Trichomonas in women and men
Content:
- Trichomonas symptoms
- Causes of Trichomonas infection
- Diagnostics of the Trichomonas
- Trichomonas treatment
- Trichomonas: what is allowed and what is not?
Who is Trichomonas?
Trichomonas is the simplest unicellular microorganism from the flagellate class, which is widespread. Trichomonas in women and men causes a disease called trichomoniasis. Its main symptoms are similar to those of genitourinary infections such as cystitis, colpitis, urethritis, proctitis, etc. In general, three types of Trichomonas can exist in the human body: oral, intestinal and vaginal. The last of the listed species is the largest, most active and pathogenic. Oral and intestinal Trichomonas do not pose a danger to human health.
Trichomonas have flagella, which are their means of transportation. It is thanks to the flagella that microorganisms are able to actively move. Trichomonas have no gender, they reproduce by longitudinal division. They are able to exist not only in the human body, but also outside it. Although the structure of Trichomonas is very simple, in general, this unicellular is a separate microorganism.
Trichomonas size varies in length from 13 to 18 microns. The small size and high plasticity of the body allows Trichomonas to penetrate even into the intercellular space.
Trichomonas are anaerobic organisms that do not require oxygen. An oxygen-free humid environment with a temperature of 35-37 ° C is considered optimal for these microorganisms. They are attached to the mucous membrane of the genitourinary tract and provoke the development of the inflammatory process. The person suffers from general intoxication, the patient's immunity worsens.
Trichomonas are able to exist not only in the genitals of a person, but also in the blood vessels. They get there through the lymphatic tract. Trichomonas are perfectly adapted to life inside the human body. They are able to disguise themselves as platelets and lymphocytes, they can carry other microbes on themselves, thereby preventing the immune system from destroying its own cells.
Another danger of Trichomonas is their ability to "hide" other pathogenic microorganisms inside themselves, including: gonococci, herpes virus, ureaplasma, etc. With the help of active and mobile Trichomonas, other bacteria have the opportunity to penetrate the blood vessels and spread faster through the genitourinary system. In addition, Trichomonas disrupt the integrity of the epithelial integument, thereby accelerating the process of infection with other sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.
Although modern venereology has effective drugs to combat Trichomonas, the disease is widespread. Trichomoniasis is in first place among all diagnosed diseases of the genitourinary system, and also holds the leading position among all sexually transmitted infections. WHO indicates that about 10% of the world's population are carriers of Trichomonas. Every year alone, the official increase in infected people is 170 million.
Basically, the disease affects women aged 16 to 35 years. It is possible to transmit the infection to the child during childbirth, this happens in 5% of cases. However, children tolerate the infection more easily, and in some cases, self-healing is possible.
In men, the urethra, testicles, prostate and seminal vesicles are primarily affected. In women, the most vulnerable organs are the vagina, urethra, cervical canal (its vaginal part).
One of the leading dangers of Trichomonas in women and men is the development of infertility and various pathologies of pregnancy.
Microorganisms die under the following conditions: drying, heating above 45 ° C, exposure to direct ultraviolet rays. Therefore, it is not possible to find them, for example, in public baths, in open water bodies or in crowded places.
Trichomonas symptoms
Symptoms of Trichomonas in men and women will differ, however, the incubation period for all infected can range from 2 days to 2 months. If the disease is latent, the first signs of trichomoniasis may appear even after several months. This will happen when the immune system fails. Long-term hidden Trichomonas carriage is possible, but acute, subacute and chronic infection is also possible.
Symptoms of Trichomonas in women
In women, the disease is most often manifested more clearly than in men. Therefore, the first symptoms of Trichomonas in women can occur as early as 4 days after infection. The microorganism is capable of infecting the cervix, vagina and urethra
The symptoms will be as follows:
- Profuse vaginal discharge. They foam, have an unpleasant odor, yellow or green tint.
- If gardnerellosis joins trichomoniasis, the smell of discharge becomes sharper and resembles a fishy smell.
- During intercourse, a woman may experience painful sensations.
- During the process of emptying the bladder, pains, a burning sensation join. The woman has frequent urge to urinate. Cramps and pains indicate the development of urethritis.
- The vulva becomes swollen and hyperemic. In 100% of cases, there is a burning sensation and itching in the vaginal area.
- Painful sensations in the lower abdomen for trichomoniasis are not typical, although such complaints from patients sometimes come.
- The skin of the perineum may be covered with small sores and abrasions. This is due to the irritating effect of leucorrhoea on the dermis. The development of dermatitis of the inner thighs is possible.
