Diagnosing Trichomonas Vaginalis 

Get tested: 

There are a number of services that test for Trichomonas. Choose the one you feel most comfortable with. 

• Genito-urinary medicine (GUM) or sexual  health clinics. These are free and confidential, with specialist testing facilities and systems  for contacting, testing and treating sexual partners. Details are available in local phone directories, from your local hospital and online from Condom Essential Wear or  the fpa. 
• Some general practices (ask your health care provider or practical nurse). 
• Some contraceptive and young people’s services. 

All tests are free through NHS services. Treatment  is also free unless you go to your general practice, in which case you may have to pay a prescription charge. 

Trichomonas  can sometimes be difficult  to diagnose straight away because there are a lot of conditions  and sexually transmitted infections that  can produce similar symptoms. 

If you do not want  to visit your physician, you could go to your local genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic, where they will  be able to test and treat  your infection. 

Physical examination 

If your health care provider or nurse suspects you have Trichomonas, they will usually carry out  a physical examination of your genital area. 

In a woman, Trichomonas may cause red blotches on the walls of your vagina and on the cervix (the neck of the womb). 

If you are a male with suspected Trichomonas, your physician or nurse will examine your penis to check for any signs of inflammation. 

Laboratory testing 

After carrying out your physical examination, your health care provider may need to take a swab from either the vagina or penis so  that it can be tested for  the Trichomonas infection.  The swab will be sent for analysis at a laboratory. It may take several days for the results to come back. 

If Trichomonas is suspected, you may be able to begin a course of treatment before your results are returned. This will help to ensure that your infection  is treated as soon as possible and also reduces the risk of the  infection spreading. 

Sometimes  a urine sample from a man can also  indicate the infection. A urine sample must also be sent away  for testing. 

If the test shows that you have Trichomonas, it's very important that your current sexual partner and any other recent partners are also tested and treated. The staff at the clinic or general practice can discuss with you which of your sexual partners may need to be tested. 

You may be given a ‘contact slip’ to send or give to your partner(s) or, with your permission; the clinic can do this for you. The slip explains that they may have been exposed to a sexually transmitted  infection and suggests that they go for  a check-up. It  may or may not say what the infection is. It will not have your name on it, so your confidentiality is protected. This is called partner notification. You are strongly advised to tell your partner(s), but it isn’t compulsory. 

If you’ve had Trichomonas and been cured, there’s no need to tell any future partners that you’ve had it.