Symptoms of Trichomoniasis in Adults
Most men infected with Trichomonas vaginalis are asymptomatic, while many women present with a diffuse, malodorous, yellow-green vaginal discharge accompanied by vulvar irritation, though some women also have minimal or no symptoms. 1
Symptoms in Women
Symptomatic women typically present with:
- Diffuse, malodorous, yellow-green vaginal discharge (characteristic presentation) 1
- Vulvar irritation and inflammation 1
- Vaginal discharge may be frothy in appearance 2
- Vaginitis and cervicitis 3, 4
- Vaginal soreness 4
- Dyspareunia (painful intercourse) 2
- External dysuria (painful urination) 2
However, a significant proportion of infected women remain asymptomatic or have minimal symptoms, making screening important in high-risk populations 1, 3
Symptoms in Men
The majority of men with T. vaginalis infection are asymptomatic, which contributes to ongoing transmission 1
When symptomatic, men may develop:
Special Considerations in Pregnant Women
Pregnant women with trichomoniasis present with the same symptoms as non-pregnant women (malodorous yellow-green discharge with vulvar irritation when symptomatic) 1
Critical pregnancy-related complications include:
These adverse pregnancy outcomes make identification and treatment particularly important in pregnant women, even though many remain asymptomatic 1
Clinical Pitfalls
The high rate of asymptomatic infection in both sexes (particularly men) means that:
- Screening based solely on symptoms will miss many cases 3
- Sexual partners of infected individuals should be treated regardless of symptoms 1, 6
- Failure to treat asymptomatic partners leads to reinfection 6
Additional health implications beyond symptoms: