Trichomoniasis is a common, curable sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the parasitic protozoan, Trichomonas vaginalis. While many people do not experience symptoms, prompt and complete treatment is necessary to prevent health complications and transmission. Successfully resolving the infection depends on following the prescribed treatment plan precisely as instructed. Understanding medication details, partner treatment, and follow-up testing ensures the infection is eliminated and prevents its return.
Taking Your Medication Safely and Effectively
The prescribed medication eliminates the parasite from your system. Begin the medication immediately and complete the full course, even if symptoms disappear quickly. Failing to take every dose can lead to treatment failure, allowing the parasite to survive and potentially develop resistance.
The medication may be prescribed as a single, high dose or as a multiple-day course, such as a pill taken twice daily for seven days. Temporary side effects may include nausea or a metallic taste in the mouth. Taking the dose with food can help reduce stomach upset and improve drug tolerance.
A severe reaction can occur if you consume alcohol while taking this medication. The combination of alcohol and the anti-parasitic drug can lead to a disulfiram-like reaction, causing intense symptoms like severe nausea, vomiting, flushing, and a rapid heart rate. You must completely avoid all alcohol, including beer, wine, and liquor, while taking the medicine and for a specific time afterward.
The required period of abstinence from alcohol is dependent on the specific drug prescribed. It is generally recommended to wait for at least 24 hours after your last dose. If you are taking a medication with a longer half-life, such as tinidazole, the mandatory waiting period extends to 72 hours after the final pill. Adhering to this specific instruction is a serious safety measure to protect your health.
Partner Treatment and Preventing Re-infection
Treating the infection requires ensuring all sexual partners are also treated to prevent re-infection. This recurrence, sometimes called the “ping-pong” effect, happens when an untreated partner passes the parasite back to the person who just completed treatment. Partners must still be treated, even if they show no outward symptoms.
All current sexual partners, and any partners within the last two months, need to be notified and receive simultaneous treatment. In some locations, this can be done through Expedited Partner Therapy (EPT), where a prescription is provided without a separate medical examination. Simultaneous treatment breaks the chain of transmission and improves the chance of a lasting cure.
You must completely abstain from all sexual activity, including vaginal, anal, and oral sex, until both you and all your sexual partners have finished the full medication course. It is also important to wait until all symptoms have completely resolved before resuming sexual contact. This period of abstinence is typically recommended for at least seven days after the last pill is taken by everyone involved in the treatment plan.
Once cured, reducing the risk of future infection is accomplished through consistent use of barrier methods. Using a new condom correctly every time you engage in sexual intercourse significantly lowers the likelihood of acquiring this and other STIs. Open communication with new partners about STI testing and status is also important for long-term prevention.
Follow-Up Care and Confirming the Cure
The symptoms of trichomoniasis, such as discharge or irritation, should begin to clear up within a few days of starting the medication. If your symptoms worsen or fail to show any improvement after completing the full course of treatment, you must contact your healthcare provider immediately. Persistent symptoms may indicate that the initial treatment was unsuccessful and that a different medication regimen is required.
Because re-infection is common, a follow-up test, known as a Test of Cure (TOC), is highly recommended for women. This re-testing ensures that the parasite has been completely eradicated and is not simply dormant. The most accurate time to perform this test is typically three weeks to three months after you have finished your medication.
For women, current guidelines suggest re-screening at approximately three months after treatment completion, regardless of whether they believe they have been re-exposed. This follow-up measure is important because about one in five people treated for this infection become re-infected within this timeframe. Using a sensitive diagnostic method, such as a Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT), provides the most reliable confirmation of a cure.
Maintaining regular STI screening is a sensible practice for all sexually active individuals, even after successful treatment for this infection. Continued screening helps ensure early detection and prompt treatment for any future exposures. This proactive approach to sexual health helps safeguard your well-being and prevents the transmission of infections to others.