Urine Testing Vs Bacterial Culture
Urine testing is currently primarily used to detect bacterial STDs. Chlamydia and gonorrhea urine tests are widely available. Trichomoniasis urine tests are also available, but they are less common.
The gold standard for diagnosing bacterial STDs, such as chlamydia and gonorrhea, used to be bacterial culture. That involved attempting to grow bacteria out of samples that were taken directly from the cervix or urethra.
These days, bacterial DNA testing is considered a better option. It works differently than bacterial culture. Instead of trying to grow bacteria, these tests just look for bacterial DNA. This can be done using a process called ligase chain reaction or with other DNA amplification techniques.
These types of testing are sensitive to even very small amounts of bacterial DNA. Even better, they do not require a live bacterial sample. As such, they can be run on urine samplesnot just urethral or cervical swabs.
For most people, the thought of a getting gonorrhea urine test or chlamydia urine test is a lot less intimidating than the thought of needing a physical exam.
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What Complications Can Occur If The Infection Is Not Properly Treated
Untreated or improperly treated trichomoniasis can result in an infection that can increase the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease and cervical neoplasia a possible precursor to cervical cancer in women. Pregnant women with trichomoniasis are at higher risk for having pre-term or low birth weight babies. Men are sometimes asymptomatic, resulting in chronic infection and re-infection of partner. In men, infection may lead to inflammation of the urethra and chronic prostatitis. In both men and women, trichomoniasis is a risk factor for HIV and is associated with infertility.
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Main Differences Between Chlamydia And Trichomonas
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How To Stay Safe
So, what can you do to stay safe?
When used correctly, condoms offer one of the most effective methods of protection against STIs, including HIV. Female condoms are also effective and safe.
We are often not aware that they may have an STI.
Any sexually active person can catch an STI, those who change partners frequently or do not use condoms are at higher risk. Previous successful treatment for an STI doesn’t make you immune to catching the infection again.
An outreach worker discusses health issues with young people in Cambodia.Juan Daniel Torres, Courtesy of Photoshare
How Is Trich Treated
Trichomoniasis is curable with antibiotics, typically metronidazole or Tinidazole . If you are being treated for trichomoniosis, keep these facts in mind:
- Use all the medicine prescribed, even if your symptoms go away
- Sex partners must also be treated, or you will get trich again
- Do not have sex until all partners have finished the medication
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How Is Trichomoniasis Diagnosed
Your healthcare provider may perform the following tests to diagnose trich:
- Physical exam: For women, this exam includes a pelvic exam.
- Lab test: Your healthcare provider examines a sample of the genital discharge under a microscope to check for signs of infection. The vaginal swab collected may be sent to the lab for further testing if trichomonads are not seen under the microscope.
How Does A Doctor Diagnose Trichomoniasis
It can be detected in symptomatic women by examining the vaginal discharge. In a symptomatic person, the culture for genital fluid or a DNA test may help the diagnosis.
If you are a woman, see your gynecologist
- On days other than when you have your monthly period
- And do not have sex for at least 24 hours before the exam or use condoms
Your gynecologist may
- Take vaginal fluid samples with a cotton swab and/or
- Examine it under the microscope
- Send the vaginal fluid samples for a culture test .
- Send the sample for a DNA test.
The parasite is harder to detect in men than in women. However, it can be detected easily by culture tests for genital fluid in both the genders. A recently available DNA test is more accurate and can be done in both the genders. It can be done with vaginal fluid or a urine sample.
If you have trich, you need to be tested for other sexually transmitted infections , too. The same samples can be used by your doctor to check for other infections such as chlamydia and gonorrhea.
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Possible Though Unlikely Sources Of Trich:
There are a few ways that trich can be spread without having sexual relations:
- Public Pools: If the water in a community swimming pool is not properly cleaned and filtered, it is possible for the parasite to survive and infect others.
- Sharing damp clothing, towels or swimsuits: Much like the pool, if clothes are not properly washed, it is technically possible for the infection to spread from wearer to wearer.
Of course, please remember that sexual activity is by far the most common source of infection. While these potential sources can be comforting to a worried partner, they are quite unlikely to actually be the cause. Compared to skin-to-skin contact, the reports of trich being spread through these means are few and far between.
Complications From Chlamydia And Gonorrhea
Because these two diseases often have no symptoms, some people go untreated.
Even with those who have symptoms, stigma, access, or other reasons get in the way of getting medical attention.
Not receiving prompt and proper treatment can create serious health problems.
