What Causes Trichomonas?

Posted on Tue, 24 Mar 2015

Question: I was diagnosed with trichomonias last week. I haven't been with anyone else and my partner swears neither has he. Is it possible that either one of us could have had it and it lay dormant, just now appearing?

Answered by Dr. Sheetal Verma (27 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Yes possible to get without intercourse but rare.

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX
Thanks for your query at HCM
I understand your concern and situation.

Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted disease caused by a parasitic infection. Normally acquired via sexual intercourse with an infected partner. Mostly people do not have any symptoms. If you do get symptoms, they usually happen within 5 to 28 days after being infected.Symptoms in women include yellow-greenish discharge or pain during sex, odour and difficulty in urination, itching in or near the vagina.Most men do not have symptoms. If infective they get whitish discharge from the penis and painful or difficult urination or ejaculation.

Now coming to your question is it possible to contract trichomoniasis without engaging in sexual intercourse answer is yes but it is less common. In the NHANES 2001-2004 study conducted among females aged 14-49 years it was found that 1% of women with trichomoniasis had no history of sexual intercourse.So if you both trust it could be true in your case. Complete your antibiotics. You have not mentioned your symptoms? How diagnosis was made? It could be possible that trichomonas hominis which is commonly found in intestines is misjudged as trichomonas vaginalis.

I hope I answered your query.
If no clarifications then you can close the discussion and rate the answer.
Take care best of health.
Dr. Sheetal Verma
Infectious diseases Specialist

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Sheetal Verma (46 minutes later)

my question wasn't if it could be gotten by anything other than sexual intercourse...my question was, is it possible to have the disease and it lay dormant for ...say 2 years and then become active. Could either one of us have gotten this from someone else a number of years ago....

Answered by Dr. Sheetal Verma (37 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Yes it is possible.

Detailed Answer:
Hi dear.
Yes it is possible. Trichomoniasis can lay dormant for up to 5 years without showing any symptoms. This is especially common in men, whereas women tend to get symptoms a lot earlier.
Take care.

Note: Consult a Sexual Diseases Specialist online for further follow up- Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj