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 a common, curable sexually transmitted infection. The CDC describes it as the most common curable STI in the United States. Many people who have it never notice anything, which is why testing matters more than guessing.

This guide covers what the infection is, how trichomoniasis symptoms differ by sex, how testing works, what trichomoniasis treatment involves, and where to get tested in Las Vegas.

What trichomoniasis is and what causes it

Trichomoniasis is caused by a single-celled parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis. It is not a virus and it is not a bacterium. That difference matters because it decides which medicines work.

The CDC says the parasite passes between people during sex, including vaginal intercourse and genital-to-genital contact. In people with a vagina, it usually infects the vagina, urethra or both. In people with a penis, it usually infects the urethra, the tube that carries urine.

The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) note that infection of the mouth, throat or rectum is not typical. Anyone of any gender or orientation who has had sex can be exposed. Having it says nothing about a person's character or choices.

Trichomoniasis symptoms by sex

The CDC reports that most people with trichomoniasis have no symptoms. When symptoms do appear, they can start within weeks of exposure or much later. Because symptoms are so unreliable, only a test can tell you what is going on.

If you have a vagina

According to the CDC, trichomoniasis symptoms may include:

Itching, burning, redness or soreness of the genitals
Discomfort when urinating
A change in vaginal discharge, such as more of it, or a thin discharge that looks clear, white, yellowish or greenish
Sometimes an unusual odor

If you have a penis

The CDC lists the following possible symptoms:

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

These signs overlap with chlamydia, gonorrhea, yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis and other causes. A clinician cannot reliably tell them apart by looking, so a lab test is how the cause is identified. Our guide to chlamydia symptoms, testing and treatment in Las Vegas covers a similar infection that is often tested for at the same visit.

How the infection behaves: what research suggests

This section looks at what researchers have observed. These are findings that inform care, not guarantees about any one person.

Research suggests that trichomoniasis can raise the chance of getting HIV if a person is exposed. The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) also note that the infection is associated with inflammation of the genital tract, which is one proposed explanation. For this reason, the guidelines recommend that women with HIV be screened for trichomoniasis when they enter care and at least once a year.

In pregnancy, the CDC says trichomoniasis has been associated with preterm delivery and a baby born at a lower birth weight. Association is not the same as cause, and most people who have the infection during pregnancy are treated without complications. A prenatal care team can advise on testing and treatment.

Research also suggests that untreated infection can last for a long time, and that reinfection after treatment is common, mostly when a partner is not treated. That finding drives the CDC's advice on partner treatment and retesting, covered below.

Local numbers for this particular infection were not available to cite here. For Clark County, the Nevada Office of State Epidemiology (Nevada 2023 STD Fast Facts) reports a chlamydia rate of 525.2 cases per 100,000 people and a gonorrhea rate of 241.1. Those figures show that STIs are part of ordinary life in Southern Nevada. For anything specific to trichomoniasis, ask the Southern Nevada Health District.

How trichomoniasis testing works

The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) recommend a nucleic acid amplification test, called a NAAT, as a sensitive way to detect the parasite. A NAAT looks for the parasite's genetic material in a sample.

What the sample is depends on the person and the clinic. The CDC lists vaginal swabs (which can be collected by the patient or clinician), urine and other genital samples as options. Many clinics use the same sample type to test for chlamydia and gonorrhea.

Other methods exist. A clinician may look at a sample under a microscope, but the CDC notes this is less sensitive than a NAAT and can miss infections. A rapid point-of-care test is another option some clinics use.

The CDC recommends testing women with symptoms. It also says clinicians should consider testing women who are at higher risk, and that people with a penis can be tested too. The right testing plan is a conversation with a clinician. If you are not sure what to ask for, the CDC's GetTested locator can help you find a testing site.

Window periods are another common question. The CDC does not give a single fixed window period for trichomoniasis that applies to everyone. If you have had a recent exposure, ask the clinic when a test would be most informative and whether you should come back.

Trichomoniasis treatment

Trichomoniasis is curable. The CDC says it is treated with prescription antimicrobial medicine from a clinician. The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) name the nitroimidazole family of medicines for this purpose. Which medicine and how long it is taken depends on the person, so the plan comes from your clinician and your pharmacist, not from a website.

Some points are worth knowing before the visit:

Treatment is not something you can buy over the counter. Medicines for yeast infections do not treat trichomoniasis.
Tell the clinician if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking other medicines or have had a reaction to an antibiotic before.
Ask whether you should avoid alcohol while taking your prescription. The answer depends on the medicine, so ask the clinician or pharmacist directly.
Finish the full course your clinician prescribes, even if symptoms fade early.

Safety profile and who should talk to a clinician first

Nitroimidazole medicines have been used for many years, and the CDC guidelines treat them as the standard of care. Common side effects people report include nausea, a metallic taste and stomach upset. A clinician can tell you which side effects are expected and which need a call.

