Trichomoniasis by Ray Sahelian, M.D.
 

Trichomoniasis is caused by the single-celled parasite Trichomonas vaginalis, It is the most common curable sexually transmitted disease (STD) in the United States. There are an estimated 7 million cases of trich each year in the U.S compared with about 3 million new cases of Chlamydia and 700,000 cases of gonorrhea. Trichomonas infection has been linked to pelvic inflammatory disease, precancerous cervical changes, and premature delivery in women, and may also facilitate the spread of HIV

Symptoms of Trichomoniasis
Many people with trichomoniasis have no symptoms or only mild symptoms. Signs and symptoms of trichomoniasis in women include itching, redness and a yellow, green or grey vaginal discharge that may be frothy or sticky and have a foul odor. Urination and intercourse may be painful, and the symptoms may worsen during menstruation. When symptoms are present in men, they may consist of urethral discharge and irritation.

Risk of Trichomoniasis
When left untreated, trichomoniasis may enhance both the acquisition and transmission of HIV. The genital inflammation caused by trichomoniasis can increase a woman's susceptibility to HIV infection if she is exposed to the virus. Trichomoniasis also has been shown to increase the risk of infertility in women and may play a role in promoting cervical cancer and pelvic inflammatory disease. In a large Finnish study, trich was associated with a six-fold increased risk of cervical cancer in women compared with those who were uninfected. The STD has also been linked to preterm birth and postoperative infection in women, and lower sperm motility and nongonococcal urethritis in men.

Trichomoniasis in a man
Nearly three-quarters of the male sexual partners of women with the common sexually transmitted disease trichomoniasis carry the infection themselves, but the vast majority has no symptoms. Thus it is important to include men in efforts to control the spread of trichomoniasis.

Diagnosis of trichomoniasis
Lab tests commonly used to detect the trichomoniasis infection can only typically identify people carrying large amounts of the organism. Therefore, some infections -- especially those that don't cause symptoms -- may be missed.

New Trichomoniasis Treatment
Mission Pharmacal has an antiprotozoal drug Tindamax (tinidazole) as a first line therapy for the treatment of trichomoniasis. Tindamax, which is administered orally and taken as a single 2-gram dose, has demonstrated cure rates of more than 90 percent.

About Tindamax
Tindamax, a second-generation 5-nitroimidazole compound, is indicated in the United States for the treatment of trichomoniasis, the intestinal infections giardiasis and intestinal amebiasis, and amebic liver abscess. It has been approved for use in the United States since May 2004 and is recommended as one of the drugs of choice for the treatment of trichomoniasis by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.