From the Guidelines
Trichomoniasis in males is treated with a single dose of metronidazole 2 grams orally or tinidazole 2 grams orally, as recommended by the most recent guidelines 1. These medications are antiprotozoal agents that effectively kill the Trichomonas vaginalis parasite causing the infection. The treatment is typically completed in just one day, making it convenient and highly effective with cure rates exceeding 90% 1. It's essential that sexual partners also receive treatment simultaneously to prevent reinfection, and patients should abstain from alcohol consumption during treatment and for 24 hours after taking metronidazole (or 72 hours after tinidazole) to avoid a disulfiram-like reaction that can cause nausea, vomiting, and headaches. Some key points to consider in the treatment of Trichomoniasis include:
- Sexual activity should be avoided until both partners have completed treatment and symptoms have resolved, typically about a week.
- While many men with trichomoniasis are asymptomatic, treatment is still necessary as they can transmit the infection to partners and occasionally develop urethritis symptoms like discharge or burning with urination.
- Follow-up testing is not routinely needed if symptoms resolve after treatment, as stated in the guidelines 1. The most recent and highest quality study, published in 2015, supports the use of metronidazole or tinidazole as the first-line treatment for Trichomoniasis in males 1. In cases where treatment failure occurs, the patient should be re-treated with metronidazole 500 mg twice a day for 7 days, as recommended by the guidelines 1. Overall, the treatment of Trichomoniasis in males is straightforward and effective, with a high cure rate and minimal risk of complications when treated promptly and properly.
From the FDA Drug Label
In the Male Treatment should be individualized as for the female Trichomoniasis In the Female One-day treatment— two grams of metronidazole tablets, given either as a single dose or in two divided doses of one gram each given in the same day Seven-day course of treatment— 250 mg three times daily for seven consecutive days.
The treatment for Trichomoniasis (Trich) in males is the same as for females, which can be individualized. The dosage can be either a one-day treatment of 2 grams of Metronidazole or a seven-day course of 250 mg three times daily. 2
- One-day treatment: 2 grams of Metronidazole
- Seven-day course: 250 mg three times daily for seven consecutive days
Alternatively, Tinidazole can be used for the treatment of trichomoniasis caused by Trichomonas vaginalis, although the specific dosage for males is not provided in the label. 3
From the Research
Treatment for Trichomoniasis (Trich) in Males
- The treatment for Trichomoniasis in males typically involves the use of antiprotozoal medications, such as metronidazole or tinidazole 4, 5.
- A single 2g dose of tinidazole has been shown to be effective in treating urogenital trichomoniasis in males 4, 6.
- Metronidazole is also effective in treating Trichomoniasis, with a single daily dose of 1.5g being used in some studies 5.
- The use of a single large dose of metronidazole or tinidazole has been shown to be effective in treating urogenital infections with Trichomonas vaginalis in men, with satisfactory results and a reduced likelihood of recurrence in infected wives 5.
- In cases where the infection is resistant to metronidazole or tinidazole, other medications such as disulfiram and nithiamide may be effective 7.
Comparison of Treatment Options
- Tinidazole and metronidazole have been compared in several studies, with tinidazole being shown to be equivalent or superior to metronidazole in some cases 4, 6.
- A single 2g dose of tinidazole has been shown to be as effective as a 2g single dose of metronidazole in treating vaginal trichomoniasis, with cure rates of 95% and 97.5% respectively 6.
- The use of a single 2g dose of metronidazole has been compared to a seven-day course of 250mg three times daily, with similar cure rates and minimal side effects 8.