According to experts, a great many people (approximately one million) all over the planet annually face sexually transmitted infections. Trichomoniasis is no exception. This disease is among the infectious ailments. If the patient promptly seeks help from a doctor, the probability of recovery is almost 100%. Do not underestimate the severity of this disease, which the stronger sex most often does not pay attention to. Such a harmless, but only at first glance, a disease that for a long time has not been manifested by clinical signs, can very soon become the cause of the development of inflammatory processes and even entail infertility.
Description of the disease
Trichomoniasis (the modern name is 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 genitourinary tract, as a result, it almost never leads to damage to other systems of internal organs.
Trichomoniasis in men is a fairly common pathology, infection in which occurs mainly during intimacy. However, scientists are aware of cases of domestic infection (through common washcloths, 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 area. Thus, it becomes clear that this ailment requires competent and timely treatment.
Causative agent of the disease
Trichomoniasis in men occurs due to the active life of the parasite, the vaginal trichomonas (Trichomonas vaginalis). This is not a bacterium, but a real unicellular animal. That is why most modern antibacterial drugs do not have a special effect on it. Trichomonas vaginalis is the so-called obligate parasite of a person that lives in the urethra in men and in the vagina in women, but in some cases it can penetrate even into the upper parts of the urogenital system of a person. Below we list its main features:
- Outside the human body, the parasite is able to live for only a couple of hours and only if moisture is constantly maintained.
- Dies quickly when exposed to intense heat or exposure to sunlight.
- Some sexually transmitted infections can create excellent conditions for the propagation of Trichomonas.
- The causative agent of the disease is characterized by the ability to evade control by the immune system, disguising itself as normal body cells.
The main ways of penetration
As noted above, trichomoniasis in men is an infectious disease. The main route of transmission is considered sexual. The source of infection can be a sick person or the so-called trichomonas.
From a theoretical point of view, contact-household infection is possible, but this option is unlikely. The thing is that the causative agent of infection is practically not able to survive outside the human body.
Causes of infection
Currently, scientists distinguish not only the vaginal, but also other types of Trichomonas. There are about 50 of them, however, only three species can be parasitic in the human body (vaginal, intestinal, and oral trichomonads). The last two options are not the cause of the development of the disease among men, since they have nothing to do with the genitourinary system.
Like many other diseases of a venereal nature, which even in the 21st century, medicine is not able to completely eradicate, trichomoniasis in men is transmitted sexually. That is why the source of infection, as a rule, is the previously infected sexual partner. The cause of the development of this disease can be any of the sexual contacts. Of course, the leading position in this matter is occupied by sexual relations.
As soon as 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.
Incubation period
In the first day of infection, this ailment is almost 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 a 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 disease passes to the early stage of development. As a rule, 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 exceeds two months. Symptoms of trichomoniasis in men in this case are almost always absent, periods of exacerbation can be replaced by a rather long remission.
- Trichomonas carriage. This is an asymptomatic form. For a long time, a man does not suspect that he is a carrier of infection, and continues to infect his partners.
This is the most common classification, thanks to which it is possible to determine at what stage trichomoniasis is in men.
Symptoms
Treatment of this disease usually begins very late. This is because the primary clinical signs, even with a visual examination by a specialist, often go unnoticed. Symptoms of the disease often hide 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 Trichomonas carriage.
However, doctors still distinguish a group of signs characteristic of this problem. How is trichomoniasis manifested in men?
- Sharp pain during urination, burning sensation.
- The appearance of nonspecific discharge from the urethra (pus, mucus, etc.).
- The presence of blood threads in semen and urine.
- Frequent urination, which often turns out to be false.
Diagnostics
Diagnosis of this disease often causes some difficulties, since it often is asymptomatic. 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 glass slide, and then examines it in detail under a microscope.
- Cultural method (seeding secretions using special media).
- PCR diagnostics.
- Linked immunosorbent assay. This diagnostic method is rarely used today, since the results often turn out to be false positive.
Only after a full examination can a doctor confirm trichomoniasis in men.
Treatment
Drugs for combating this disease should be prescribed exclusively by a specialist, and more precisely, by a urologist or venereologist. It is not recommended to treat yourself, as this can lead to the transition of the disease into a chronic form with complications. Therapy in this case is complex.
- First of all, antitrichomonas drugs are prescribed (Ornidazole, Metronidazole, Nimorazol).
- In order to protect the liver from the damaging effects of the above drugs, the so-called hepatoprotectors ("Silymarin", "Artichoke", "Silybin") are prescribed.
- For greater bioavailability of antiprotozoal drugs inside the cell, enzymes are used (Wobenzym, Serratiopeptidase).
- To improve the protective function of the body, various immunomodulators are prescribed (Lavomax, Polyoxidonium, Introbion).
- For the prevention of dysbiosis, it is advisable to take "Linex", "Lactovit" or "Hilak".
According to experts, the most effective medicine for trichomoniasis in men at the moment is Metronidazole. The drug has been actively used to combat the disease for more than half a century. With an uncomplicated form, in some cases, a single dose of the drug (2 g) is sufficient. Depending on the patient's condition, a weekly course of treatment may be offered. In this case, tablets are taken twice a day for seven days. The drug quickly spreads throughout the body, creating a sufficiently high concentration of the active substance in the breeding sites of the pathogen. Unfortunately, this medication is far from suitable for all men, since it has side effects. Many note heaviness in the stomach, dizziness, vomiting.
What should every patient know?
You need to know how to treat trichomoniasis in men, but it is equally important to take into account the following points, if not observed, the effectiveness of therapy will be insignificant.
- This disease should be treated regardless of its form and the presence of symptoms. Otherwise, the likelihood of developing complications is very high.
- Trichomoniasis is a disease involving two partners. That is why the examination should be conducted by both a man and a woman. Otherwise, the therapy will be ineffective.
- Persistent immunity to this disease, as a rule, is not observed. Re-infection is not excluded.
- The most important factor in successful treatment is compliance with all the recommendations of a doctor.
- Self-treatment of trichomoniasis in men is unacceptable. The thing is that improperly selected drugs can only aggravate the current situation, lubricate the clinical picture, and provoke complications.
- Almost all drugs used to combat this ailment alter 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 the infection in small quantities was still in the body. Moreover, patients were independently cured without the use of drugs. In fact, such cases of healing are extremely rare. More often, the disease provokes the development of rather serious complications. This can be both inconvenience in the genital area, and more dangerous diseases. The most common is prostatitis. Some experts are convinced that trichomoniasis can provoke the formation of tumors of a malignant nature.
The fact remains that Trichomonas vaginalis, acting directly on the genitals, reduces 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 treatment of trichomoniasis in men was not prescribed on time, the likelihood of developing prostatitis increases. It can occur both asymptomatically and with noticeable redness 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 the next meeting with a pathogenic microorganism, as a rule, inflammatory processes begin again, which requires a repeated visit to the appropriate specialist.
How to prevent the disease?
Prevention of trichomoniasis (trichomoniasis) in men implies, first of all, complete abstinence from random intimate relationships, as well as the use of condoms. If intimacy does occur, it is necessary to rinse the genitals under warm running water using a special antibacterial soap. It is extremely important to immediately consult a doctor, take tests and, if necessary, undergo a full course of treatment. Note that regular comprehensive examination is also the prevention of trichomoniasis and other ailments transmitted directly through sexual contact.
Conclusion
In this article, we described in as much detail as possible what constitutes trichomoniasis disease in men. Symptoms, treatment and the main causes of this disease should not be ignored. We hope that all the information presented in this article will be really useful for you. Be healthy!