Trichomoniasis Test: How It's Done, Symptoms, Results, and Treatment

Trichomoniasis (“trich”) is the most common curable STI in the world, with an estimated 2 million infections in the United States, yet it is left off many standard panels and about 70% of people who have it never notice symptoms. This guide covers how a trichomoniasis test works for men and women, when to take it, symptoms, results, and treatment.

What trichomoniasis is

Trich is caused by a single-celled parasite, Trichomonas vaginalis, passed during vaginal sex (and occasionally through shared sex toys). It infects the vagina, urethra, and, in men, the urethra and sometimes the prostate. It does not typically infect the mouth or rectum. Untreated, it can persist for months or years, increase the risk of acquiring HIV, and in pregnancy raise the risk of preterm birth.

Symptoms

Most infections are silent. When symptoms appear, usually 5 to 28 days after exposure:

Women: frothy, yellow-green or gray discharge with an unusual odor, genital itching or burning, discomfort with urination or sex, redness or soreness.

Men: itching or irritation inside the penis, burning after urination or ejaculation, thin discharge. Symptoms in men are often mild and pass unnoticed.

Because trich is so often symptomless, especially in men, testing after a new partner or a partner’s diagnosis is the only reliable way to find it.

How the test works

The accurate test is a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT), which detects the parasite’s genetic material.

• Women: vaginal swab (self- or clinician-collected) or a first-catch urine sample.
• Men: first-catch urine sample. This matters because the old microscope (“wet mount”) test misses most infections in men; NAAT is the only reliable option.

Trich is often ordered alongside chlamydia and gonorrhea because all three come from the same urine sample. It is included in 13-test panels but not most 10-test panels, so check what you are ordering.

When to test

The parasite is usually detectable within about a week of exposure. If you have symptoms, test now. If you are testing after a partner’s diagnosis with no symptoms, test now and again in 3 to 4 weeks if the first result is negative.

Where to get tested and results time

A private lab is the fastest: order online, walk in with no appointment, give a urine sample, and get results in 1 to 2 days. Nothing is billed to insurance.

Treatment

Trich is cured with prescription antiparasitic antibiotics:

• Women: metronidazole 500 mg twice a day for 7 days is the CDC-recommended regimen.
• Men: a single 2 g dose of metronidazole.
• Tinidazole is an alternative for both.

Do not drink alcohol during treatment and for 24 hours after metronidazole (72 hours after tinidazole). Private testing includes a doctor consultation for positive results, and treatment can be prescribed where appropriate.

After treatment:

• No sex until you and all partners have completed treatment and symptoms are gone (about 7 to 10 days).
• Partners must be treated at the same time, or you will pass it back and forth.
• Retest in 3 months. About 1 in 5 people are reinfected within 3 months.

Why trich gets missed

Three reasons: it is usually symptomless, older tests were poor at detecting it (especially in men), and most standard panels do not include it. If you have unexplained discharge or irritation and your chlamydia and gonorrhea tests were negative, ask for a trich NAAT specifically.

Prevention

Condoms reduce transmission. Testing after new partners, and making sure a diagnosed partner is treated before resuming sex, prevents most reinfections.

The bottom line: trichomoniasis is common, usually silent, easy to test for with a urine NAAT, and fully curable with a short course of antibiotics, provided your partner is treated too and you retest at 3 months.

Frequently asked questions

How do you test for trichomoniasis?

With a NAAT on a urine sample or a vaginal swab. NAAT detects the parasite's genetic material and is far more accurate than the older microscope method, especially in men. Results take 1 to 2 days from a private lab.

How is trichomoniasis tested in males?

A first-catch urine sample tested by NAAT. Men are often missed because older tests were poor at detecting trich in men and because most infected men have no symptoms.

How soon after exposure can trichomoniasis be detected?

Symptoms, when they occur, start 5 to 28 days after exposure. Testing about 1 week after exposure is a reasonable earliest point; retest later if the first test is negative and concern remains.

Is trichomoniasis curable?

Yes. A course of metronidazole or tinidazole cures it. Partners must be treated at the same time and you should retest about 3 months later because reinfection is common.

This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. It does not replace an evaluation by a licensed clinician. If you have symptoms or a known exposure, seek care promptly. RapidSTDTests.com is an informational referral website and may be compensated when you order testing through our links.