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It’s trichomoniasis—an infection caused by a parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis—and more than 1 in 10 women in their 40s and 50s has it (compared with 8 out of every 100 women in their 20s), according to new Johns Hopkins University research. If left untreated, trichomoniasis can lead to inflammation of the vagina, urethra, and cervix, potentially leading to pelvic inflammatory disease, fertility problems, and low birth-weight babies.
Luckily, "trich" is easily cured with a round of antibiotics—once it’s detected. The real difficulty is diagnosing it in the first place:It’s possible to contract trich without realizing it, since between one-third and one-half of cases have no symptoms. And even when there are signs, they can be confusingly similar to what you’d get with a yeast infection (think burning and itching). That means the disease may go undetected or misdiagnosed.
Past 40 and positive
So why are women in their 40s and 50s so vulnerable? Researchers have a few theories: "It’s possible that women are getting infected when they’re younger, but because doctors don’t regularly test for it, they’re never properly treated," says Charlotte A. Gaydos, professor of infectious diseases in the Department of Medicine at Johns Hopkins University and senior investigator in the Hopkins study. "The older you are, the more sex you’ve had, and the more time you’ve had to be exposed"—meaning you could have the disease even if you’ve long been married and monogamous. Another explanation: "Postmenopausal women may use less protection because they’re no longer worried about getting pregnant," says Paula Castaño, MD, assistant clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at New York–Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center. (In fact, a 2010 report in the Journal of Sexual Medicine found that women in their 40s use condoms—the only birth-control method that protects against STDs—just 20% of the time with casual partners.)
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The good news: That’s a mistake MDs shouldn’t make anymore. Last April, a new, much-more accurate test came out that detects more than 95% of cases, Gaydos says. "I’m hoping the test"—which can be run on urine samples, Pap smears, or cervical swabs—"will mean that more doctors will regularly start to look for trich."
