Free risk assessment
Do I have trichomoniasis?
Trichomoniasis ("trich") is a common, curable STI caused by a parasite, and many people have no symptoms at all. Answer a few questions about your symptoms and risk factors to see how concerned to be, when a test is reliable, and where to get tested. This is a guide, not a diagnosis.
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Medically reviewed by Dr. Mei Chen, MD, FACOG · Updated June 2026
- US infections (est.)
- ~2M/year
- most common non-viral STI
- Often symptomless
- ~70%
- of infected people have no symptoms
- Cure rate
- >95%
- with single-dose metronidazole
- HIV risk increase
- 2×
- trich doubles HIV acquisition risk
Many infections are silent. A low result here doesn't rule trichomoniasis out. If you've had a new partner or any concern, testing is the only way to be sure.
About trichomoniasis
What is trichomoniasis?
Wondering if you might have trich? It's a fair question — trichomoniasis is actually the most common curable STI in the country, more widespread than chlamydia or gonorrhea, yet it gets talked about far less. It comes from a tiny parasite, and roughly seven in ten people who have it notice nothing at all, so feeling fine tells you very little.
When symptoms do show up they tend to land in women — itching, soreness, and a frothy, strong-smelling discharge — while men are almost always silent carriers, which is how it quietly passes back and forth between partners. The good news is that it's straightforward to settle: a swab or urine sample confirms it, and a short course of antibiotics clears it. The one rule that matters is that both partners get treated at the same time, or reinfection is close to guaranteed. This check weighs your answers to show how concerned to be; it doesn't replace the test.
70 in 100
people who have it notice no symptoms — and can still pass it on
Screening guidance
Who should get tested for trichomoniasis?
Because trichomoniasis is often silent, the CDC recommends routine screening for the groups most likely to have it — not just people with symptoms.
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1
You have itching, odor, or unusual discharge
A frothy yellow-green discharge with a fishy smell, itching or soreness are the classic signs — but they come and go, so a test is the only reliable answer.
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2
A partner tested positive or had symptoms
You both need testing and treatment at the same time; treating just one of you almost guarantees it bounces straight back.
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3
You're living with HIV
The CDC suggests at least a yearly trich check for anyone with HIV — the two infections feed into each other and raise transmission risk.
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4
You've a new partner or another recent STI
Trich often rides along with chlamydia or gonorrhea, so it's commonly worth testing for all three together, even with no symptoms.
Timing
When a trichomoniasis test is reliable
Give it about 1–2 weeks after a possible exposure before testing — the parasite can take anywhere from 5 to 28 days to build up enough to detect, so a very early test can read negative even when you have it. If you test early and it's clear but symptoms or a known exposure persist, repeat it at 3–4 weeks. Because reinfection from an untreated partner is so common, the CDC also suggests a retest about three months after treatment.
Your trichomoniasis testing window
After a possible exposure, a trichomoniasis test becomes reliable around 1–4 weeks later.
Before day 7 a test can miss it · from day 7 it's reliable · re-test after day 28 if you tested early.
When can I test? Exposure-window calculator
Testing too soon can miss an infection. Enter the date of possible exposure to see the earliest a test can reliably detect each STI.
| Infection | Earliest reliable test | Conclusive after |
|---|
Guidance only — confirm timing with a clinician. A negative result before the conclusive date may need a repeat test.
U.S. data
Trichomoniasis in the United States
Trichomoniasis disproportionately affects women — particularly Black and African American women, who have prevalence rates up to 13 times higher than white women. Unlike most STIs that peak sharply in the 15–24 age group, trichomoniasis maintains significant prevalence across all adult age groups, including women in their 40s and 50s. Men are often transient carriers who self-clear but can continuously re-infect partners unless treated. Trichomoniasis is not nationally reportable, so case counts are estimates derived from prevalence surveys.
- 2.00M
- Estimated annual US infections (2023)
- #1
- Most common curable non-viral STI in the US
Good to Know
Trichomoniasis questions
Common questions about trichomoniasis and trichomoniasis testing, answered.
What are the symptoms of trichomoniasis?
In women it can cause itching, burning, and a frothy yellow-green discharge with an odor; in men it's usually silent or just mild irritation. The majority of people have no symptoms at all, which is why it's so easily passed on.
Can men get trichomoniasis?
Yes — men can carry and transmit trich, but they almost never have symptoms. That means a man can keep reinfecting a partner without knowing, so partners should be tested and treated together.
How is trichomoniasis diagnosed?
It can't be diagnosed from symptoms alone, since they overlap with BV and yeast. A clinician confirms it with a lab test on a swab or urine sample.
How soon after exposure can I test?
A test is generally reliable from about 1–4 weeks after exposure. If symptoms appear sooner, get checked — and avoid sex until you and your partner are treated.
Why does trichomoniasis keep coming back?
Usually because a partner wasn't treated at the same time and reinfects you. Both partners should be treated together, avoid sex until finished, and a retest a few months later is recommended since reinfection is common.
Trust & transparency
How this assessment works
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Grounded in public-health guidance
The questions — and how heavily each answer counts — follow the risk factors and symptoms the CDC and WHO describe for Trich.
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A risk guide, not a diagnosis
Your answers produce a risk level — how concerned to be — and flag anything that needs urgent care. Only a lab test can confirm or rule out an infection.
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Private by design
It runs in your browser. We never ask for your name, email, or anything that identifies you.
Medically reviewed · Updated
Reviewed by Dr. Mei Chen, MD, FACOG · OB-GYN
Obstetrician-gynecologist focused on reproductive and sexual health for women — pregnancy, BV, yeast, trichomoniasis and HPV/cervical screening. Our editorial guidelines →
Sources & references
5 Sources
Clinical guidance
- CDC — Trichomoniasis (Fact Sheet) https://www.cdc.gov/std/trichomonas/stdfact-trichomoniasis.htm
- CDC — STI Treatment Guidelines, 2021: Trichomoniasis https://www.cdc.gov/std/treatment-guidelines/trichomoniasis.htm
- CDC — Trichomoniasis (Detailed Fact Sheet) https://www.cdc.gov/std/trichomonas/stdfact-trichomoniasis-detailed.htm
Data & references
- Sutton M et al. — Prevalence of trichomoniasis in the United States. MMWR 2007;56(No. SS-4) https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/
- CDC NCHHSTP AtlasPlus — STI surveillance data https://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/atlas/
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