Trichomoniasis

Trichomoniasis is one of the most common of all sexually transmitted diseases. Referred to as Trich by many teens, Trichomoniasis rarely produces viable symptoms which makes it harder to detect. There have been cases where a person has spent their entire life with this disease and never known it. While many believe this is a good thing, the exact opposite is true. When undetected it allows the disease to be spread to others, which can be dangerous to people who have a lowered or weakened immune system.

Trichomoniasis is caused by a parasite known as trichomonas vaginalis. The parasite dwells in the urogenital tract in both the male and the female. Here it will multiply and reproduce over the course of many months. As it reproduces it continues to spread to other areas in the genital region and has been known to travel as far as the stomach area in rare cases.

Trichomoniasis is generally transmitted by way of direct sexual intercourse. This is most often true when the person has several partners and regular sexual activity. Researchers have discovered that the parasite can live for several hours in a moist environment so it is conceivable that a dirty toilet seat or wet bath towel could be a point of transmission as well. Many doctors have concluded that this is highly unlikely as the odds of the parasite being present are very low.

There is a very good chance that a woman can transmit the parasite to her unborn child while in the womb. Testing will determine if the woman is at risk and a low dose of antibiotics is necessary to protect the child. Trichomoniasis is very dangerous to infants and can cause a whole host of serious medical problems. This is due to the fact that a newborn has a very weak immune system which allows serious infections to grow quickly and without restraint.

The only true one hundred percent accurate way to prevent Trichomoniasis infection is to abstain from sex. Besides complete abstaining, safe sex is always the way to go. Only through the use of latex condoms can you have any kind of protection at all. The use of other birth control methods offers no protection against this disease.

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