Trichomoniasis
What Increases Your Risk
Sexually active women from ages 16 to 35 are most affected by trichomoniasis (trich). It is thought that 1 in 5 women in this age group will become infected at some time.4
Behaviours that will increase your risk of getting trich include:
- Not using condoms when having sex with a new partner or a partner who may have been exposed to a sexually transmitted infection (STI). STIs are also called sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). It is possible for a partner to transmit the trich parasite without having any symptoms of the infection.
- Having many sex partners, which increases your risk of being exposed to someone who has trich. Teenagers and young adults are at higher risk for getting trich and other STIs because their sex partners often have had other recent partners who may carry an STI.
You can get other STIs, such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, HIV, and syphilis, at the same time you get a trich infection. If one STI is diagnosed, testing for other STIs should be done so that all infections can be treated at the same time.
Some diseases that can be spread through sexual contact, such as the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, are life-threatening. Studies show that trich infection may increase the risk of transmitting HIV infection.5 Health professionals around the world are concerned about the increased risk of trichomoniasis and HIV.
Women with trich may also be at risk for other vaginal infections. About 20% of women with trich also have a yeast infection and many also have bacterial vaginosis.6
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| Author: | Amy Fackler, MA Debby Golonka, MPH Carrie Henley | Last Updated: November 13, 2006 |
| Medical Review: | Larry J. Anderson, MD - Infectious Disease Renée M. Crichlow, MD - Family Medicine Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Jeanne Marrazzo, MD, MPH - Infectious Disease Deborah A. Penava, BA, MD, FRCSC, MPH - Obstetrics and Gynecology | |
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