- During a gynecological examination on the mirrors, the doctor visualizes the reddened and edematous mucous membrane of the vagina. It is all covered with abundant foam, the cervix is soft, with slight contact with the mirrors, blood can appear. If you bring the mucous membrane of the cervix closer, then you can find multiple small capillary hemorrhages (petechiae) on it.
Before the next menstruation, the symptoms of Trichomonas in women intensify. If a girl becomes infected, who becomes infected through the household by a sick mother, then in childhood trichomoniasis proceeds as vulvovaginitis with periodic exacerbations. During the acute stage, the symptoms of trichomoniasis in girls are similar to those of trichomoniasis in adult women.
As for the chronic form of the disease, it occurs in the absence of adequate treatment. This happens two months after infection. Trichomoniasis is also possible. Chronic illness does not give itself out for years, the symptoms of infection, if they appear, they are very scarce. Approximately 4% of patients complain of recurrent symptoms of dysuria, and 5% of patients experience some kind of sexual dysfunction. However, it is precisely the erased forms of the disease that are especially dangerous not only for their complications, but also are of great importance in terms of the spread of infection.
Symptoms of Trichomonas in men
Symptoms of Trichomonas in men are as follows:
- The occurrence of a burning sensation and cramps during urination.
- Mild pain is possible when emptying the bladder.
- The urge to urinate becomes more frequent, especially in the morning hours. Sometimes these urges are false.
- In some cases, scanty discharge from the urethra is observed. The discharge has the character of mucus.
- Immediately after intercourse, severe itching and burning may appear.
- Rare symptoms include inflammation of the midsection and the appearance of erosions on the mucous membrane of the glans penis.
- Another rare symptom of Trichomonas in men is the discharge of blood from the urethra.
Severe symptoms of Trichomonas, which would force a man to urgently seek medical help, are extremely rare. As the disease progresses, the urethra narrows and urination is impaired more and more. Damage to the bladder and kidneys is possible. In 40% of cases, prostatitis is observed, it is possible that the prostate and the epididymis are involved in the inflammatory process. It is men who most often turn out to be hidden carriers of Trichomonas.
Causes of Trichomonas infection
Trichomonas are sexually transmitted. This includes any types of contacts: anal, oral-vaginal intercourse, etc. Transmission of a microorganism in a household way is possible, but this is extremely rare. The fact is that for several hours Trichomonas can remain active, being, for example, in lumps of mucus or pus on washcloths, sponges, towels. Little girls become infected in this way, but this also happens very rarely.
Causes of Trichomonas infection in women
It should be understood that a necessary condition for the development of the disease is the acidity of the medium in the range from 5.5 to 6.6. This level of pH in a woman's vaginal contents is observed during and after menstruation.
In addition, a drop in natural immune strength can be observed for the following reasons:
- Abortion, childbirth.
- Alcohol abuse, smoking.
- Frequent sex with different partners without using a condom.
- General diseases and chronic diseases that affect the state of the immune forces.
- Failure to comply with the rules of personal hygiene.
It has been established that trichomoniasis is diagnosed as monoinfection in only 10.5% of cases. In all other situations, patients have concomitant latent infections (chlamydia, gonorrhea, ureaplasmosis, etc.).
Causes of Trichomonas in men
For both women and men, sexual contact is the main mode of transmission. At the same time, the male sex susceptibility to a pathogenic microorganism is very high, but the symptoms of the disease are very scarce.
Diagnostics of the Trichomonas
Diagnosis of Trichomonas begins with an examination of the patient. However, it is impossible to diagnose solely on clinical signs of the disease for the following reasons:
- Symptoms of trichomoniasis can be symptoms of other urogenital diseases, both in women and in men.
- Small-point hemorrhages on the mucous membrane of the cervix are a symptom pathognomonic for trichomoniasis in women. However, it can be detected only in 2% of patients.
- Foamy discharge is also not always observed, but only in 12% of women.
Nevertheless, the patient's complaints and clinical signs of trichomoniasis allow one to suspect the presence of infection.
The basis for the diagnosis of the disease is made up of laboratory methods, including:
- Microscopic examination of a smear from the urethra and vagina in women and a smear from the urethra in men. The examination of smears must be carried out no later than 30 minutes from the moment of their collection. The reliability of the method ranges from 40 to 60%.
- Immunological method.
- Microbiological method or tank culture for Trichomonas.
- PCR diagnostics. The advantage of this method is that it can diagnose the disease in 100% of cases. Any biological fluid of the patient can be suitable for the study: blood, saliva, scraping from the urethra or vagina. In addition, the result can be obtained the very next day.
