Treating trichomonas vaginalis 

If there is a high chance you have the  infection and you are showing very obvious symptoms, treatment may be started before the results of the test are back. 

Antibiotics

Trichomoniasis is usually treated quickly and easily. Most cases  will be treated using  an antibiotic known as metronidazole, which if taken correctly,  is at least 95% effective. You will usually have  to take metronidazole twice a day, for five to seven days. 

Sometimes this antibiotic can be prescribed in a single concentrated dose. However, this single dose is not suitable for pregnant or breastfeeding women. 

Metronidazole can cause nausea, vomiting  and a slight metallic taste in your mouth. If you develop side effects like these, contact your GP, as the treatment will not  be effective if you are suffering from vomiting. 

You must not drink alcohol whilst taking metronidazole or for at least 48 hours after finishing the course of antibiotics. Drinking alcohol whilst taking this medicine can cause more severe side effects. 

Contraception  

The antibiotics used to treat trichomoniasis can affect the reliability of some forms of contraception. 

If you are taking  a contraceptive pill which contains both estrogen  and progestogen (such as the combined pill), your antibiotics  may stop it from working properly. 
You may also  be affected if you are using  the contraceptive patch. 

It is therefore advisable that you use another form of contraception, such as  a condom, while you are being treated for trichomoniasis. Your physician,  or family planning clinic nurse, will be able  to advise  you about what contraceptive precautions you need to take.
  
Follow-up tests 

If you take your antibiotic treatment correctly, you will not normally require any follow-up tests, or examinations, for trichomoniasis. 

However, if your symptoms remain after treatment, or if your original laboratory test produced a negative result for trichomoniasis, you may require further testing to see whether your symptoms are being caused by a different sexually transmitted infection. 

If you have unprotected sex before your treatment is finished, you need to return to your physician or sexual health clinic, because you may have become re-infected. You must also return if you: 

• did not complete your course of antibiotics, 
• did not take your antibiotics correctly (according to the instructions), or 
• if you vomited shortly after taking your antibiotics. 

If you need to return to  your clinic, or practice, because your treatment has not worked, or  you have become re-infected, you may require a further test to confirm  the infection. You may also need another course  of antibiotics,  or a different form of treatment. 

Pregnancy

For pregnant women who experience side effects when taking metronidazole, or for those who do not wish to take the medicine, they may  be prescribed a different treatment. 

A clotrimazole pessary is a type of medicine which is inserted into the vagina. It is very safe for pregnant women to use, and  will help to relieve symptoms of trichomoniasis. 
However, it is far less effective in clearing the infection. Your GP will have to monitor your condition and may need to carry out further tests to check the infection has cleared. 

Sexual partners 

It is important to abstain from sexual intercourse while you are being treated for trichomoniasis, otherwise you may become re-infected. 

If you were prescribed a single, 'one day' dose of antibiotics, you need to abstain from sexual intercourse for seven days after you have taken the medication. 

It is also important that your partner is tested for the infection, as they too must receive treatment if they have the condition. If your sexual partner is not treated, then this again increases the risk of re-infection. 

There is no evidence that complementary therapies  can cure trichomonas. 

Trichomonas is unlikely to go away without treatment. However, in some rare cases, the trichomonas may cure itself. If you don't  get treated, you also risk passing the infection on to someone else. 

Notes: http://www.warwickshire.nhs.uk/KnowledgeAndAdvice/Knowledge/PatientInfo/ConditionDetail.aspx?Title=trichomonas_vaginalis&DisplayTitle=Trichomonas+vaginalis&SectionTitle=Treatment

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EditText of this page (last edited August 4, 2009)