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 the most common curable sexually transmitted infection, according to the CDC. It is also one of the least discussed. Many people in Austin have never heard it named, even though it is treatable with a short course of medicine from a clinician.

This guide explains the science in plain terms. It covers what causes trichomoniasis, what symptoms can look like in different bodies, how testing works, what treatment involves, and where to get tested in Austin.

What causes trichomoniasis

This page covers a parasite, not a plant or a supplement, so the usual "ingredient" questions look different. The cause is a single-celled organism called Trichomonas vaginalis. It is a microscopic parasite, not a virus and not a bacterium.

The CDC explains that it spreads through genital contact, including vaginal sex and genital-to-genital rubbing. It usually lives in the vagina or urethra. Because it is a parasite, the medicines that work against it belong to a different group than the antibiotics used for chlamydia or gonorrhea.

The CDC also notes that the time between exposure and symptoms varies. Its patient information gives a range of about 5 to 28 days for people who develop symptoms at all. Many people never do.

How common is it

The CDC estimated about 2.6 million prevalent trichomoniasis infections in the United States in its 2018 STI estimates. That makes it more common than the number of people who learn they have it, because so many infections cause no noticeable signs.

Austin-specific numbers are not available for trichomoniasis. The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) notifiable conditions list for 2026 includes chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, chancroid, HIV and AIDS. Trichomoniasis is not on it, so local case counts are not published the way those infections are.

For context, the DSHS 2022 STD Surveillance Report shows how much other STIs touch Travis County. It lists a chlamydia rate of 712.6 per 100,000 people in Travis County, compared with 519.9 per 100,000 statewide that year. If you want to read more about that infection, see our guide to chlamydia symptoms, testing and treatment in Austin.

Trichomoniasis symptoms by sex

The most important fact about trichomoniasis symptoms is that they are often absent. The CDC says about 70 percent of people with the infection have no signs or symptoms. Symptoms alone cannot show whether someone has it, and only a test can.

When symptoms do appear, the CDC describes these patterns.

People with a vagina

Itching, burning, redness or soreness of the genitals
Discomfort when urinating
A change in vaginal discharge, which may be thin or frothy and may look clear, white, yellowish or greenish

People with a penis

Itching or irritation inside the penis
Burning after urinating or after ejaculating
Discharge from the penis

Several of these signs overlap with chlamydia, gonorrhea, yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis and non-sexual irritation. A clinician cannot reliably tell them apart by looking, which is why testing matters. Anyone with these symptoms can ask a clinician what could explain them.

What research suggests about trichomoniasis

The research below comes mostly from the CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021). It is framed as what studies suggest, not as certainty for any one person.

Persistence. The CDC guidelines note that without treatment, the infection can last for months or even years in some people. Research suggests it does not reliably clear on its own.
HIV. The CDC guidelines report that trichomoniasis is associated with a higher chance of getting HIV and of passing it on. Research suggests inflammation of genital tissue is one reason. The CDC recommends that women with HIV be screened for trichomoniasis when they enter care and at least once a year.
Pregnancy. Studies summarized by the CDC link trichomoniasis in pregnancy with preterm delivery and low birth weight. The CDC says clinicians can treat it during pregnancy, so anyone who is pregnant or may be pregnant can ask about testing.
Other STIs. The CDC notes it often appears alongside other infections. A clinician may suggest testing for several infections at once.

Research on how trichomoniasis affects fertility and long-term health is still developing. The CDC guidelines describe some associations, but they do not prove cause and effect for any individual.

How testing works

NAAT is the preferred method

The CDC recommends a nucleic acid amplification test, or NAAT, for trichomoniasis. A NAAT looks for the genetic material of the parasite. The CDC guidelines describe NAATs as more sensitive than looking at a sample under a microscope, which is called a wet mount and can miss infections.

Depending on the test, the sample may be a vaginal swab or a urine sample. A swab can often be collected by the patient in private. Ask the clinic which sample type it uses.

Who is tested

The CDC does not recommend routine screening for everyone without symptoms. It does recommend testing for women with symptoms and screening for women with HIV. It also says to consider testing for women who may be at higher risk, such as those with new or multiple partners or a history of other STIs. The guidelines describe less evidence on testing men, but a clinician can test a person with symptoms or a partner who has the infection.

An important local detail

Trichomoniasis is often not part of a standard clinic panel. Austin Public Health's Sexual Health Clinic page lists HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia as its standard tests and does not name trichomoniasis. Kind Clinic's walk-in list and the UT Austin University Health Services list are similar: gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis and HIV, plus hepatitis C at Kind Clinic.

That does not mean a clinic cannot help. It means it is worth asking, when you call or book, whether they can test for trichomoniasis and what the visit would involve. Clinics can change their offerings, so confirm directly.

Trichomoniasis treatment

Trichomoniasis is curable. The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) recommend prescription medicine from a clinician, in a class of antibiotics called nitroimidazoles. The specific medicine, amount and length of treatment are decided by the clinician, and they can differ by person and body type.

Over-the-counter products and home remedies are not a substitute. A clinician has to prescribe the medicine, and a test is how the infection is confirmed.

