Symptoms of trichomoniasis in men are rare but might include irritation, burning and discharge from the penis. These symptoms can take more than two weeks to appear after an infection develops. Men usually get this sexually transmitted disease (STD) from infected partners and can unknowingly pass it to other partners if symptoms are not present.
A parasitic microorganism called trichomonas vaginalis is the cause of trichomoniasis infections. The urethra is the most common site of a trichomoniasis infection in men, although this STD, also known as “trich,” is more difficult to detect in men than it is in women. Trichomonas can cause the urethra to become inflamed, becoming the source for most of the symptoms that men experience when they have this STD. This inflammation of the urethra is known as urethritis. An irritated urethra results in difficulties with urination, which is one of the most common symptoms of the disease in men.
Urination might be uncomfortable, and men with trich can also experience a frequent urge to urinate, especially during morning hours. Additional symptoms of trichomoniasis in men include pain when urinating and burning sensations after urination. Discomfort during sex and burning after ejaculation are related symptoms that might be caused by irritation inside the penis. Discharge from the penis is also among the most common symptoms of trich in men. This discharge is usually thin, white and odorless but might only occur temporarily.
Symptoms for trichomoniasis in men usually take between four and 20 days to appear. They often appear in men who are also infected with other STDs, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). It is common for about half of the men infected with this disease to experience no symptoms. A urethral swab culture and urine test are used to diagnose trichomoniasis in men. Although symptoms of trich in men are commonly known to resolve on their own within three to six weeks, health experts still advise treatment.
Men who get treatment can prevent spreading this infection to sexual partners. If left untreated, this disease can increase the risk of becoming infected with HIV. Men who do not detect symptoms of trichomoniasis early can also have additional complications, including an inflammation of the prostate gland, a condition known as prostatitis, and an inflamed bladder. This STD can also affect the male reproductive system, causing a painful condition called epididymitis. Some medical experts suggest that men infected with trichomoniasis are more likely to develop prostate cancer.