Video Transcription

Trike

Trichomoniasis, pronounced “trike” for short, is a sexually transmitted infection common all over the world. Trike is spread by unprotected sex, so wearing condoms will decrease the risk of getting trike.

Symptoms of a trike infection appear within one to four weeks after contact with an infected partner. As with some other STIs, there may be no symptoms, so both women and men may not know they have the infection. However, many women do have symptoms, including the following: a change in the color, amount, or smell of vaginal discharge; itching; discomfort; irritation or burning around the opening of the vagina; pain or discomfort during sex; pain or discomfort in the lower abdomen; burning or stinging when urinating or after urinating; and needing to urinate more frequently.

Men with trike may have the following symptoms: discharge from the penis, burning, stinging, or discomfort when urinating, and needing to urinate more frequently. Many of these symptoms are common to other STIs, which is why it is important to have a thorough sexual health check.

Trike infections in women are usually diagnosed by taking a vaginal swab. If you feel really uncomfortable with a doctor or nurse taking the swab, you can take a vaginal swab yourself while at the clinic with a doctor or nurse present. Occasionally, trike infections may be noted on a pap smear, but this is not a reliable test, so if there is a risk, a swab test should be taken. In men, it is most often diagnosed by a urine test. If the man has discharge from the penis, then a swab should also be taken.

Trike can be easily treated with a specific antibiotic. There are a couple of commonly prescribed treatments. Both of these medications can cause some side effects, such as nausea and vomiting. Taking these treatments with food reduces these side effects. Alcohol should be avoided during treatment and for 48 hours after finishing the treatment. This is because drinking alcohol while taking these medicines can make you feel unwell.

All sexual partners should be treated as well, and this should happen even if the partner or partners have no symptoms.

Always using a condom is the best way to avoid getting trike. Having a thorough sexual health check if you have any unusual symptoms or signs will mean trike and any other sexually transmitted infections will be picked up and treatment can be given. And remember, help is always available from your local doctor or sexual health clinic.

Video by Youth Projects