Trichomoniasis in men: causes, symptoms, treatment

According to experts, a great many people (about one million) across the planet every year face infections that are transmitted directly through sexual intercourse. Trichomoniasis is no exception. This disease belongs to the number of infectious ailments. If the patient promptly seeks help from a doctor, the probability of recovery is almost 100%. Do not underestimate the seriousness of this disease, which strong sex most often does not pay attention. This harmless, but only at first glance, disease, which for a long time is not manifested by clinical signs, very soon can cause the development of inflammatory processes and even lead to infertility.

Description of the disease

Trichomoniasis (current name - trichomoniasis) is a disease of the genitourinary system, provoked by the simplest unicellular parasite Trichomonas vaginalis. The causative agent of the disease is able to live exclusively in the genito-urinary tract, as a consequence, it almost never leads to the defeat of other systems of internal organs.

Trichomoniasis in men - this is a fairly common pathology, the infection in which occurs mainly during intimacy. However, scientists know cases of domestic infection (through common loofers, towels, sponges).

In the case of urogenital trichomoniasis, not only the urethra, but also the prostate gland is affected. The causative agent of infection, penetrating from the urethra directly into the seminal ducts and epididymis, contributes to the development of inflammatory processes in this field. Thus, it becomes clear that this ailment requires competent and timely treatment.

Pathogen of the disease

Trichomoniasis in men arises from the vigorous activity of the parasite of the vaginal trichomonas (Trichomonas vaginalis). This is not a bacterium, but a very unicellular animal. That is why most modern antibacterial drugs do not have a special effect on it. Trichomonas vaginalis is the so-called obligate human parasite that lives in the urethra in men and in the vagina of women, but in some cases it is able to penetrate even into the upper sections of the human genitourinary system. Below we list its main features:

• Outside the human body, the parasite can live only a couple of hours and only under the condition of constant moisture preservation.
• Quickly dies when heated or exposed to sunlight.
• Some sexually transmitted infections can create excellent conditions for the reproduction of trichomonads.
• The causative agent of the disease is characterized by the ability to escape from control by the immune system, masquerading as ordinary cells of the body.

Main ways of penetration

As noted above, trichomoniasis in men is an infectious disease. The main way of its transmission is considered sexual. The source of infection may be a sick person or a so-called trichomonas carrier.

From the theoretical point of view, it is possible to get infected by contact-household means, however this variant is unlikely. The thing is that the causative agent of an infection is practically incapable of surviving outside the human body.

Causes of infection

At present, scientists distinguish not only vaginal, but also other types of trichomonads. There are about 50 of them, however, only three species (vaginal, intestinal, oral trichomonads) can parasitize in the human body. The last two options are not the cause of the development of the disease among men, since they have no relation to the genitourinary system.

Like many other diseases of the venereal nature, which even in the 21st century, medicine is not able to completely eradicate, trichomoniasis in men is transmitted sexually. That's why in the role of a source of infection, as a rule, an infected earlier sexual partner. The cause, which provoked the development of this disease, can be any of the sexual contacts. Certainly, sexual relations occupy the leading positions in this issue.

Once a small parasite enters the genitourinary system, it is immediately attached with the help of flagella to the nearest cell and lingers on it, only after this begins active reproduction.

The incubation period

On the first day of infection, this ailment is practically impossible to confirm in the laboratory. This is because the incubation period, as a rule, is asymptomatic. It can last from two days (if immunity is weakened or there are other diseases of the venereal nature) and up to two months. At this time, there are no signs of trichomoniasis in men. After the end of the incubation period the ailment passes to the early stage of development. Typically, at this time the doctor through a variety of diagnostic methods can confirm the presence of a problem.

Classification

By the nature of the course the following forms of the disease are distinguished:

• Fresh form. The duration of the disease does not exceed two months. This type, in turn, is divided into the following forms: acute; Subacute; Torpid.
• Chronic form. The duration of the disease is more than two months. Symptoms of trichomoniasis in men in this case are almost always absent, periods of exacerbation can be replaced by a fairly long remission.
• Trichomonadonation. This is an asymptomatic form. Over time, a man does not suspect that he is the carrier of the infection, and continues to infect his partners.

This is the most common classification, thanks to which it is possible to determine at what stage is trichomoniasis in men.

Symptoms

Treatment of this disease, as a rule, begins very late. This is because the primary clinical signs, even when visually examined by a specialist, are often unnoticed. Symptoms of the ailment are often hidden deep inside, and in the first few days after infection directly into the body they practically do not manifest themselves. Otherwise, this situation is called trichomonadonositelstvom.

However, doctors still distinguish a group of symptoms characteristic of this problem. How does trichomoniasis appear in men?

