This page is general health information, not medical advice. It cannot tell you whether you have an infection. A clinician can, and the testing options on this site are a good place to start.

Trichomoniasis is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI), and it is curable. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describes it as the most common curable STI in the United States. Many people who have it never notice anything.

This guide takes a science-focused look at the infection. It covers the organism behind it, what research suggests about how it behaves, how tests work, what clinicians prescribe, and where Chicago residents can get tested.

What trichomoniasis is: the organism

The ingredient list for this topic is short. One organism causes the infection: Trichomonas vaginalis. It is a single-celled parasite, not a bacterium and not a virus.

That distinction matters for care. Bacterial STIs such as chlamydia are treated with one class of medicine. Trichomoniasis is treated with a different class, which a clinician chooses.

Key features of the organism, as described in the CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021):

It lives in the genital tract. In women it is usually found in the vagina and sometimes the urethra. In men it is usually found in the urethra.
It spreads through genital contact, including vaginal sex and sharing sex toys that are not cleaned or covered.
It does not form a long-lived resting stage outside the body in the way many people fear, so everyday contact like toilet seats is not how it spreads.
It can be present for a long time without causing symptoms.

The cell surface and the way the parasite attaches to tissue are active areas of laboratory study. Research suggests the parasite sticks to cells lining the genital tract and may provoke inflammation there. This is one proposed reason the infection is linked with other health effects, covered below.

Trichomoniasis symptoms by sex

The CDC says most people with trichomoniasis have no symptoms. When symptoms do appear, they differ by anatomy and can show up anywhere from a few days to a few months after contact.

In people with a vagina

Trichomoniasis symptoms can include:

Discharge that may be clear, white, yellowish or greenish, sometimes with an odor
Itching or irritation in or around the vagina
Burning with urination
Discomfort during sex
Lower abdominal discomfort, which is less common

In people with a penis

The CDC notes that men are more often without symptoms. When symptoms occur, they can include:

Irritation inside the penis
Burning with urination or after ejaculation
Discharge from the penis

Why symptoms alone are not enough

These signs overlap with other conditions, including bacterial vaginosis, yeast infections, chlamydia and gonorrhea. Symptoms cannot tell you which one is present. Only a clinician's evaluation and a lab test can do that.

Because chlamydia can look similar, you may also want to read our guide to chlamydia symptoms, testing and treatment in Chicago.

What research suggests about health effects

Findings below are framed as observations from research and CDC summaries, not certainties for any one person.

HIV. The CDC says trichomoniasis can cause genital inflammation, and research suggests this may make it easier to acquire HIV if exposed. This is one reason clinicians pair STI and HIV care.
Pregnancy. The CDC reports that trichomoniasis in pregnancy has been associated with preterm delivery and low birth weight. A prenatal care team can advise on testing and treatment.
Other STIs. The CDC notes that people with one STI may be more likely to have another, which is why clinics often test for several infections at once.
People with HIV. The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines recommend that women with HIV be screened for trichomoniasis at entry to care and at least once a year.

Chicago-specific trichomoniasis rates are not part of the sources used for this page. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) lists case counts for chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis, and does not list trichomoniasis in its reportable STI list. Ask the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) if you want local figures.

How testing works

The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines recommend a nucleic acid amplification test, or NAAT, as a sensitive way to detect the parasite. A NAAT looks for the organism's genetic material.

Sample types

People with a vagina: a vaginal swab, which can often be collected by the patient in private, or a urine sample, depending on the test used.
People with a penis: a urine sample or a urethral swab, depending on the lab.

Other methods

Some clinics look at a vaginal sample under a microscope, known as a wet mount. The CDC notes that this method is less sensitive than NAAT, meaning it can miss infections that a NAAT would find. A negative wet mount may lead a clinician to order further testing.

Timing

The CDC does not publish a set window period for trichomoniasis in the way it does for some other infections. If you had a recent exposure and are unsure when to test, ask the clinic or call the Illinois HIV/STD Hotline at 1-800-243-2437, listed on the IDPH STD page.

Getting a full picture

Trichomoniasis testing is often part of a broader STI panel. When you book, you can ask which infections are included and whether HIV and syphilis testing are offered at the same visit.

Trichomoniasis treatment: what a clinician prescribes

Trichomoniasis treatment is curable. The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines recommend oral antibiotics from a class called nitroimidazoles. A clinician chooses the specific medicine and the length of the course based on your situation. Doses and schedules are decided by your prescriber, so this page does not list them.

Safety profile and questions to ask your prescriber

As with any prescription, tell the clinician about:

Pregnancy or breastfeeding. The CDC says treatment can be appropriate during pregnancy, and a clinician will weigh the options with you.
Other medicines and alcohol. Some nitroimidazoles interact with certain drugs and can cause unpleasant effects with alcohol. Ask your prescriber and pharmacist what applies to your medicine.
Past reactions. Mention any previous allergic or other reaction to antibiotics.
Liver, kidney or nerve conditions. These can affect which medicine and course a clinician selects.

