Trichomonas vaginalis - Symptoms of trichomoniasis
- Introduction
- Symptoms of trichomoniasis
- Diagnosing trichomoniasis
- Treating trichomoniasis
- Preventing trichomoniasis
Symptoms of trichomoniasis usually develop within a month of infection, although up to half of all infected men and women have no symptoms.
The symptoms of trichomoniasis are similar to those of many other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Visit your GP or local genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic if you develop any of the symptoms below.
Symptoms in women
Trichomoniasis mainly affects the vagina and urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the body) in women, causing any of the following symptoms:
- abnormal vaginal discharge that may be thick, thin or frothy and yellow-green in colour
- producing more discharge than normal, which may also have an unpleasant fishy smell
- soreness, inflammation (swelling) and itching around the vagina – sometimes your inner thighs also become itchy
- pain or discomfort when passing urine or having sex
- pain in your lower abdomen (tummy)
Symptoms in men
Trichomoniasis mainly affects the urethra in men, although the foreskin, head of the penis and prostate gland (a gland near the bladder that helps produce semen) are occasionally affected.
The infection can cause any of the following symptoms:
- pain during urination or ejaculation
- needing to urinate more frequently than usual
- thin white discharge from the penis
- soreness, swelling and redness around the head of the penis and foreskin (balanitis)
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