For women, chlamydia and gonorrhea that goes untreated can spread through your uterus to your fallopian tubes.
Fallopian tubes connect the ovaries to the uterus and transport fertilized eggs during pregnancy. If untreated bacteria that cause gonorrhea and chlamydia spread to this area, the result is pelvic inflammatory disease , affecting around 5% of women in the US.
Pelvic inflammatory disease, similar to chlamydia and gonorrhea, can have no symptoms or just some pelvic or abdominal pain initially.
Unfortunately, PID can do permanent damage to a womens reproductive system, including:
For men, gonorrhea and chlamydia can also lead to serious health problems.
One difference is that chlamydia can also spread to the urethra, causing Non-Gonococcal urethritis, which is an infection of the tube that carries urine resulting in inflammation, pain, and fever.
This cannot be caused by the bacteria that causes gonorrhea. However, for both diseases, it is possible for either to cause:
For both women and men, chlamydia and gonorrhea can develop into a form of arthritis:
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How Do You Get Trichomoniasis
Trichomoniasis is caused by a parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis.
The parasite is usually spread by having sex without using a condom.
It could also be spread by sharing sex toys if you do not wash them or cover them with a new condom before use.
You do not have to have many sexual partners to catch trichomoniasis. Anyone who’s sexually active can catch it and pass it on.
You also cannot pass on trichomoniasis through:
- kissing or hugging
- sharing cups, plates or cutlery
The best way to prevent trichomoniasis is to have safe sex. This means always using a condom when having sex, covering any sex toys you use with a condom, and washing sex toys after use.
Four Curable Sexually Transmitted Infections
Chlamydia, gonorrhoea, trichomoniasis, and syphilis are four potential outcomes of sex that wed all like to avoid. However, according to new global estimates, each day there are more than one million new cases of these sexually transmitted infections.
The worrying thing is, even though we have never known more about how to prevent these infections, rates of infection remain very high worldwide.
The good news is, these 4 infections are curable.
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What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Trichomoniasis
About 70% of people with the infection do not have any signs or symptoms. When trich does cause symptoms, they can range from mild irritation to severe inflammation. Some people get symptoms within 5 to 28 days after getting the infection. Others do not develop symptoms until much later. Symptoms can come and go.
Men with trich may notice:
- Burning after peeing or ejaculating and
Women with trich may notice:
- Itching, burning, redness or soreness of the genitals
- Discomfort when peeing and
- A clear, white, yellowish, or greenish vaginal discharge with a fishy smell.
Having trich can make sex feel unpleasant. Without treatment, the infection can last for months or even years.
What Are The Risks Of Untreated Chlamydia And Gonorrhea
Untreated chlamydia and gonococcal infections can lead to serious health consequences with permanent damage. Complications in women can include pelvic inflammatory disease, scar tissue formation in the fallopian tubes, ectopic pregnancy , infertility, and chronic pelvic pain and abdominal pain. Complications in men can include epididymitis , prostate gland infection, urethritis, and infertility. Untreated gonorrhea can spread beyond the reproductive organs to the blood and joints. This is called disseminated gonococcal infection and is a potentially life-threatening condition. Untreated sexually transmitted infections also increase the risk of contracting HIV or giving HIV to sexual partners.
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Objective: To generate estimates of the global prevalence and incidence of urogenital infection with chlamydia, gonorrhoea, trichomoniasis and syphilis in women and men, aged 15-49 years, in 2016.
Methods: For chlamydia, gonorrhoea and trichomoniasis, we systematically searched for studies conducted between 2009 and 2016 reporting prevalence. We also consulted regional experts. To generate estimates, we used Bayesian meta-analysis. For syphilis, we aggregated the national estimates generated by using Spectrum-STI.
Findings: For chlamydia, gonorrhoea and/or trichomoniasis, 130 studies were eligible. For syphilis, the Spectrum-STI database contained 978 data points for the same period. The 2016 global prevalence estimates in women were: chlamydia 3.8% gonorrhoea 0.9% trichomoniasis 5.3% and syphilis 0.5% . In men prevalence estimates were: chlamydia 2.7% gonorrhoea 0.7% trichomoniasis 0.6% and syphilis 0.5% . Total estimated incident cases were 376.4 million: 127.2 million chlamydia cases 86.9 million gonorrhoea cases 156.0 million trichomoniasis cases and 6.3 million syphilis cases.
Global estimates of prevalence and incidence of these four curable sexually transmitted infections remain high. The study highlights the need to expand data collection efforts at country level and provides an initial baseline for monitoring progress of the World Health Organization global health sector strategy on sexually transmitted infections 2016-2021.
