Health Department

Joel Strasz - Public Health Officer
Andre Reed - Deputy Health Officer
Sarah Tackebury - Public Health Nursing Services Manager
Melissa Opheim - Public Health Services Manager/EPC
Amy Revette - WIC Manager
Amy Yakich - Business Services Manager
Joel Kwiatkowski - Environmental Health Manager
Dr. Thomas Bender - Medical Director
Dr. William Morrone - Medical Examiner
Bay County Health Department
1200 Washington Avenue
Bay City, Michigan 48708
Voice: (989) 895-4009
Fax: (989) 895-4014

Trichomoniasis

Trichomoniasis is a vaginal infection that can cause a foamy yellowish or green bad-smelling discharge.  Itching, burning or pain in the vagina may also be present.  However, as many as one-half of women infected with trichomoniasis have no symptoms.  Men usually have no symptoms, but an infection of the penis or prostate gland may develop.

Trichomoniasis is most always sexually transmitted and can be spread during vaginal, anal, and oral sex. The organisms that causes Trich (T. Vaginalis) can survive for one to two hours on toilet tissue or a moist cloth.

TREATMENT

Trichomoniasis is treated with Flagyl (Metronidazole).

  1. This medication should be taken with food to prevent nausea.
  2. If you have ever had an allergic reaction to Flagyl, do not take this medication.  Metronidazole should be administered with caution to anyone with a central nervous system disorder, or blood or liver diseases.
  3. If you think you are pregnant, are pregnant or you are breast-feeding, do not take this medication.
  4. Do not take Flagyl if you are taking Antabuse now or if you have taken Antabuse in the past two weeks.
  5. Do not drink alcoholic beverages or take medications containing alcohol for one day before, during and for two days after taking Flagyl.  Alcohol may cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps or headaches.
  6. Dark or red-brown urine and a metallic taste in your mouth may occur.
  7. Possible side effects:
    Nausea
    Vomiting
    Diarrhea
    Headache
    Dry Mouth
    Metallic Taste
  8. Contact your doctor immediately or go to the emergency room if you have a seizure or experience numbness of an arm or leg.

To ensure that this infection isn't passed back to you, your sex partner should be treated as soon as possible.  Intercourse should be delayed until you and your partner are cured.   

PREVENTION

Safer sex reduces your risk of getting a sexually transmitted disease.

  1. Use a condom or dental dam correctly every time you have sex.  There is evidence to conclude condoms prevent HIV transmission in males and females, and that they could reduce the risk of Gonorrhea for men.  Additional studies are needed to determine effectiveness for other STDs, including Trichomoniasis Infection.
  2. Do not have intercourse with anyone who has an infection or is being treated for an infection.

This information does not cover all possible uses, actions, precautions, side effects or interactions of this medicine.  This information is not intended as medical advice for individual problems.