Hello Ghanaian women, please do not consider every discharge as White and stop treating them at home. For your own good health, kindly seek proper medical care because your discharge could be Trichomoniasis which is an STI or:
- Yeast infections or candidiasis (white) may cause a thick, whitish-gray “cottage cheese” type of vaginal discharge with accompanying itching. The itching may be intense. Painful urination and intercourse are also common. A vaginal discharge may not be present. Men with genital candidiasis may have an itchy rash on the penis. Most male partners of women with yeast infection do not experience any symptoms. CLICK TO READ MORE ABOUT CANDIDIASIS (WHITE)
- Bacterial vaginosis (BV) causes an abnormal vaginal discharge with an unpleasant odor. Some women report a strong fishy smell, especially after intercourse. The discharge is usually white or gray, and it can be thin. You may also have burning during urination or itching around the outside of the vagina, or both. Some women with bacterial vaginosis may have no symptoms . CLICK TO READ MORE ABOUT BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS
What then is Trichomoniasis?
Trichomoniasis is a common sexually transmitted infection caused by a parasite. In women, trichomoniasis can cause a foul-smelling vaginal discharge, genital itching, and painful urination.
Men who have trichomoniasis typically have no symptoms. Pregnant women who have trichomoniasis might be at higher risk of delivering their babies prematurely.
To prevent reinfection with the organism that causes trichomoniasis, both partners should be treated. The most common treatment for trichomoniasis involves taking one megadose of metronidazole (Flagyl) or tinidazole (Tindamax). You can reduce your risk of infection by using condoms correctly every time you have sex.
Symptoms
Many women and most men with trichomoniasis have no symptoms, at least not at first. Trichomoniasis signs and symptoms for women include:
- An often foul-smelling vaginal discharge — which might be white, gray, yellow or green
- Genital redness, burning and itching
- Pain with urination or sexual intercourse
Trichomoniasis rarely causes symptoms in men. When men do have signs and symptoms, however, they might include:
- Irritation inside the penis
- Burning with urination or after ejaculation
- Discharge from the penis
When to see a doctor
See your doctor if you have a foul-smelling vaginal discharge or if you have pain with urination or sexual intercourse.
Causes
Trichomoniasis is caused by a one-celled protozoan, a type of tiny parasite that travels between people during sexual intercourse. The incubation period between exposure and infection is unknown, but it’s thought to range from five to 28 days.
Risk factors
Risk factors include having:
- Multiple sexual partners
- A history of other sexually transmitted infections
- A previous episode of trichomoniasis
- Having sex without a condom
Complications
Pregnant women who have trichomoniasis might:
- Deliver prematurely
- Have a baby with a low birth weight
- Transmit the infection to the baby as he or she passes through the birth canal
Having trichomoniasis also appears to make it easier for women to become infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
Prevention
As with other sexually transmitted infections, the only way to prevent trichomoniasis is to abstain from sex. To lower your risk, use condoms correctly every time you have sex.
