Recent evidence suggests that trichomoniasis may be an important cause of non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU). In men 30 years and older, Trichomonas may account for as many cases of NGU as Chlamydia.
Schwebke (2003) evaluated the use of PCR to determine the prevalence of trichomoniasis among men attending an STD clinic, with specific emphasis on the association of Trichomonas with NGU. Among 300 men, the prevalence of T. vaginalis was 17%, chlamydia 19.6% and gonorrhea was 17.7%. Among men with NGU, T. vaginalis was found in 19.9%, as compared to 25.2% with chlamydia. In addition, coinfection with gonorrhea and trichomoniasis was almost as common as coinfection with gonorrhea and chlamydia. The authors concluded that consideration should be given to including specific treatment for trichomoniasis as initial treatment for NGU and for gonococcal infections.1
Similarly, a study of 659 men with urethral discharge by indicated that T. vaginalis was found in 15% of cases of non-gonococcal, non-chlamydial urethritis in West Africa. In addition, among the 408 patients with gonorrhea in this study, Trichomonas was a more frequent coinfection than chlamydia (13.7% coinfected with T. vaginalis vs. 11.3% coinfected with chlamydia). This again suggests that treatment for trichomoniasis should be considered in men with either NGU or gonococcal infections.2
- Joyner JL, Douglas JM Jr, Ragsdale S, Foster M, Judson FN. Comparative prevalence of infection with Trichomonas vaginalis among men attending a sexually transmitted diseases clinic. Sex Transm Dis. 2000 Apr;27(4):236-40.
- Schwebke JR, Hook EW 3rd. High rates of Trichomonas vaginalis among men attending a sexually transmitted diseases clinic: implications for screening and urethritis management. J Infect Dis. 2003 Aug 1;188(3):465-8. Epub 2003 Jul 10.
- Pépin J, Sobéla F, Deslandes S, Alary M, Wegner K, Khonde N, Kintin F, Kamuragiye A, Sylla M, Zerbo PJ, Baganizi E, Koné A, Kane F, Mâsse B, Viens P, Frost E. Etiology of urethral discharge in West Africa: the role of Mycoplasma genitalium and Trichomonas vaginalis. Bull World Health Organ. 2001;79(2):118-26.
