Recurrence of trich is very common, and about 1 in 5 people are reinfected within a few months of receiving treatment, so it’s important to take steps to prevent the infection in the first place. Untreated trich is connected to low birth weight and preterm delivery for pregnant women, and people with trich have an increased risk of contracting HIV and other STDs. However, because trich is easily spread during sex and can infect both men and women, it’s important for sexual partners to get tested and treated. Trich is usually easily treated with antibiotics, most often metronidazole or tinidazole, and usually just one dose is all that’s required. For those whose bodies do show symptoms, the most common signs are itching and irritation of the genitals, burning during urination, penile discharge and unusual vaginal discharge that includes a fishy smell and is clear, white, yellow or green in color. The infection is more common in women than men, but as many as 70% of people are unaware they have it because their bodies show no obvious signs of infection. In rare cases, trich can infect the eyes or anus. In men, the trich parasite usually infects the urethra, and in women, trich can invade the vagina, vulva, cervix or urethra. Trich is spread from partner to partner through contact with infected bodily fluids, including semen and vaginal fluids.

Trich is the most common curable STD, and an estimated 3.7 million Americans are currently infected with it. Trichomoniasis, often called trich ( pronounced “trick”), is a common sexually transmitted disease caused by a parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis. Other prevention methods include the use of condoms and dental dams, as the cause of BV is believed to be the introduction of new body chemistry from sexual partners. BV is connected to higher rates of HIV and other STDs, and BV has been linked to a potentially serious reproductive disorder, pelvic inflammatory disease, or PID.īV is a notoriously recurrent issue for many women, and some research indicates that the use of probiotics may help prevent BV in women who are prone to it.

Treatment is generally not recommended for male partners of people with BV, but the bacteria may be transmitted between female partners. For people whose bodies show obvious symptoms, the most commonly recommended course of treatment is one of three antibiotics - metronidazole as a pill or a gel or clindamycin cream. Some people may also experience burning or itching during urination.īacterial vaginosis can usually be cured easily with a course of antibiotics, and BV sometimes will go away without any treatment. This discharge is sometimes white, gray or green in color, may have a foamy consistency and carries a strong fishy odor that is more noticeable after sex. For those whose bodies do show obvious signs of infection, a thin vaginal discharge is the most common symptom. It’s estimated that nearly one-third of women between the ages of 14 and 49 have BV, but only about 15% of women with the infection have symptoms. This disruption can lead to an overgrowth of bacteria, often Gardnerella vaginalis, the most common bacteria in the vagina. When a new sexual partner is introduced, the unique chemistry of that person’s genitals, fingers or other parts of the body mix with the vagina’s pH balance. The precise cause isn’t well-understood by researchers, but introducing new sexual partners is believed to upset the bacterial balance in many women. Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)?īacterial vaginosis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is the most common cause of vaginal discharge and related symptoms for younger women who may be more likely to have multiple sexual partners.īV isn’t a foreign infection rather, it’s a condition caused by an imbalance of bacteria within the vagina. Learn the truth about fishy smelling discharge and the conditions that most frequently cause it.

Many different factors play into creating your vagina’s normal scent, including your lifestyle, health and diet, but if your vagina is producing discharge with a distinct fishy odor, one of two common infections is the most likely culprit - bacterial vaginosis and trichomoniasis, or trich.

In most cases, this scent is perfectly normal and natural, but if your vagina’s scent has recently changed or you detect a particularly foul-smelling or pungent odor, you may be dealing with some kind of infection. The vagina, like many other parts of the body, has its own unique scent.

Gonorrhea symptoms smell