Trichomoniasis

[Sugartits87]

Please tell me it's not just me who hasn't heard of this?

Had some dodgy issues with lady bits lately and after googling my symptoms this came up as an apparently well known STI? Never heard of it. I had a sexual health screen before getting with my new dp but it seems that Trichomoniasis isn't routinely tested for. So now I'm worried I might have it and passed it to him through sheer ignorance. Or him to me.

Again google tells me it's very common worldwide but pretty rare and unheard of in the uk. As in 7000 reported cases per year while chlamydia for example has over 200,000. There also seem to be no added complications with it in the same way as chlamydia and the other well known ones.

Not asking for a diagnosis and if symptoms persist I will of course visit the doctor. Just wondering if I've been living under a rock my whole adult life?!

No you’re not the only one. I recently started to have funny symptoms and found about it on the web. What are your symptoms?

Trich produces quite distinctive symptoms, you would know if you had it even if you didn't know what it was called. If you really do think you have it please get yourself checked again.

Trichomoniasis is very common now in GUM clinics but GPs sometimes don't think of it unless they've treated for thrush, BV and screened for everything else.

It's very treatable 5 days of metronidazole and it's cleared up very quickly

Trichomoniasis causes really specific symptoms; copious amounts of yellow/ green discharge, maybe a bit fishy in smell, discharge may be thick or frothy, itchiness and pain during sex

I work in a GUM clinic.. if you think you have it please get tested.

But yes to answer your question the general public don't really know about this STI

The only symptom I've noticed is a slight colour change in discharge - yes there is a very slight green/yellow hue but it's not constant. no smell, pain or itchiness. I know it's not chlamydia or gonorrhoea as I've been screened for them.

I guess it could be another bacterial type infection. I will keep an eye on it. Just not sure why this one isn't routinely tested for like the rest.

My symptoms are very much the same. I’m personally going to get tested because I’ve been told I’m ‘satisfactory’ in loads of other things maybe you should too just to put your mind at ease?

@Hobbes2019 yeah I probably will. The discharge comes and goes and there are no other symptoms so I dunno. It could just be one of those things. I guess I'm worried if it is an STI because then it involves the uncomfortable chat with dp. And because we both tried to be responsible and got tested when we first got together I'm really pissed off.

I am in the EXACT same position haha including the discharge. It’s always there but sometimes there’s barely any but always yellowish. Let me know how you get on and if you’re feeling down just message me. I’m currently on antibiotics so don’t think I’ll see a doctor til next week. The chat is uncomfortable admittedly but you definitely want it resolved! Have you got tested for thrush/bv etc? X

No I haven't been tested for any of them but I've had thrush before and that was extremely uncomfortable. This isn't even bad hence why I haven't seen the doctor yet. No unpleasant symptoms just the odd colour occasionally. It could be bv or hormones. X

Absolutely, and it feels weird going to a dr. when symptoms are barely there but might be good for peace of mind. X

Just starting this one off again in case anyone else has anything to add! I'm genuinely confused as to how this is so unheard of....

I know the sensible thing is to get checked out and I will get around to it but I have the week from hell at work this week and then I'm on holiday for a week so I'm wondering how long it's safe to leave it and just monitor symptoms? Given that the online stance seems to be that it isn't routinely checked for because it doesn't pose much of a health risk

To reiterate I have no pain, smell, itching or anything. Just occasional odd coloured discharge. Anyone else know of any over the counter remedies I could try?

It very rarely causes long term issues. But it would be wise to get it treated, as you can pass it on if you're having unprotected sex and men can get prostate issues from it.

It won't go away on its own as it's caused by a parasite and needs to be treated with metronidazole

I'll get to the GP at some point. I'm just fed up because the whole process of having a full screening is pretty nerve wracking and unpleasant as it is. I thought dp and I were both clear. Then to find out there's this secret STI that isn't routinely checked for for some reason...so you've got to go through it all again, is quite annoying.

@YoureAQuizardHarry I know you said you worked in a GUM clinic. Based on the fact there is an occasional greenish discharge that comes and goes but no other symptoms, would you say Trich is likely or could it be other things? Not asking for a diagnosis, just what you've seen before.

I’ve learned about it a very long time ago when I learned about sexual health.
It would be a continuous quite substantial discharge and you’d know it wasn’t thrush or the normal monthly discharge and you would certainly want it treated ASAP. Both partners need to take a short course of tablets.

@Branster from what I've read online the symptoms aren't always that obvious. It says up to 70% of people have no symptoms at all. But there is a lot of conflicting information on google. One part says that it can't travel up the vaginal tract into the reproductive organs but others say it can be a cause of PID. I guess I just find it strange how ever other infection is tested for at a screening except this...

In any case my symptoms are not continuous or severe or causing me discomfort. But still noticeable enough to get me googling I guess.

Yeah a lot of people are symptomless. I'm sorry you're going through this. Your GP definitely should have tested for it initially!

I don't think it's likely to be anything else but obviously I can't diagnose through mumsnet! It doesn't tend to travel unlike other stis, or cause PID however there are obviously exceptions to the rule. It can increase your likelihood of getting a different STI but if you're clear for those then again it's extremely unlikely.

Sorry Sugartits87 my (mis)information is over 20 years old and hasn’t been applied to real life, just general knowledge and when learning about it I got the idea that it is one of the more unpleasant common STDs in terms of discharge (but painless) and doesn’t show signs in men.
YoureAQuizardHarry knows the proper information.
I agree that it should be part of standard testing especially as it is so easy to treat.
A GUM clinic is probably a better place to get all tests done rather than rely on GP service.
If it makes any difference, I come from a different country so maybe it was more common there. When I met DH, I made him take all tests possible before we slept together without a condom (I’m an inborn hypochondriac and actually wrote a list for him which included this one , I doubt he took the list to the dr )
I hope you get it sorted and put it behind you.

Very luckily managed to get a GP appointment today only to be told that they can't test me for this here. Once again they only do 'the main ones'.

So I'll have to go to the GUM clinic which is miles away and a real pain to get to not to mention the fact that I have loads on this week and a holiday next week. She did do a urine test which showed no sign of infection in general. Not sure if that's relevant.

Pissed off. GP did say not to worry too much as it's an uncommon STI.