Interventions for treating trichomoniasis in women

Around 120 million women worldwide suffer from Trichomonas vaginalis vaginitis every year. The infection is sexually transmitted and is believed to facilitate HIV transmission. The objective of the review is to assess the effects of various treatment strategies for trichomoniasis in women.

We searched the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, MEDLINE, and EMBASE. Trials were also identified from reference lists of reviews, through pharmaceutical companies, and by informal discovery. Only published data were used in this review. Date of the most recent search: May, 1999.

Randomized or quasi-randomized trials in women with trichomoniasis of different treatment strategies, different antitrichomonal drugs or doses were eligible.

Trial quality was assessed and data extracted by two reviewers independently using standard criteria.

Fifty-two trials were included. Nitroimidazoles seem to be effective in achieving parasitological cure in the short term follow-ups. Partner treatment can be effective in decreasing longer term re-infection rates.

Parasitological cure can be achieved by single oral dose of nitroimidazoles. Further research should focus on developing effective partner treatment strategies to prevent re-infections and reduce trichomoniasis prevalence.