What are the symptoms of trichomoniasis?

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Many people who have trichomoniasis do not experience symptoms. If you're infected, symptoms may appear 5 to 28 days after exposure.1

Symptoms of trichomoniasis in women1,2

  • Yellow, green, or gray vaginal discharge (often foamy or sticky) with a strong odor
  • Irritation, itching, soreness or redness of the genital area
  • Discomfort or pain during intercourse and urination
  • Lower abdominal pain (only in rare cases)
  • Signs that worsen during menstruation

Symptoms of trichomoniasis in men

Most men who are infected with trichomoniasis do not experience any symptoms.1 However, some men may notice:

  • Genital discharge
  • Irritation and burning after urination or ejaculation

If you or your partner are experiencing symptoms of trichomoniasis, it's important to see a doctor for treatment immediately. Men with trichomoniasis — even those who have never had symptoms or whose symptoms have disappeared — can continue to infect or re-infect female partners until they have been treated.1

Complications of trichomoniasis

If left untreated, trichomoniasis can lead to very serious complications. In women, it can increase the risk of infertility, cervical cancer, pelvic inflammatory disease, preterm birth, and postoperative infection.3-6 Trichomoniasis can also make you more susceptible to getting HIV from an infected partner, or passing HIV on to your partner if you're infected.1,7,8

In men, untreated trichomoniasis can cause a decrease in sperm count and movement, and a greater risk of infertility.9 Men with trichomoniasis also have a higher risk of acquisition and transmission of HIV, and may be more likely to get infections that cause inflammation of the urethra and prostate.10-13

Important Safety Information

WARNING: POTENTIAL RISK FOR CARCINOGENICITY

Carcinogenicity has been seen in mice and rats treated chronically with metronidazole, another nitroimidazole agent. Although such data have not been reported for tinidazole, the two drugs are structurally related and have similar biologic effects. Its use should be reserved for the conditions described in INDICATIONS AND USAGE.

Contraindications

  • Prior history of hypersensitivity to tinidazole or other nitroimidazole derivatives
  • First trimester of pregnancy
  • Nursing mothers, unless breast-feeding is interrupted during tinidazole therapy and for 3 days following the last dose

Warnings and Precautions

  • Seizures and neuropathy have been reported. Discontinue Tindamax if abnormal neurologic signs develop
  • Vaginal candidiasis may develop with Tindamax and require treatment with an antifungal agent
  • Use Tindamax with caution in patients with blood dyscrasias. Tindamax may produce transient leukopenia and neutropenia

Adverse Reactions

Most common adverse reactions for a single 2 g dose of tinidazole (incidence >1%) are metallic/bitter taste, nausea, weakness/fatigue/malaise, dyspepsia/cramps/epigastric discomfort, vomiting, anorexia, headache, dizziness and constipation. To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Mission Pharmacal Company at 1-800-298-1087 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch

This material is intended to provide basic information. Patients should discuss all medical advice, diagnosis, and treatment with their healthcare provider.

Please see full Prescribing Information

  1. Trichomoniasis CDC Fact Sheet [Internet]. CDC; 2007 Dec [accessed 2008 Jul 18]. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/STD/Trichomonas/Trichomoniasis-Fact-Sheet.pdf
  2. Sobel JD. Vaginitis. N Engl J Med. 1997 Dec 25;337(26):1896-903.
  3. Sherman KJ, Daling JR, Weiss NS. Sexually transmitted diseases and tubal infertility. Sex Transm Dis. 1987 Jan-Mar;14(1):12-6.
  4. Grodstein F, Goldman MB, Cramer DW. Relation of tubal infertility to history of sexually transmitted diseases. Am J Epidemiol. 1993 Mar 1;137(5):577-84.
  5. Gram IT, Macaluso M, Churchill J, Stalsberg H. Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and the incidence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade III. Cancer Causes Control. 1992 May;3(3):231-6.
  6. Moodley P, Wilkinson D, Connolly C, Moodley J, Sturm AW. Trichomonas vaginalis is associated with pelvic inflammatory disease in women infected with human immunodeficiency virus. Clin Infect Dis. 2002 Feb 15;34(4):519-22. Epub 2002 Jan 7.
  7. Sexually Transmitted Diseases Treatment Guidelines 2006 [Internet]. CDC; 2006 Aug 4 [accessed 2008 Jul 18]. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5511a1.htm
  8. Moodley P, Connolly C, Sturm AW. Interrelationships among human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection, bacterial vaginosis, trichomoniasis, and the presence of yeasts. J Infect Dis. 2002 Jan 1;185(1):69-73. Epub 2001 Dec 4.
  9. Gopalkrishnan K, Hinduja IN, Kumar TC. Semen characteristics of asymptomatic males affected by Trichomonas vaginalis. J In Vitro Fert Embryo Transf. 1990 Jun;7(3):165-7.
  10. Hobbs MM, Kazembe P, Reed AW, Miller WC, Nkata E, Zimba D, Daly CC, Chakraborty H, Cohen MS, Hoffman I. Trichomonas vaginalis as a cause of urethritis in Malawian men. Sex Transm Dis. 1999 Aug;26(7):381-7.
  11. Price MA, Zimba D, Hoffman IF, Kaydos-Daniels SC, Miller WC, Martinson F, Chilongozi D, Kip E, Msowoya E, Hobbs MM, Kazembe PN, Cohen MS. Addition of treatment for trichomoniasis to syndromic management of urethritis in Malawi: a randomized clinical trial. Sex Transm Dis. 2003 Jun;30(6):516-22.
  12. Schwebke JR, Hook EW 3rd. High rates of Trichomonas vaginalis among men attending a sexually transmitted diseases clinic: implications for screening and urethritis management. J Infect Dis. 2003 Aug 1;188(3):465-8. Epub 2003 Jul 10.
  13. Skerk V, Schönwald S, Krhen I, Markovinovic L, Beus A, Kuzmanovic NS, Kruzic V, Vince A. Aetiology of chronic prostatitis. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2002 Jun;19(6):471-4.

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Only Tindamax® is approved to treat both bacterial vaginosis and trichomoniasis (TV).

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Oral vs vaginal cream therapy: Patient preference for oral dosing is demonstrated to be 84%. More»

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Tindamax® may be prescribed for other infections including:

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