Trichomoniasis — Just Another Nuisance?

Trichomoniasis vaginalis, although often ignored, is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among women. It has been linked to poor reproductive outcomes, including preterm birth, and to increased risk for acquiring HIV infection. Two new studies highlight the importance of this STI.

To determine the prevalence, incidence, and predictors of Trichomonas vaginalis infection, Miller and colleagues conducted a prospective cohort study involving 135 drug-using black women in Brooklyn, New York. All were screened at least twice, at 6-month intervals, for trichomoniasis. At baseline, 25 women (18.5%) tested positive for HIV and 51 (37.8%) tested positive for T. vaginalis. Twenty-nine women acquired — or reacquired — T. vagina…