What is trichomoniasis?

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Trichomoniasis — often called "trich" — is the most common, curable STD in young, sexually active women. The infection is caused by a parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis, and it is spread through sexual intercourse or genital contact.

While it may be less well known, the trichomoniasis is more common than both Chlamydia and gonnorhea. In fact, each year, there are an estimated 7.4 million new cases of trichomoniasis in the United States, compared with 3 million cases of Chlamydia and 718,000 cases of gonorrhea.1

Anyone can get trichomoniasis. However, in the United States, it is diagnosed more frequently among women than among men. It is also significantly more common among non-Hispanic black women than among women of other races.

According to a 2007 study by CDC researchers, approximately 3.1% of women aged 14 to 49 are infected with T. vaginalis at any given time.2 The same study found that non-Hispanic black women were much more likely to have trichomoniasis than non-Hispanic white or Mexican American women (13.3% vs. 1.3% and 1.8%, respectively.)2

Prevalence of trichomoniasis in women aged 14-49 years2

Bar graph showing the prevalence of Trichomoniasis vaginalis in women in the United States, ages 14 through 49. Prevalence rates are 3.1% overall, 1.3% of non-Hispanic white women, 1.8% of Mexican American women, and 13.3% of non-Hispanic black women.

Other studies have found trichomoniasis in 4.8% of female college students and 18.5% of women at a teen health center and emergency department.3,4

Learn more about trichomoniasis:
Cause and Risk Factors»
Signs and Symptoms»
Tests and Diagnosis»
Treatment of Giardiasis»
  1. Weinstock H, Berman S, Cates W Jr. "Sexually transmitted diseases among American youth: incidence and prevalence estimates, 2000." Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health. 2004 Jan-Feb; 36(1): 6-10. Sexually transmitted diseases among American youth: incidence and prevalence estimates, 2000. Perspect Sex Reprod Health. 2004 Jan-Feb;36(1):6-10.
  2. Sutton M, Sternberg M, Koumans EH, McQuillan G, Berman S, Markowitz L. The prevalence of Trichomonas vaginalis infection among reproductive-age women in the United States, 2001-2004. Clin Infect Dis. 2007 Nov 15;45(10):1319-26. Epub 2007 Oct 15.
  3. Thornton AC, Dale T, Fortenberry D, Logan TK. Occurrence of trichomoniasis in college women [abstract]. Abstracts of the 15th ISSTDR 2003; July 27-30; Ottawa, Canada.
  4. Huppert JS, Mortensen JE, Reed JL, Kahn JA, Rich KD, Miller WC, Hobbs MM. Rapid antigen testing compares favorably with transcription-mediated amplification assay for the detection of Trichomonas vaginalis in young women. Clin Infect Dis. 2007 Jul 15;45(2):194-8. Epub 2007 Jun 6.

About Trichomoniasis

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Only Tindamax® is approved to treat both bacterial vaginosis and trichomoniasis (TV).

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Oral vs vaginal cream therapy: Patient preference for oral dosing is demonstrated to be 84%. More»

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