CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS OF TRICHOMONIASIS IN MEN

Objective: To determine the prevalence and clinical manifestations of trichomoniasis among sexually active men. Design: Survey of two groups of men attending a sexually transmitted disease clinic. Subjects had a comprehensive sexual history and clinical examination plus cultures for Trichomonas vaginalis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Chlamydia tracho matis. Participants: The study included 147 sexual partners of women w ith trichomoniasis and 300 subjects selected randomly from heterosexua l men coming to the same clinic for evaluation of new problems. Main O utcome Measures: Isolation of T. vaginalis was compared with urogenita l signs and symptoms. Results: The prevalence of T. vaginalis was 33 o f 147 (22% [95% CI, 16% to 29%]) among sexual contacts of women with t richomoniasis and 17 of 300 (6% [CI, 3% to 9%]) among heterosexual men attending the same clinic. Men with trichomoniasis alone were more li kely to complain of urethral discharge (P < 0.01), to have discharge o n examination (P < 0.03), and to have inflammatory cells in their uret hral secretions (P < 0.01) than were men who did not have T. vaginalis , N. gonorrhoeae, or C. trachomatis. Trichomonas vaginalis remained as sociated with nongonococcal nonchlamydial urethritis (adjusted odds ra tio 3.8; CI, 1.1 to 11.2) after adjustment for race, age, number of se x partners in the previous 6 months, exposure to a partner with tricho moniasis, and history of trichomoniasis, urethritis, or gonorrhea. Con clusions: Trichomoniasis was common among men at risk for sexually tra nsmitted diseases and was associated with symptoms and signs of urethr itis.