It should be noted that it is more difficult to detect the disease in men than in women, which is associated not only with scanty symptoms. Often with Trichomonas, microorganisms are in an atypical amoeba form.
Trichomonas treatment
Treatment of Trichomonas is a process often not too extended in time.
However, it requires compliance with certain conditions both on the part of the patient and on the part of the patient, among them:
- Regardless of whether the second sexual partner has symptoms of the disease, he must undergo full treatment.
- Intimate life in any of its manifestations should be absolutely prohibited. Sexual life should be absent until both partners are negative for trichomoniasis. Only in this way can reinfection be guaranteed.
- Taking specific antiprotozoal drugs is a prerequisite to guarantee a complete recovery.
- If there are other genitourinary infections, then they are also subject to treatment.
- During the course of therapy, alcohol is prohibited, a gentle diet is shown with the refusal of spicy foods.
Self-medication of trichomoniasis is unacceptable, all drugs are prescribed only by a doctor, based on laboratory diagnostics.
Trichomonas treatment is carried out using the following drugs:
- Metronidazole and Metronidazole derivatives: Flagil, Trichopolum, Tinidazole, etc.
- Systemic therapy is necessarily complemented by local treatment. Only in this case can the desired effect be achieved. Therefore, patients are prescribed vaginal suppositories (Klion-D, Betadine, Terzhinan) and gels, for example, Metrogyl vaginal gel. For men, local treatment with Rosamet or Rozex creams is indicated.
- If there is no possibility of oral administration of drugs, then Osarcid suppositories are prescribed, which have a destructive effect on the enzyme system of pathogenic organisms. In parallel, streptocide is used, which relieves inflammation.
There are several treatment regimens for Trichomonas, among them:
- Seven or ten-day course of taking Trichopolum, 1 tablet 0.5 g 2 times a day.
- A single dose of four tablets of tinidazole at a dosage of 0.5 g.
- Seven-day course of taking Fazizhin 150 mg 2 times a day.
The chronic form of Trichomonas is treated in almost the same way as the acute form. However, with a prolonged course of infection, the human immune system suffers, therefore, standard regimens can be supplemented by the intake of immunostimulants, adaptogens and vitamin complexes.
During treatment, certain rules for personal hygiene should be followed. First, you need to wash yourself using antiseptic drugs (solution of potassium permanganate or Furacilin). Secondly, the underwear must be changed daily. Thirdly, it is allowed to use only individual washcloths, sponges and towels. This will prevent infection of family members, and in particular children.
After completing the full course of treatment for Trichomonas, three tests are required, which is carried out once a month. Only in this way will it be possible to make sure that Trichomonas have been completely eliminated from the body.
It is important to remember that drugs that have a detrimental effect on Trichomonas are incompatible with alcohol, since they all provoke the development of an antabuse syndrome. Therefore, in order to avoid serious poisoning, you must stop drinking any alcoholic beverages. An exception to this rule is Ornidazole.
Gynecologists, urologists and venereologists are involved in the treatment of Trichomonas. After undergoing treatment of persistent immunity, the human body is not able to develop, therefore, re-infection is quite possible.
For pregnant women, the possibility of therapy is determined by the observing physician. Treatment can be carried out no earlier than 2 trimesters.
Sometimes Trichomonas are resistant to drugs from the 5-nitroimidazole group. As a rule, such resistance is partial and adjusting the dose or frequency of administration allows you to solve the existing problem. In order to prevent the development of drug resistance of microorganisms, it is necessary to strictly follow the medical instructions.
Prevention of the disease is reduced to a reasonable approach in terms of organizing sexual activity. This will make it possible to protect yourself not only from trichomoniasis, but also from other sexually transmitted infections.
Trichomonas: what is allowed and what is not?
- Can I have sex during Trichomonas treatment? Having sex during the treatment of Trichomonas is strictly prohibited. Moreover, one should abandon intimate life until the results of the therapy are known.
- Can Trichomonas be infected through oral sex? You can get Trichomonas through oral sex.
- Is Trichomonas transmitted through kissing? No, Trichomonas is not transmitted through a kiss.
- Can there be bleeding with Trichomonas? Trichomonas infection does not provoke the development of bleeding. Multiple point hemorrhages of the mucous membrane of the cervix are possible, however, it is impossible to attribute the appearance of the so-called symptom of "strawberry cervix" to bleeding. Very rarely, a small amount of blood in women appears after intercourse.
Author of the article: Danilova Tatyana Vyacheslavovna | Infectionist
Education: in 2008 received a diploma in General Medicine (General Medicine) at the Pirogov Russian Research Medical University. Immediately passed an internship and received a diploma of a therapist
