Paying attention to symptoms like pain in abdomen can make a big difference to your sexual health. A number of STDs, including trichomoniasis, Chlamydia, and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) can cause pain in abdomen. The good news is that most STDs that can trigger pain in abdomen are curable with a single round of medication.
Here’s a look at the steps you can take to figure out whether pain in abdomen is an STD symptom or something else.
Pain in Abdomen: A Trichomoniasis Symptom?
Trichomoniasis is a single-cell parasite STD that can be spread between all types of sexual contact (though woman-to-man and woman-to-woman are the most common culprits). Men with trichomoniasis usually don’t experience pain in abdomen, but they might get:
- Pain during urination or following ejaculation
- Irritation inside the penis
- Slight discharge from the penis.
It’s also common for men to have no trichomoniasis symptoms. Symptoms of trichomoniasis in women can include:
- Pain in abdomen
- Yellow-green vaginal discharge
- Pain during sex or urination.
These symptoms tend to show up within five to 28 days of infection, though pain in abdomen is among the less-common effects trichomoniasis has.
Should I Get Tested for Pain in Abdomen?
If you’re experiencing pain in abdomen and have reason to believe it might be trichomoniasis, it’s time for
STD testing. While it’s possible to conduct some
STD testing at home (including tests for Chlamydia and gonorrhea), trichomoniasis testing requires a medical checkup.
That’s because a doctor has to do an examination in addition to a trichomoniasis test. In order to get tested, you’ll have to tell your doctor that you think you’ve noticed STD symptoms (such as pain in abdomen or genital discharge) and would like to be tested.
Your doctor can explain in detail what to expect, but with most types of
STD testing, results are available within a few days. And if your pain in abdomen is caused by trichomoniasis, you can expect to be treated quickly and make a full recovery.
If trichomoniasis isn’t to blame for your pain in abdomen, ask your doctor about other potential tests.