Experts have warned of a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) that many may never have heard of - but it could increase your risk of cancer if left untreated.
Trichomoniasis, also known as trich, often goes undetected, with up to half of all people with the infection never developing any symptoms. However, in a new study involving nearly half a million women, scientists found that those infected with the parasite that causes trichomoniasis, called trichomonas vaginalis, were around 80% more likely to have human papillomavirus (HPV), a very common group of viruses that are easily spread.
There are over 100 different types of HPV, and while they do not cause any problems in most people, some can cause abnormal chances in the cells that could turn into cancer - nearly all cervical cancers are caused by HPV infection. And an expert behind the study into trichomoniasis has claimed that the infection harms the cervical tissue, making it a "favourable environment" for HPV, The Mirror reports.
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Trichomoniasis is more widespread than chlamydia and gonorrhoea in some parts of the world, infecting around 180 million people globally each year. The study into the infection, which saw Hungarian scientists take samples from more than 473,000 women over the past 15 years, is said to be the first of its kind with the findings published in the International Journal of Gynaecology & Obstetrics.
Scientists found women with trich were 79% more likely to have human papillomavirus (HPV), compared to those who didn't. Lead researcher Dr Balázs Hamar, an expert in obstetrics and gynaecology at Semmelweis University in Budapest, said: "This is because the infection causes the inflammation and abruption of the cervical epithelium/cervix, providing a favourable environment for pathogens such as HPV."
Symptoms of trichomoniasis, if they appear at all, usually develop within a month of infection, but it can be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms are similar to many other STIs. The parasite is usually spread by having sex without using a condom, and it may 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 can not pass it on through kissing or hugging, and it is also not thought to be passed on through oral or anal sex.
In women, the trichomonas vaginalis parasite mainly infects the vagina and the urethra. According to the NHS, trichomoniasis in women can cause:
- Abnormal vaginal discharge that may be thick, thin or frothy and yellow-green in colour
- Producing more discharge than normal, which may also have an unpleasant fishy smell
- Soreness, swelling and itching around the vagina – sometimes the inner thighs also become itchy
- Pain or discomfort when passing urine or having sex
In men, the infection most commonly affects the urethra, but the head of the penis or prostate gland – a gland near the bladder that helps produce semen – can become infected in some cases. Trichomoniasis in men can cause:
- Pain when peeing or during ejaculation
- Needing to pee more frequently than usual
- Thin, white discharge from the penis
- Soreness, swelling and redness around the head of the penis or foreskin
The NHS advises that you should see a GP or go to your local sexual health clinic if you develop any of the symptoms of trichomoniasis or you think you may be infected. Trichomoniasis can usually be diagnosed after an examination of the genitals and a laboratory test carried out on a swab taken from the vagina or penis.
Trichomoniasis is usually treated quickly and easily with antibiotics. If the test shows you have trichomoniasis, it's important that your current sexual partner and any other recent partners are also tested and treated.
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