Common STD not as prevalent at IU, officials say

A recent study showed that trichomoniasis is now the leading sexually transmitted disease among college women, according to a news release from Presutti Laboratories, Inc. \nBut health officials at IU said the infection isn't as prominent as other STDs.\nThe study, conducted by Dr. Alice Thornton, assistant professor of infectious diseases at the University of Kentucky, and colleagues at IU, examined 145 sexually active college women.\nTrichomonaisis, commonly known as "Tric," was present in 4.8 percent of the women tested. Chlamydia was present in 2.8 percent of the women and gonorrhea was present in even less, about 1.4 percent, according to the study.\nAnne Reese, director and certified sex educator at the IU Health Center, said "Tric" is hardly known among IU students. She said the Human Papilloma Virus and herpes are found most often on the IU-Bloomington campus. Chlamydia, gonorrhea and HIV are found at much lower rates. \n"Though gonorrhea and chlamydia may be more widely recognized, trichomoniasis actually occurred more often in our patient population," Dr. Thornton said in the release. "Trichomoniasis carries its own set of risks. It's not just a nuisance infection that can be ignored."\nThe infection can be contracted through vaginal sexual intercourse and the use of sex toys, but cannot be contracted through oral sex.\n"Generally, symptoms (in women) include vaginal discharge and an odor and maybe itching and redness," Reese said. "Most men and some women have none."\nOther symptoms, according to WebMD.com, include painful urination, discomfort during intercourse in women and slight burning after urination or ejaculation in men.\n"Nothing can be done if you have no symptoms," Reese said. \nPeople "can talk to their health care providers about necessary testing if they have multiple partners and have sex without condoms," she said.\nTrichomoniasis is caused by a single-celled trichomonad parasite. The infection can cause reduced fertility in both men and women and may enhance both acquisition and transmission of HIV, the news release said. It is also linked to cervical cancer, preterm birth and postoperative infection.\nThe current treatments for trichomoniasis is an oral metronidazole called Flagyl or Protostat. Side effects of the drug include nausea, vomiting or a metallic aftertaste, WebMD said.\nReese said she is unsure how long trichomoniasis lasts, but WebMD states "nine out of 10 people with trichomoniasis are cured with a single course of antibiotics."\nReese added that many people do not think they are at risk for STDs, and telling students everything they need to do to be safe does not always help. \n"We like to be more general by saying there are safer sex techniques such as abstinence, condoms and check-ups," she said.\nThe IU Health Center helps students by providing confidential, private check-ups. It also conducts programs on campus about sex and provides information about each sexually transmitted infection and STD on its Web site. Students can also ask questions via e-mail if they are not comfortable to come in.\n"Infections have a life of their own," Reese said. "And people are transmitting them unknowingly."\n-- Contact staff writer Stephanie Susman at ssusman@indiana.edu.