ABSTRACT
Trichomoniasis is a parasitic infection of the vagina and urethra in females, and the urethra and, rarely, the prostate gland in males. Trichomoniasis is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) worldwide. The causative organism, Trichomonas vaginalis, was first recorded in the literature in 1836 by Alfred Donne, and given its present taxonomic name by Ehrenberg. Trichomonas vaginalis is an anaerobic parasite. In females, the parasite adheres to the vaginal wall and produces tendrils that penetrate the vaginal tissue, where it may remain for two years or more. Symptoms are often different in males and females, with many cases remaining asymptomatic for several months, particularly in males. Males are generally asymptomatic and are therefore carriers who pass the infection on to their sexual partners. The patient and partner should abstain from sexual intercourse until both are free of infection. Full STI screening is advisable to detect any co-infection such as HIV or Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
