Can Trichomonasbe treated effectively with tetracycline?

I was told by my physician I have Trich. I do not have a fishy odor as the articles have said?Is that something that is always there with this? This started in Sept and I was treated fora Yeast infection at first with durecef. then they saidmy test came back from my Pap that i have Trich. Also my boyfriend is a Truckdriver. He can.t get to the Dr. to get a RX. He has Tetracycline 500mg. Will this work for his treatment? Is it possible that he may not have it?( We have only been together 4 weekends since Sept and he has no symptoms.) He does have a rash like being galded where his legs bend but nothing on his penis.He has had this forseveral years. SHow could I have this and not been with anyone else in 2 years and it has been almost 4 for him Thanks for your answer in advance.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

First, tetracycline is not effective against trichomonas; your boyfriend will have to see a health care provider.  His rash isn't due to trich, and probably not an STD.

Not every case of trichomonal vaginitis causes odor.  But still I'm nervous about your diagnosis and I wonder about your doctor's knowledge level in this area.  Most important, Duracef is not active aginast yeast; if you really were given that drug, either your doctor badly misunderstands the treatment of yeast infections or you actually had something else.  Second, the Pap smear is a poor test for trich; most apparent positives probably are not accurate.  (On the other hand, maybe the diagnosis wasn't from the Pap itself.  Your doctor might have sent other tests at the same time as the Pap.)

But assuming your trichomonas diagnosis is accurate, either you or your partner might have carried it for 2-4 years.  And if it isn't an STD at all (maybe it's all yeast), there is no implication about other partners,  On the other hand, you know your boyfriend and I don't--i.e., you are in the best position to know whether he might have had other partners.

You should double check all this with your physician; or if you share my suspicion about his knowledge in this area, consider trying another health care provider.

Good luck--  HHH, MF