Trichomoniasis, Greenish yellow, Cream Colored Vaginal Discharge

Trichomoniasis is a very common sexually transmitted disease and is easily curable. It is estimated that each year nearly 74,00,000 new cases of trichomoniasis occur in both men and women worldwide (2014). Trichomonas vaginalis is the parasite that causes this infection. Both men and women can harbour this parasite but it the woman who faces the symptoms and trouble. Men may have this parasite inside their urogenital tract but usually, it doesn’t produce any symptom in them. Sometime a man may feel some discomfort after ejaculation or urination but this is not common. So men mostly behave as a carrier.

Signs and symptoms of trichomoniasis

Trichomoniasis is asymptomatic in males but females may show the following signs and symptoms;

• Copious, frothy, greenish yellow or cream-coloured vaginal discharge.
• Valvar itching and burning
• Painful urination
• Reddish vaginal and cervical mucosa, tender and eroded.
• Painful sexual intercourse

View of Cervix in Trichomoniasis

Diagnosis of Trichomoniasis

Whenever you go to a doctor complaining of vaginal or urethral discharge, the doctor asks for microscopic examination and culture of the discharge fluid. Microscopic examination of the fluid may reveal bacteria (after following specific staining techniques) or parasites and culture techniques reveal specific bacteria if present.
In cases of trichomoniasis, the microbiologist identifies the causative agent, the flagellated trichomonas vaginalis.

Treatment of Trichomoniasis

It is treated with a drug called metronidazole. Both male and female partners should get treatment. It is curable. Consult your doctor if you are pregnant.
Is Trichomoniasis Harmful?
Trichomoniasis is easily treatable with a single drug called metronidazole. But if you don’t get the treatment, then because of the inflammation and erosions in the vagina, you may get other infections easily. For example, you may get other sexually transmitted diseases more easily as compared to a healthy woman.
If you are pregnant, then you may suffer from an early miscarriage or premature delivery.