Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 10, 2026

Modeling Healthy and Dysbiotic Vaginal Microenvironments in a Human Vagina-on-a-Chip
Published on: February 16, 2024
Global epidemiology of Trichomonas vaginalis
Danielle N Poole1, R Scott McClelland
1Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98104, USA.
Abstract:
Despite having the highest prevalence of any sexually transmitted infection (STI) globally, there is a dearth of data describing Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) incidence and prevalence in the general population. The lack of basic epidemiological data is an obstacle to addressing the epidemic. Once considered a nuisance infection, the morbidities associated with TV have been increasingly recognised over the past decade, highlighting the importance of this pathogen as a public health problem. Recent developments in TV diagnostics and molecular biology have improved our understanding of TV epidemiology. Improved characterisation of the natural history of TV infection has allowed us to hypothesise possible explanations for observed variations in TV prevalence with age. Direct and indirect hormonal effects on the female genital tract provide a likely explanation for the greater burden of persistent TV infection among women compared with men. Further characterisation of the global epidemiology of TV could enhance our ability to respond to the TV epidemic.
Related Concept Videos
Sexually Transmitted Infections
Microbiota of the Urogenital Tract
Urinary Tract Infection II: Pathophysiology
Urinary Tract Infection I: Introduction
Diversity of Protists I
Urinary Tract Infection III: Diagnostic Studies and Interprofessional Care

