential advice and support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Read more about where to get sexual health advice. Page last reviewed: 23 October Next review due: 23 October They'll also help prevent you passing it on to your partner: use condoms male or female every time you have vaginal or anal sex if you have oral sex, cover the penis with a condom or the female genitals with a latex or polyurethane square a dam if you're a woman and rub your vulva against your female partner's vulva, one of you should cover your genitals with a dam avoid sharing sex toys — if you do share them, wash them or cover them with a new condom before anyone else uses them If you're not sure how to use condoms correctly, you can read about how to use a condom.

Getting tested If you're sexually active, go for regular sexual health check-ups. Take all of your medicine. Even if symptoms go away, you need to finish all of the antibiotics. Tell your sex partner s so they can be tested and treated. Avoid sexual contact until you and your partner s have been treated and cured. Even after you finish your antibiotics, you can get trichomoniasis again if you have sex with someone who has trichomoniasis.

See your doctor or nurse again if you have symptoms that don't go away within a few days after finishing the antibiotics. How does trichomoniasis affect pregnancy? Can I take medicine for trichomoniasis if I am breastfeeding? How can I prevent trichomoniasis? The best way to prevent trichomoniasis or any STI is to not have vaginal, oral, or anal sex. If you do have sex, lower your risk of getting an STI with the following steps: Use condoms.

Condoms are the best way to prevent STIs when you have sex. Because a man does not need to ejaculate come to give or get trichomoniasis, make sure to put the condom on before the penis touches the vagina, mouth, or anus.

Other methods of birth control , like birth control pills, shots, implants, or diaphragms , will not protect you from STIs. Get tested. Be sure you and your partner are tested for STIs. Talk to each other about the test results before you have sex. Be monogamous. Having sex with just one partner can lower your risk for STIs. After being tested for STIs, be faithful to each other. That means that you have sex only with each other and no one else. Limit your number of sex partners.

Your risk of getting STIs goes up with the number of partners you have. Do not douche. Douching removes some of the normal bacteria in the vagina that protects you from infection. This may increase your risk of getting STIs. Do not abuse alcohol or drugs. Drinking too much alcohol or using drugs increases risky behavior and may put you at risk of sexual assault and possible exposure to STIs. Can women who have sex with women get trichomoniasis? Did we answer your question about trichomoniasis?