Some groups need individual guidance:

Pregnancy and breastfeeding. The CDC addresses treatment in both situations. Your prenatal or primary care clinician can explain the options.
Prior allergic reaction. If you have ever reacted to a medicine in this family, tell the clinician before getting a prescription.
People with HIV. The CDC guidelines include specific advice for treating trichomoniasis in women with HIV. Your HIV care team can coordinate.
Liver conditions or other chronic health issues. These can affect which medicine is chosen.

Seek care promptly if you develop hives, swelling of the face or throat, or trouble breathing after starting any medicine.

Partner treatment and retesting

Reinfection is a known problem with trichomoniasis. The CDC recommends that sex partners be treated at the same time, and that people avoid sex until everyone has completed treatment and symptoms have gone away.

The CDC lists Nevada as a place where expedited partner therapy is permissible (Legal Status of EPT in Nevada, updated August 2024). That means a clinician may be allowed to provide treatment for a partner without examining them first. Whether it applies to your situation is a question for your clinician. A partner can also be seen at a clinic on their own.

The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) also recommend that sexually active women be retested within three months of treatment because of how often reinfection happens. Ask your clinician how that applies to you, including if you have a penis, since follow-up advice can vary.

Where to get tested in Las Vegas

Several clinics in the valley offer STI testing and treatment. Our list of local testing sites collects them, and our guide to STD testing in Las Vegas and what it costs goes deeper on cost. The main options are below.

Clinic	Address and phone	Cost information
Southern Nevada Health District Sexual Health Clinic, Decatur	280 S. Decatur Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89107; (702) 759-1700	Sliding scale based on income and household size
Southern Nevada Health District Sexual Health Clinic, Fremont Public Health Center	2830 E. Fremont St., Las Vegas, NV 89104; (702) 759-1700	Sliding scale based on income and household size
Arlene Cooper Community Health Center at The Center	401 S. Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas, NV 89101; 702-802-5432 for appointments	HIV testing is free; STI screening is low cost; certain insurance billed
Martin Luther King Family Health Center (Nevada Health Centers)	1799 Mount Mariah Dr., Las Vegas, NV 89106; 702.383.1961	Sliding-fee discount program based on family size and income
Nellis Family Medical Center (Nevada Health Centers)	691 N. Nellis Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89110; 702.563.4662	Sliding-fee discount program based on family size and income

Southern Nevada Health District

The Southern Nevada Health District sexual health clinic page says walk-ins for STI testing and treatment are available until capacity is reached. It also says charges are based on income and household size, and that you will not be turned away because you cannot pay on the day of your visit. Bring photo ID and proof of income.

The District also offers free Express Testing, a walk-in service for people who do not have symptoms. If you do have symptoms, ask the clinic which visit type is right for you. Express Testing is offered at Decatur Monday through Thursday and at Fremont on Fridays, with its own narrower hours. The District's own pages list different hours in places, so call (702) 759-1700 or check the District's website before you go. At Fremont, the clinic page asks people to arrive by 5:30 PM to allow time for processing.

The Center and Nevada Health Centers

The Arlene Cooper Community Health Center at The Center says appointments are highly encouraged and that walk-in services are available for a limited number of patients each day. It also says treatment for STIs is provided on site. Whether a given clinic includes a trichomoniasis test in a standard STI panel is not something the clinic pages state, so ask when you book.

Nevada Health Centers lists STD testing at its Martin Luther King and Nellis locations. The pages do not say whether walk-ins are accepted, so call first.

UNLV students

The UNLV Student Health Center, in the Student Recreation and Wellness Center at 4505 S. Maryland Pkwy., lists testing for sexually transmitted infections. It serves UNLV students. Call 702-895-3370 and ask about pricing, since the page does not list it.

Minors, privacy and reporting

Nevada law, under NRS 129.060, lets a minor give consent to examination and treatment for any sexually transmitted disease. The statute sets no minimum age.

Under Nevada Administrative Code chapter 441A, clinicians must report certain infections to the health authority. These include chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV and syphilis. Ask the clinic what it reports and how your information is handled.

Choosing a trustworthy test and clinic

You do not need to buy anything to get a reliable result. A few quality signs are worth looking for:

The test is ordered or run through a licensed clinic or health department.
A clinician is available to explain results and prescribe treatment if needed.
The clinic can tell you which infections its panel includes. Ask specifically about trichomoniasis.
Costs, or how the clinic decides costs, are explained up front.

If you prefer privacy at home, the Southern Nevada Health District runs a program called Collect2Protect that offers mail-in self-collection for gonorrhea and chlamydia and at-home HIV self-test kits to Nevada residents. The program page does not list a trichomoniasis test, so ask the District what it covers before relying on it.

A calm next step

Trichomoniasis is common and treatable, and finding it early usually means a short course of medicine from a clinician. If you have symptoms, a recent partner who was diagnosed, or simply want to know where you stand, a NAAT is the clearest next step. Call one of the clinics above, or use the CDC's GetTested locator to find another option. Confirm hours and what is included before you go.

Trichomoniasis: Symptoms, Testing and Treatment in Las Vegas