From the Guidelines
Yes, men can have trichomoniasis, a sexually transmitted infection caused by the parasite Trichomonas vaginalis that can affect both men and women. According to the most recent and highest quality study available, 1, Trichomonas vaginalis can be diagnosed in men through various methods, including nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs), which are the most sensitive and specific tests for detecting the infection. In men, the infection typically occurs in the urethra, but many men with trichomoniasis (about 70-85%) don't experience any symptoms, which is why it often goes undetected. When symptoms do appear, they may include:
- Itching or irritation inside the penis
- Burning after urination or ejaculation
- Unusual discharge from the penis The standard treatment for trichomoniasis is a single dose of metronidazole (2 grams) or tinidazole (2 grams) taken by mouth, as recommended by earlier studies 1. It's essential that both sexual partners get treated simultaneously to prevent reinfection, even if one partner has no symptoms. Men should abstain from sex until both they and their partner(s) have completed treatment and are symptom-free. Trichomoniasis spreads through unprotected sexual contact, and using condoms can help reduce the risk of transmission. The infection can persist for months or years if left untreated, potentially leading to complications like prostatitis or increased risk of HIV transmission.
From the FDA Drug Label
Metronidazole tablets are indicated for the treatment of symptomatic trichomoniasis in females and males when the presence of the trichomonad has been confirmed by appropriate laboratory procedures (wet smears and/or cultures) T. vaginalis infection is a venereal disease. Therefore, asymptomatic sexual partners of treated patients should be treated simultaneously if the organism has been found to be present, in order to prevent reinfection of the partner The decision as to whether to treat an asymptomatic male partner who has a negative culture or one for whom no culture has been attempted is an individual one. The recommended dose in both females and males is a single 2 g oral dose taken with food. Since trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted disease, sexual partners should be treated with the same dose and at the same time. 2 3
Yes, a man can have trichomoniasis.
- The disease is sexually transmitted and can affect both males and females.
- Treatment for trichomoniasis is available for both symptomatic and asymptomatic males.
From the Research
Trichomoniasis in Men
- Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the parasite Trichomonas vaginalis 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.
- In men, Trichomonas vaginalis infection is typically asymptomatic, but it can cause non-gonococcal urethritis 4, 7, 8.
- The infection can be diagnosed using nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs), which have increased the detection of T. vaginalis in men compared to culture 7, 8.
- Factors associated with concordant infection in male partners of women with trichomoniasis include a vaginal pH of >4.5 in the woman and younger male age (20-29 and 30-39 years) 8.
Prevalence and Transmission
- Trichomoniasis is the most common non-viral sexually transmitted disease worldwide, with an estimated 276 million new cases each year and a prevalence of 187 million infected individuals 6.
- The infection is transmitted through sexual intercourse, and transmission via fomites is rare 6.
- Male partners of women with trichomoniasis are at high risk of infection, with a detection rate of 71.7% in one study 8.
Diagnosis and Treatment
- Diagnosis of Trichomonas vaginalis infection can be made using direct microscopic examination of a wet mount of vaginal fluid or urethral discharge, culture, or NAATs 4, 7, 8.
- Treatment of trichomoniasis typically involves the use of metronidazole or tinidazole, although cure failures can occur due to noncompliance, reinfection, or drug resistance 4, 6, 7.