RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Feb. 26 (UPI) -- Trichomoniasis, or trich, is the most common curable sexually transmitted disease, but only 1-in-5 U.S. women are familiar with it, a survey indicates.
The survey, commissioned by the American Sexual Health Association, found women surveyed perceived trich as the least common STD, but there are more new cases of trich annually in the United States -- 7-8 million -- than syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea combined.
"Trich is the forgotten STD -- few are aware, and few know it is easy to get tested and treated," Lynn B. Barclay, the association's president, said in a statement.
Trich is a parasite that is passed on during sex and only about 30 percent of people with trich develop any symptoms, which in women can include itching, burning, redness or soreness of the genitals, discomfort with urination, or a thin discharge.
The CDC recommends any sexually active woman seeking treatment for vaginal discharge should be tested for trich, but 65 percent of women surveyed said they would not seek medical attention if they experienced unusual symptoms.
Pregnant women with trich are more likely to have preterm or low birth weight babies, and it also increases the risk of acquiring and transmitting human immunodeficiency virus, which causes AIDS.
The survey was conducted via an online panel by Research Now, an independent research company. Interviews were conducted between Jan. 28 to Feb. 2 among a nationally representative sample of 1,000 female respondents ages 18-50. No margin of error was provided.
