Aa
undetected trichomoniasis
Hello doctor
Here is my story in short. In february of this year I had unprotected sex if you can call it like that since he was in me for no longer than 30 sec. Anyways, 5 days after that exposure, I started having symptoms. My symptoms were as follow: vaginal discharge of a yellowish color that does not have smell and is milky in consistency, a burning sensation that seems to be with me all the time and is mild and only inside of my vagina. No painful urination. I was seen by several different doctors and was tested for pretty much everything. (Chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpies, syphylis 4 times tested with a negative result). Then I started reading up on internet about trichomoniasis and my symptoms were almost identical as to those described. Went to a doctor one more time and told him I wanted to be tested for this as well. He did a culture test which came back negative. I went to a different doctor and he did a wet mount which didn't show anything either but I was treated for trich anyways since I was showing symptoms. I was given metronidazole 2 g one dose only. It didn't help because my symptoms did not go away. Went to a 3 doctor and he also did a culture which again came back negative. I was given metronidazole for the second time (same dosage). Its been just recently when I went to visit the same doct. And. He tested me again due to my persistent symptoms. Agan negative results of culture and this time I was given tinidazole 2 g one dose. The man I had intercourse with said he was tested for chlam and gonorrhea with negative results but was never tested for trich because he says he is symptoms free. I guess my question is, what are the chances of the culture to be false negative 5 times? Is it still possible that I don't have it and that is why I not only test negative but also am not getting better with the meds prescribed because of it not being trich? I'm going crazy and so depressed. Doctor please help !!!!!
Here is my story in short. In february of this year I had unprotected sex if you can call it like that since he was in me for no longer than 30 sec. Anyways, 5 days after that exposure, I started having symptoms. My symptoms were as follow: vaginal discharge of a yellowish color that does not have smell and is milky in consistency, a burning sensation that seems to be with me all the time and is mild and only inside of my vagina. No painful urination. I was seen by several different doctors and was tested for pretty much everything. (Chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpies, syphylis 4 times tested with a negative result). Then I started reading up on internet about trichomoniasis and my symptoms were almost identical as to those described. Went to a doctor one more time and told him I wanted to be tested for this as well. He did a culture test which came back negative. I went to a different doctor and he did a wet mount which didn't show anything either but I was treated for trich anyways since I was showing symptoms. I was given metronidazole 2 g one dose only. It didn't help because my symptoms did not go away. Went to a 3 doctor and he also did a culture which again came back negative. I was given metronidazole for the second time (same dosage). Its been just recently when I went to visit the same doct. And. He tested me again due to my persistent symptoms. Agan negative results of culture and this time I was given tinidazole 2 g one dose. The man I had intercourse with said he was tested for chlam and gonorrhea with negative results but was never tested for trich because he says he is symptoms free. I guess my question is, what are the chances of the culture to be false negative 5 times? Is it still possible that I don't have it and that is why I not only test negative but also am not getting better with the meds prescribed because of it not being trich? I'm going crazy and so depressed. Doctor please help !!!!!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Even if I had more ideas about it, this forum is strictly limited to STD issues, not a resource to figure out non-STD genital symptoms. My last advice is to specifically find combined gyn/infectious disease specialist. As noted above, such persons often can be found in association with major medical centers or medical schools.
Sorry I can't help further. Good luck with it.
Sorry I can't help further. Good luck with it.
And I am back again just to provide an update. Since I last was here, my symptoms did not improve. I indeed went to a internal disease specialist who by looking at my medical records stated that he also doubted I had trichomonas but he said that I might have herpies which for him would explain my constatnt burning sensation inside of my vagina. He tried putting me on 14 day Metronidazole 500g*2 days. Yesterday I took my last pill and unfortunately, just like I expected the symptoms did not clear. Now, I noticed that (maybe not a discharge but inside of my vagina) smells like onions. I am getting really depressed over this because nothing seems to be working ..
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
With apology, this additional information doesn't give me any more ideas. pH is a soft clue for or against any particular diagnosis. Unfortunately, the science of the vaginal environment and diagnosis of discharge syndromes is not very precise; it's a mistake to spend too much time searching the web for clues to a specific diagnosis. Expert evaluation is really the only realistic option. I'll be interested to hear the outcome.
Thanks for your kind words about the forum.
Thanks for your kind words about the forum.
