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Trichomonas infection (trichomoniasis or "trich") is a very common sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by a single-celled parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis. It primarily affects the genitourinary tract.
read more about trichomonas infection ...The cause is the trichomonas vaginalis parasite. Transmission occurs through skin-to-skin genital contact during sexual activity. The infection is highly transmissible and often causes no symptoms, particularly in men, who can unknowingly transmit the parasite to others.
Symptoms are common in women and include itching, burning, and redness of the genitals, a strong fishy odor, and a frothy, yellow-green vaginal discharge. Men often have no symptoms because the parasite usually resides in the urethra and is expelled during urination, making their infection often transient or hidden.
Diagnosis is made by examining a swab sample under a microscope. Treatment is straightforward and involves a single, large dose of a specific oral antibiotic (metronidazole or tinidazole). Both sexual partners must be treated at the same time.
Trichomonas infection does not directly impact vision. However, like other STIs, the infection can cause systemic inflammation. There are extremely rare reports of the parasite causing eye inflammation or conjunctivitis (pink eye).
Untreated infection increases the risk of other, more serious STIs, such as HIV. In pregnant women, untreated trichomoniasis can increase the risk of premature delivery and low birth weight babies.
Yes, the infection is easily curable with antibiotics.
No, Trichomonas is a protozoan (a single-celled parasite), not a bacterium.
Yes, both the patient and all sexual partners must be treated at the same time to prevent reinfection.
See a doctor if you notice an unusual discharge or discomfort during urination. While primarily an STI, the parasite can rarely be transferred to the eye via contaminated hands, causing "Parasitic Conjunctivitis." Practice strict hand hygiene to avoid ocular transfer.
CDC. Trichomoniasis Fact Sheet (cdc.gov). 2024.
Mayo Clinic. Trichomoniasis (mayoclinic.org). 2024.
StatPearls. Trichomoniasis (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). 2025.
HSE. Trichomonas Infection (hse.ie). 2024.