[Question #8323] Trichomonosis

Avatar photo
46 months ago
I have been married to my husband for 40 years.  I have only had sex with my husband, in my life.  He admits to a one night stand 35 years ago.  I was recently diagnosed with trichamonosis.  I was treated with flagyl and he was treated as well, but not tested. Is it biologically possible for me to have gotten it in some other way then him coming in contact with another vagina?  Or, would that be very rare and improbable?  Of course he claims I must have gotten it from a toilet.
Avatar photo
Edward W. Hook M.D.
46 months ago
Welcome to our forum and thanks for your question.  I’ll be glad to comment.

Despite being amongst the most common STIs, the infection is relatively understudied and there remains much to understand about it.  We do know for sure that the correct management was for both you and your husband to be treated.  We know that trichomoniasis can remain present asymptomatically for months or even years.  Current data indicate that nearly all trichamonas infections occur as the result of sexual contact and while in science we can never say never, non-sexual acquisition is exceedingly rare.  

Can I ask how the diagnosis was made?  Occasionally PAP smears yield falsely positive results for trichamonas.  EWH 
---
Avatar photo
46 months ago
It was diagnosed APTIMA SWAB/Thin Prep  using transcription mediated amplification.  This was on the Holistic Altima CV/TV  Assay on Panther System.  And thank you so much for your help.
Avatar photo
Edward W. Hook M.D.
46 months ago
Thank you for the additional information.  The Aptima test is very accurate.  False positive tests are quite rare.  EWH ---