What Is The Treatment For Trich
Trichomoniasis is curable with antibiotics. An antibiotic called Metronidazole is usually prescribed. If you are prescribed treatment, use all the medicine prescribed, even if your symptoms go away. Your sex partners must also be treated, or you can get trich again. Dont have sex until all partners have finished the medication.
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Most Importantly Remember How Long Trichomoniasis Can Live In A Body:
Heres one last bit of hope. For partners hoping for a more realistic source of infection, keep in mind the length of time that trichomoniasis can live in a body. Due to the stealthy nature of the infection, a person may unknowingly carry trich for months without realizing it.
In this sense, this can be a bright light for concerned couples. After all, it is possible that your partner may have been infected during a previous sexual encounter, but was never aware of the infection. Now that the symptoms are present, it seems like a brand new case of trich. Of course, it is also possible that you were infected by a past encounter and never realized it. No matter what, the most important piece of the puzzle is that you and your partner test regularly.
How Gonorrhoea Is Spread
Untreated gonorrhea can cause serious and permanent health problems in both women and men. In women, gonorrhea can spread into the uterus or fallopian tubes and cause pelvic inflammatory disease. Symptoms may be quite mild or can be very severe and can include abdominal pain and fever 13. Pid can lead to internal abscesses and chronic pelvic pain. Pid can also damage fallopian tubes enough to cause infertility or increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy. In men, gonorrhea may be complicated by epididymitis. In rare cases, this may lead to infertility 14. If left untreated, gonorrhea can also spread to blood and cause disseminated gonococcal infection. Dgi is usually characterized by arthritis, tenosynovitis, and / or dermatitis 15. This condition can be life threatening.
Who is at risk for gonorrhea?
* Please keep in mind that all text is machine-generated, we do not bear any responsibility, and you should always get advice from professionals before taking any actions.
* Please keep in mind that all text is machine-generated, we do not bear any responsibility, and you should always get advice from professionals before taking any actions
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How Is Trichomoniasis Managed Or Treated
Without treatment, trich can last for months or even years. It doesnt go away on its own. The entire time youre infected, you can give the STD to your sexual partners.
Oral anti-infective medications kill trich. Your healthcare provider may prescribe metronidazole or tinidazole . Its important to keep the following points in mind while undergoing treatment:
- A single medication dose cures up to 95% of infected women. Men and women may need to take the medication for five to seven days.
- You and your sexual partners must be treated for trich or you will continue to pass the infection back and forth.
- You shouldnt have sex for one week after finishing the medication to give the drug time to kill off the infection and for symptoms to clear up. Having sex too soon can lead to reinfection.
- You should see your healthcare provider in three months to ensure youre no longer infected.
What Should I Do Now
If your partner tests positive for trichomoniasis or you have symptoms of it, see a healthcare provider to get tested. This is the only way to know if you have the infection. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have a tool that helps you find free STI testing in your area.
If you do test positive for trichomoniasis, you might also be tested for chlamydia or gonorrhea. People with trichomoniasis often have these STIs, too. Having trichomoniasis can also increase your risk of developing another STI, including HIV, in the future, so its important to follow up with treatment.
Trichomoniasis is easily treated with antibiotics, such as metronidazole and tinidazole . Make sure you take the full course of antibiotics. You should also wait about a week after you finish your antibiotics before having sex again.
If your partner gave it to you, theyll also need treatment to avoid reinfecting you.
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Comparing Trichomoniasis And Chlamydia
Differentiating between trichomoniasis and chlamydia can be difficult because they present many of the same symptoms or show no symptoms at all. Can trichomoniasis be confused with chlamydia? Yes, it is possible to confuse the two. If you are worried you may have contracted an STD, whether chlamydia or trichomoniasis, you should get tested as soon as possible. MyLAB Box offersSafe Box, an at home STD test kit that will test for chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV, and trichomoniasis.
Remember, being symptom-free does not mean that you are not infected.
Should You Get Tested For Chlamydia And Gonorrhea
Higher-risk behavior includes engaging in sexual activity with multiple partners, drug use and practicing sexual activities with any person which havent received a negative result from a test, as being involved in previous sexual activities.
If you suspect that you may have been infected with Chlamydia, testing is the way to go.
Considering the harsh outcomes of leaving a chlamydia infection untreated, as well as the ease and price of todays testing options, theres absolutely no reason to remain in the dark.
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