Trichomoniasis

Call your doctor immediately if you:

• Have lower belly pain and a fever higher than 101°F (38.3°C) along with an abnormal vaginal discharge.
• Are pregnant and have symptoms of a Reference vaginal infection Opens New Window or a Reference urinary tract infection (UTI) Opens New Window, such as abnormal discharge from the vagina or pain or burning during urination.

Call your doctor for an appointment within 1 week if you:

• Have an abnormal vaginal discharge.
• Have unusual vaginal itching.
• Have pain during sex or urination.
• Find out that your sex partner has been diagnosed with or treated for trichomoniasis (trich).

Watchful waiting

Watchful waiting is a period of time during which you and your doctor observe your symptoms or condition without using medical treatment. Watchful waiting isn't appropriate if you think you have trichomoniasis (trich). In most cases, trich should be treated to prevent transmitting this sexually transmitted infection to others and to prevent some problems that can happen if you are pregnant.

Note: Trich during pregnancy raises the risk of premature rupture of membranes (PROM) and premature delivery. Treating the infection doesn't appear to reduce this risk.^{Reference 3} If you are pregnant and have trich, talk to your doctor about the pros and cons of treatment.

Who to see

Health professionals who can diagnose and treat a trichomoniasis (trich) infection include:

• Reference Physician assistants Opens New Window.
• Reference Nurse practitioners Opens New Window.
• Reference Family medicine doctors Opens New Window.
• Reference Internists Opens New Window.
• Reference Gynecologists Opens New Window.

To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Reference Making the Most of Your Appointment.

© 1995-2011, Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Reference Terms of Use. Reference How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.