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STDs (Expert Forum)
Can trichomoniasis be dormant?
Answered by
University of Washington
Seattle - WA
This forum does not cover AIDS/HIV issues. This forum is for questions and support regarding STD issues such as: Chlamydia, Crabs (pubic lice scabies), Gonorrhea, Hepatitis (viral), Herpes, HPV, Molluscum Contagiosum, PID, Rectal Infections, Syphilis, Trichomonas, Warts, Yeast Infection.
IMPORTANT
This forum is limited to questions about STDs other than HIV/AIDS. For questions about HIV prevention, or if you have general questions about safe sex (e.g., condoms, how to protect yourself from HIV and STDs), please visit the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum
Some of the most common types of questions concern the risk of HIV or STD after a particular sexual exposure, and about symptoms that might or might not be due to HIV. If your question is along these lines, please visit the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum.
This forum is limited to questions about STDs other than HIV/AIDS. For questions about HIV prevention, or if you have general questions about safe sex (e.g., condoms, how to protect yourself from HIV and STDs), please visit the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum
Some of the most common types of questions concern the risk of HIV or STD after a particular sexual exposure, and about symptoms that might or might not be due to HIV. If your question is along these lines, please visit the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum.
Doctor's Answer
by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Jul 02, 2005 12:00AM
, Jul 02, 2005 12:00AM
Yes, trichomonas often is "dormant", that is causes no symptoms with standard tests negative. It probably can be carried in the vagina for years, and perhaps by men as well. The standard test used by most providers is to simply look at vaginal fluid under the microscope, but that misses many (most?) cases. Ask for a culture test, which is more successful and available in most standard laboratories. However, culture misses many cases as well. Some special labs now offer testing for trich DNA using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which is the best by far; but it's not yet widely available. There is debate among STD experts about how important it is to routinely start using culture or PCR to detect silent cases. Most trich isn't serious, and prevention doesn't have the same priority as, say, chlamydia or gonorrhea or syphilis.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
Good luck-- HHH, MD
Member Comments (1)
by Troubled2768, Sep 21, 2008 08:59AM
A related discussion, Dormant STDs was started.
