What is TV?
Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) is a protozoan, a tiny germ similar to bacteria, that causes an infection called trichomoniasis. TV is sexually transmitted and is usually easy to treat with a short course of antibiotics.
If you have TV we recommend that you have tests for other infections including chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis and HIV. Testing and treatment is free and available at any Sexual Health service.
How do you get TV?
TV is passed on during unprotected sex from a penis to a vagina, a vagina to a penis, a vagina to a vagina or through sharing sex toys. It is possible to pass on the infection even when symptoms are not present. TV cannot be caught from kissing, hugging, sharing baths or towels, swimming pools or toilet seats.
What are the symptoms of TV?
Up to 7 in 10 people with TV do not develop any symptoms. If symptoms develop, they usually appear within 5 to 28 days after sex.
Symptoms in people with a vagina include:
- Increased vaginal discharge, sometimes frothy and yellow
- Vulval itching and pain
- Unpleasant vaginal smell
- Pain in the vagina
- Burning pain when passing urine
Most people with a penis will not have any symptoms, but may notice:
- Discharge from the tip of the penis
- Burning pain when passing urine
- Soreness around the foreskin
- Increased urinary frequency
How do you test for TV?
In people with a vagina, TV can usually be diagnosed on the day of your visit. A clinician will examine you and use a swab to collect a sample to look at under a microscope. In some circumstances, the clinician may feel it is appropriate for a second swab to be taken and tested using a TV rapid point of care test. Both tests provide results within a few minutes.
In people with a penis it is more difficult to test for TV and treatment is often based on a partner having the diagnosis. A urethral swab can be done for microscopy however the chances of picking up the infection in this way are much lower.
How is TV treated?
The standard treatment is one week of antibiotics, usually metronidazole 400mg twice a day. You will be advised to avoid drinking alcohol during the treatment and for two days after. This is because when you are taking metronidazole, drinking alcohol may cause unpleasant side effects such as severe headaches, feeling sick and vomiting.
Before having sex again, you should ensure:
- You have completed the treatment
- It has been at least 7 days since you started the treatment
- Your partner(s) has/have been treated – this helps prevent getting the infection again
TV in pregnancy
Having TV during pregnancy can increase the risk of labour starting early and the baby being delivered prematurely or the baby having low birth weight.
The standard treatment of one week of metronidazole 400mg twice a day is safe in pregnancy and when breast feeding.