Safety profile and what to tell your clinician

The CDC guidelines describe these medicines as generally well tolerated, but nothing is risk-free. Before treatment, tell the clinician about:

Pregnancy or breastfeeding. The CDC guidelines give separate guidance for both situations, so the clinician can choose what fits.
Allergies or past reactions to any medicine, including this class.
Other medicines you take, including prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs and supplements, since some can interact.
Alcohol. The CDC guidelines advise that alcohol use around the time of treatment with these medicines can cause unpleasant reactions. Ask your clinician how long to avoid it.
Liver conditions or a history of blood or nerve problems, which can affect which medicine is chosen.

Common side effects mentioned in clinical references include nausea and a metallic taste. If something feels wrong after starting treatment, call the prescriber or pharmacist.

Treatment that does not clear the infection

The CDC notes that resistance to this medicine class is uncommon. If symptoms continue or a test is still positive, the first questions are usually about reinfection or a missed dose. A clinician can then decide whether another course or further testing is needed.

Retesting and partner care

Reinfection is common. The CDC guidelines say that retesting is recommended for all sexually active women within 3 months after treatment, because repeat infections occur often. A clinician can advise on timing and on retesting for other people.

Partners matter too. The CDC advises that recent sex partners should be evaluated and treated, since otherwise the parasite can pass back and forth. The CDC also advises avoiding sex until everyone has been treated and any symptoms have gone away. Ask your clinician how long that is for your situation.

Treating partners in Texas

Texas has no statute on expedited partner therapy, but it has administrative rules. According to the CDC's legal status page for Texas, a Texas Medical Board rule says no practitioner-patient relationship is required for a physician to prescribe STD medications for partners of the physician's established patient. The CDC also lists a rule that lets advanced practice nurses do the same, and rules that let pharmacists dispense partner prescriptions without a physician-partner relationship.

In practice, it is worth asking your clinician whether partner treatment is an option for your situation.

Quality indicators: what to look for in a testing visit

Sourcing matters differently here. There is nothing to buy, but there is a way to judge whether a testing visit is a good one.

A clear test method. The clinic can say whether it uses a NAAT and what sample it collects.
A published price, or a plain answer. A good clinic will tell you the cost before the visit. If a page does not list a price, ask.
Treatment in the same place, or a clear handoff. Ask whether the clinic can prescribe if a test comes back positive.
Confidentiality explained. Ask how results are delivered and who can see them.
Judgment-free care. You should be treated with respect whatever your gender, orientation or number of partners.

Where to get tested in Austin

A full list with details is on our Austin clinics list, and our guide to STD testing in Austin: where to get tested and what it costs goes deeper on costs. Here is a short summary of the options. Call to confirm tests, hours and fees before you go.

Austin Public Health Sexual Health Clinic

Austin Public Health runs this clinic at the RBJ Health Center, 15 Waller Street, Austin, TX 78702. Its page lists hours of Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 to 5 p.m., and says the fee for testing and treatment is $30. To schedule, call 512-972-5430 or use the online scheduling on the clinic page. The city's website carries a notice that content updates may be delayed, so confirm hours and fees by phone. Ask whether trichomoniasis testing is available.

CommUnityCare IDEALhealth Program

The program is at 1000 E. 41st St., Suite 700, Austin, TX 78751, phone 512-978-9015. CommUnityCare lists STI and HIV testing and prevention. It says its sliding fee scale is set in a meeting with a Financial Eligibility Specialist.

Kind Clinic, Austin Koenig

Kind Clinic is at 101 W Koenig Lane, Ste 100, Austin, TX 78751, phone 833-937-5463. It offers walk-in testing for gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, HIV and hepatitis C, and walk-in hours differ from regular hours. Its site says patients with health insurance must use it for lab work, and that its assistance program can help uninsured patients with lab costs. The South Austin location does not offer walk-in STI testing.

ASHwell Sexual Health + Wellness

ASHwell is at 3100 Red River St, Suite 3, Austin, TX 78705, phone (512) 900-3116. Its page says services are always free, though medication may carry costs, and that treatment is only for ASHwell patients. It does not accept walk-ins, so call first.

Vivent Health Austin

Vivent is at 104 E. Highland Mall Blvd, Suite 100, Austin, TX 78752, phone (512) 458-2437. Its own page says HIV testing is free and confidential. Call for walk-in testing hours or to make an appointment, and ask which other tests it offers.

UT Austin University Health Services

This STI testing clinic serves UT Austin students and is in the Student Services Building, Room 1.400, phone 512-471-4955. Drop-in visits are for people without symptoms. Those with symptoms need a provider appointment.

Other ways to find a clinic

The CDC's GetTested locator lets you find testing sites by ZIP code. Texas DSHS also runs a free mail-order program called Test for Texas for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia at testfortexas.org. That list does not include trichomoniasis, so ask a clinic about it separately.

Privacy for young people

Under Texas Family Code Sec. 32.003, a minor of any age may consent to diagnosis and treatment of reportable infectious diseases, and parental consent is not needed. The same section allows a physician to tell a parent or guardian, with or without the minor's consent. Ask any clinic how it handles this before the visit.

Key takeaways

Trichomoniasis is caused by a parasite and is curable with prescription treatment from a clinician.
The CDC says most people with it have no symptoms, so a test is the only way to find out.
NAAT is the recommended test, and it is not always part of a standard panel, so ask.
Retesting and partner care help prevent passing it back and forth.
Austin has free and low-cost options, listed above.

Trichomoniasis: Symptoms, Testing and Treatment in Austin