Thank you doctor!
Yes, I am about to go and see a specialist today. I forgot to mention in my first post to you that I was also tested for BV and yeast and other anaerobic bacteria. All of it came back negative. I had 3 pap smears done which didnt show anything either. Also, my ph level seems to be normal which I would only assume would change with yeast being lower and trich being above 4.5.?
Also, these symptoms seem to be more present after my menstrual perdiod. Does that sound like anything to you? I am currently taking herbs for hormonal imbalance prescribed to me by a physician who specializes in natural medicine.
Thank you for all the time spent to try and help us all in here doctor!
Yes, I am about to go and see a specialist today. I forgot to mention in my first post to you that I was also tested for BV and yeast and other anaerobic bacteria. All of it came back negative. I had 3 pap smears done which didnt show anything either. Also, my ph level seems to be normal which I would only assume would change with yeast being lower and trich being above 4.5.?
Also, these symptoms seem to be more present after my menstrual perdiod. Does that sound like anything to you? I am currently taking herbs for hormonal imbalance prescribed to me by a physician who specializes in natural medicine.
Thank you for all the time spent to try and help us all in here doctor!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum. I'll try to help -- but this is a challenging problem, and I doubt you have trichomonas or any other STD.
That your symptoms are "identical" to those you found for trichomonas really doesn't mean very much. The symptoms of many vaginal infections are identical to one another. Having had 5 negative cultures for trichomonas, plus repeated treatments for it (including tinidazole, which is superior or metronidazole), it is exceedingly unlikely that trichomonas is the problem. The same is true for chlamydia, gonorrhea, or other STDs.
The most common cause of vaginal discharge is bacterial vaginosis, but that syndrome virtually always is accompanied by an obvious fishy odor and the discharge usually is gray/white, not yellow. And BV usually improves, at least transiently, with metronidazole or tinidazole. And yeast infections always are a consideration for unexplained vaginal discharge, although your symptoms are not typical for yeast. Most physicians would have evaluated you for yeast BV, but you might check back with them to be certain.
Beyond all those most common causes (gonorrhea, chlamydia, trich, BV, yeast), a large number of other conditions are possible -- hormonal balance issues, unusual bacterial infections, fistulas (abnormal connection between the vagina and rectum, for example), foreign bodies (a retained tampon, for example -- which surprisingly can sometimes be missed despite several examinations), and others.
At this point you can be very confident you have neither trichomonas nor any other STD. On the community forum, you said you intended to see an infectious diseases specialist. Have you done that? Specifically, I suggest you seek out a gynecologist who also specializes in ID; such specialists often can be found at major medical centers, especially those affiliated with medical schools. If we had a patient like you in my STD clinic, we would refer her to exactly such a specialist.
Good luck with it -- HHH, MD
I hope this helps.
That your symptoms are "identical" to those you found for trichomonas really doesn't mean very much. The symptoms of many vaginal infections are identical to one another. Having had 5 negative cultures for trichomonas, plus repeated treatments for it (including tinidazole, which is superior or metronidazole), it is exceedingly unlikely that trichomonas is the problem. The same is true for chlamydia, gonorrhea, or other STDs.
The most common cause of vaginal discharge is bacterial vaginosis, but that syndrome virtually always is accompanied by an obvious fishy odor and the discharge usually is gray/white, not yellow. And BV usually improves, at least transiently, with metronidazole or tinidazole. And yeast infections always are a consideration for unexplained vaginal discharge, although your symptoms are not typical for yeast. Most physicians would have evaluated you for yeast BV, but you might check back with them to be certain.
Beyond all those most common causes (gonorrhea, chlamydia, trich, BV, yeast), a large number of other conditions are possible -- hormonal balance issues, unusual bacterial infections, fistulas (abnormal connection between the vagina and rectum, for example), foreign bodies (a retained tampon, for example -- which surprisingly can sometimes be missed despite several examinations), and others.
At this point you can be very confident you have neither trichomonas nor any other STD. On the community forum, you said you intended to see an infectious diseases specialist. Have you done that? Specifically, I suggest you seek out a gynecologist who also specializes in ID; such specialists often can be found at major medical centers, especially those affiliated with medical schools. If we had a patient like you in my STD clinic, we would refer her to exactly such a specialist.
Good luck with it -- HHH, MD
I hope this helps.
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