Common side effects are usually mild, such as nausea or a metallic taste. If you notice a rash, swelling or severe symptoms, contact a clinician or emergency services promptly.

If symptoms or a positive test come back after treatment

The CDC notes that a repeat positive result is most often due to re-exposure from an untreated partner. In uncommon cases, a clinician may consider a different course or further testing. Do not stretch out or repeat a prescription on your own.

Retesting and partners

Retesting

The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines recommend that sexually active women be retested within three months after treatment, because repeat infection is common. Many clinics also suggest retesting for others. The CDC notes a NAAT can be done as early as two weeks after treatment. Ask your clinician what timing fits you.

Partner treatment

Partners need to be evaluated and treated too, or the infection can pass back and forth. The CDC advises avoiding sex until you and your partners have all completed treatment and any symptoms have gone away.

In Illinois, expedited partner therapy (EPT) is permissible for trichomoniasis, along with chlamydia and gonorrhea, according to the CDC's legal status page for Illinois. Under the Illinois Sexually Transmitted Infection Control Act (410 ILCS 325/6), it applies to partners exposed within the previous 60 days and requires counseling and IDPH written materials for the partner. EPT does not cover syphilis. Whether it is offered depends on the clinician, so ask.

Where to get tested in Chicago

You do not need a symptom to get tested. Several Chicago sites offer STI testing, and some are walk-in. Always call ahead, because hours and services can change. For the full local list, see free and low-cost clinics in Chicago. For cost details, see STD testing in Chicago: where to get tested and what it costs.

Clinic	Address and phone	Walk-in and cost notes
CDPH Lakeview North Clark Street Health Clinic	2849 N. Clark St., 1st Fl.; 312.744.5507	Call for an appointment; limited walk-ins. CDPH says care is provided regardless of ability to pay or insurance status.
CDPH Austin West Division Street Health Hub	4909 W. Division St., Suite 411; 312.746.4871	Call for an appointment; limited walk-ins. Same CDPH payment statement.
CDPH Roseland East 115th Street Health Hub	200 E. 115th St., 1.5 fl.; 312.747.1090	Call for an appointment; limited walk-ins. Same CDPH payment statement.
Ruth M. Rothstein CORE Center (Cook County Health)	2020 W. Harrison St., 60612; 312-572-4700	Walk-in STI Screening Clinic; Cook County Health says to call Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 3:30pm. CDC GetTested lists a sliding scale.
Howard Brown Health (Sheridan, 63rd St. and Broadway Youth Center)	4025 N. Sheridan Rd., 641 W. 63rd St., 1023 W. Irving Park Rd.; 773.388.1600	Walk-in, no appointment necessary, first come, first served. Howard Brown offers a sliding fee program based on income and family size. Broadway Youth Center serves ages 12 to 24.
Planned Parenthood of Illinois, Rogers Park Health Center	5725 N Broadway, 60660; (773) 942-7193	CDC GetTested says an appointment is required. It lists insurance and Medicaid accepted; self-pay is not stated.

CDPH asks insured patients to bring an insurance card, and its page does not say that visits are free. The CDPH page also says to call the clinic to verify hours. The clinic pages used here do not list prices for a trichomoniasis test, so ask each clinic about cost when you call.

You can also find sites by ZIP code on the CDC's GetTested locator. The CDPH sexual health services page lists its clinics.

Your rights and privacy in Illinois

Under the Illinois Consent by Minors to Health Care Services Act (410 ILCS 210/4), a minor 12 years of age or older who may have come into contact with an STI may consent to care related to prevention, diagnosis or treatment. Parental consent is not necessary. The law also says providers should make reasonable efforts to involve family if they believe it will not be harmful, and each STI incident must be reported to public health.

Under Illinois rules (77 Ill. Adm. Code 693), HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia are reportable to the health department. Trichomoniasis is not on that list.

Choosing a testing site: quality indicators

There is no brand or kit to buy for this. Useful signs of a good testing option are:

It is a clinic, health department or health center that you can name and call.
The clinician can tell you which test is used and whether it is a NAAT.
Results are reviewed with you, and treatment is prescribed by a licensed clinician when needed.
Staff explain how partners can be evaluated or treated.
Costs and payment options are explained before the visit.

Key takeaways

Trichomoniasis is caused by a parasite and is curable with treatment from a clinician.
Many people have no symptoms, so symptoms alone cannot confirm or rule out the infection.
NAAT testing is the CDC-recommended way to detect it.
Retesting and partner care help prevent passing it back and forth.
Chicago has walk-in and low-cost options, and Illinois law lets minors 12 and older consent to STI care.

Trichomoniasis: Symptoms, Testing and Treatment in Chicago