Can a female get Trichomonas (Trichomoniasis) from a male partner through sexual contact?

Transmission of Trichomoniasis from Male to Female

Yes, females can definitely get trichomoniasis from male sexual partners through sexual contact. 1 Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the parasite Trichomonas vaginalis that can be transmitted between partners during sexual activity.

Transmission Dynamics

Trichomoniasis transmission occurs primarily through:

• Sexual intercourse with an infected partner
• Genital-to-genital contact even without penetration

Research shows that among women with trichomoniasis, a high percentage have male partners who are also infected:

• In studies of heterosexual couples, 71.7% of male partners of women with trichomoniasis were found to be infected 2
• Most infected males (77.3%) are asymptomatic, which facilitates ongoing transmission 2

Clinical Presentation

In Women:

• Many women develop symptoms including:
  • Diffuse, malodorous, yellow-green vaginal discharge
  • Vulvar irritation
  • Vaginal soreness
• However, many infections are asymptomatic or have minimal symptoms 1

In Men:

• Most men (approximately 80%) are asymptomatic 1
• Some may develop nongonococcal urethritis
• Can cause urethritis, epididymitis, and prostatitis in symptomatic cases 1

Diagnosis

Trichomoniasis can be diagnosed through several methods:

• Microscopic examination of vaginal secretions (wet mount) - 60-70% sensitivity 1, 3
• Culture in specialized media (higher sensitivity) 3
• Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) - highest sensitivity and preferred method 1, 3

Treatment Considerations

Treatment is essential for both the infected woman and her male partner(s):

• The recommended treatment is metronidazole 500mg orally twice daily for 7 days 3
• Alternative treatment: tinidazole 2g orally in a single dose 3, 4
• Both partners must be treated simultaneously to prevent reinfection 1, 4

For male partners specifically:

• Since trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted disease with potentially serious sequelae, partners of infected patients should be treated simultaneously 4
• The recommended dose for males is the same as for females: a single 2g oral dose of tinidazole taken with food 4

Partner Management Challenges

Partner notification and treatment is critical but challenging:

• Studies show that partner referral methods have limited success 5
• Only a minority of male partners seek care through traditional partner referral approaches 6
• Partner-delivered therapy (where the woman delivers medication to her partner) has shown better outcomes in reducing reinfection rates compared to standard partner referral 6

Prevention

To prevent transmission and reinfection:

• Consistent and correct condom use can reduce the risk of transmission 1
• Both partners should be treated simultaneously 1, 4
• Abstain from sexual intercourse until both partners have completed treatment 3
• All recent sex partners (within 60 days) should be evaluated, tested, and treated 3

Health Implications

Untreated trichomoniasis can lead to:

• In women: vaginitis, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), preterm labor, and increased HIV transmission risk 1
• In men: urethritis, epididymitis, and prostatitis 1

The high prevalence of asymptomatic infection in males (77.3%) highlights the importance of partner treatment regardless of symptoms to break the cycle of reinfection 2.