• Sharp pain during urination, burning sensation.
• The appearance of nonspecific secretions from the urethra (pus, mucus, etc.).
• The presence of blood threads in the sperm and urine.
• Frequent urge to urinate, which often turns out to be false.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis of this disease often causes some difficulties, since it often proceeds asymptomatically. Below we list the main diagnostic methods:

• Microscopy of the test material. The doctor takes a smear from the urethra, places the contents on a slide, and then studies it in detail under a microscope.
• The culture method (seeding of secretions using special media).
• PCR diagnostics.
• Linked immunosorbent assay. This method of diagnosis is used today rarely, because the results are often false positive.

Only after a complete examination the doctor can confirm trichomoniasis in men.

Treatment

Drugs for the fight against this disease should be appointed exclusively by a specialist, or rather a urologist or venereologist. It is not recommended to treat yourself, as this can lead to the transition of the ailment into a chronic form with complications. The therapy in this case is complex.

• In the first place, anti-trichomonadic agents are prescribed (Ornidazole, Metronidazole, Nimorazole).
• In order to protect the liver from the damaging effects of the above drugs prescribed so-called hepatoprotectors ("Silymarin", "Artichoke", "Silibin").
• For greater bioavailability of antiprotozoal drugs, enzymes are used inside the cell ("Wobenzym", "Serratiopeptidase").
• To improve the protective function of the body are assigned various immunomodulators ("Lavomax", "Polyoxidonium", "Introbion").
• For the prevention of dysbiosis it is desirable to take "Linex", "Lactovit" or "Hilak".

According to experts, the most effective drug for trichomoniasis in men at the moment is Metronidazole. The drug is actively used to combat the disease for more than half a century. In uncomplicated form in some cases, a single dose of the drug (2 g) is sufficient. Depending on the patient's condition, a one-week course of treatment may be offered. In this case, the tablets are taken twice a day for seven days. The drug quickly spreads through the body, creating a sufficiently high concentration of the active substance in the breeding grounds of the pathogen. Unfortunately, not all men are suitable for this medication, since it has side effects. Many note the severity in the stomach, dizziness, vomiting.

What should every patient know?

It is necessary to know how to treat trichomoniasis in men, but it is equally important to take into account the following points, if non-compliance, the effectiveness of therapy will be negligible.

1. This disease should be treated regardless of its form and the presence of symptoms. Otherwise, the likelihood of complications is very high.
2. Trichomoniasis is a disease involving two partners. That is why the examination should take place both male and female. Otherwise, therapy will be ineffective.
3. Strong immunity to this disease, as a rule, is not observed. Repeated infection is not ruled out.
4. The most important factor in successful treatment is compliance with all the recommendations of the doctor.
5. Individual treatment of trichomoniasis in men is unacceptable. The thing is that incorrectly selected drugs can only aggravate the current situation, lubricate the clinical picture, provoke complications.
6. Almost all drugs used to combat this disease, change the utilization of alcohol in the body. This means that the use of alcoholic beverages, even in small quantities during treatment is highly undesirable.

Complications

In medicine, there are cases when the symptoms of trichomoniasis in men were absent, but the causative agent of infection in small amounts was still in the body. Moreover, the patients were cured independently without the use of medications. In fact, such cases of healing are extremely rare. Much more often the disease provokes the development of rather serious complications. This can be both discomfort in the genital area, and more dangerous diseases. The most common is prostatitis. Some experts are convinced that trichomoniasis can provoke the formation of malignant tumors.

Unconditional is the fact that Trichomonas vaginalis, acting directly on the genitals, reduces the immune defense. Thus, the urethra becomes open to various pathogenic microorganisms (for example, for gonococci). Moreover, it is among infected patients that HIV is often diagnosed.

If the treatment of trichomoniasis in men has not been scheduled on time, the likelihood of developing prostatitis increases. It can proceed either asymptomatically or with a noticeable reddening of the genital organ.

If a man managed to overcome trichomoniasis, there is no reason to hope that the body will develop permanent immunity to it. At a regular meeting with a pathogenic microorganism, as a rule, inflammatory processes begin again, which requires a repeated appeal to the appropriate specialist.

How to prevent the disease?

Prophylaxis of trichomoniasis (trichomoniasis) in men implies, above all, complete abstinence from accidental intimate relationships, as well as the use of condoms. If the affinity nevertheless has occurred, it is necessary to wash out a sexual organ under warm running water with use of a special antibacterial soap. It is extremely important to immediately seek medical advice from a doctor, take tests and, if necessary, undergo a full course of treatment. Note that a regular comprehensive examination is also a prevention of trichomoniasis and other ailments transmitted directly through sexual intercourse.

Conclusion

In this article, we are as detailed as possible about what the disease of trichomoniasis in men is. Symptoms, treatment and the main causes of this ailment should not be ignored. We hope that all the information presented in this article will be really useful for you. Be healthy!