The most straightforward way of knowing if you have trichomoniasis or not is to undergo a trichomoniasis test. How exactly does this test detect if you have this parasite, and are there other forms of diagnosis?
What Does a Trichomoniasis Test Check For?
Trichomoniasis, or trich, is caused by Trichomonas vaginalis, which is a microscopic parasite that infects a person’s urinary tract. A trichomoniasis test checks for the presence of this parasite through cellular samples, vaginal fluid, or urine samples in men.
What usually happens during a trichomoniasis test is a nurse or doctor uses a swab on the woman’s vagina. The process itself is similar to that of a pap smear. They collect either cellular samples or samples of the vaginal fluid.
In men, the usual procedure would be to get a urine sample instead. However, some might also use a swab to collect samples from the urethra.
It’s also possible to test urine samples from women. However, swab tests are usually more accurate.
Afterward, the samples are examined under the microscope. If there are any traces of the parasite, then the patient has trich.
If the initial results are not conclusive, then a rapid antigen test and nucleic acid amplification might be done. These tests are usually more accurate, though they can be more expensive.
How is it Different From Diagnosing Dther STDs?
A trichomoniasis test is similar to other forms of STD tests in that a sample is taken to be examined at a laboratory.
The main difference, however, is that in some STD tests, a urine sample can provide already an accurate result. Typical examples of these are when testing for gonorrhea or chlamydia.
For other STDs such as syphilis or herpes, there are currently no accurate forms of urine test.
For syphilis, the usual procedure would be to take a blood sample and examine it for syphilis antibodies. A lumbar puncture, or a procedure that takes a sample of the fluid in your spine, can also be done to check for syphilis.
When testing for herpes, laboratories usually take a tissue sample. This involves scraping some of the sores or tissues that might be infected. Afterward, this is used to create a viral culture to check for the presence of the herpes virus.
These days, most forms of STD testing are accurate and can be trusted.
How Do Doctors Diagnose Trichomoniasis?
Diagnosing trichomoniasis without tests can be tricky. This is especially true in men, because it’s much more common for men to not show symptoms, but still have an infection.
What doctors usually do is ask you about your symptoms first. Afterward, they might do an examination of your genitals, to see if there are any physical signs of inflammation or irritation.
It’s also possible for the symptoms of trichomoniasis to be mistaken for other STDs. This is because most of the symptoms, such as pain in the genitals, a burning sensation when peeing, and general inflammation can be similar.
If they believe that you might have trichomoniasis, then they will ask you to undergo an STD test. Once the test results come out, they will prescribe you the medication that you need to treat your illness.
