Unknown STI that raises HIV risk is surging in ethnic minority women
Natalie MorrisMonday 20 Jun 2022 12:03 pm
Unknown STI that raises HIV risk is surging in ethnic minority women
Women with African and Caribbean heritage are more likely to be affected.
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A relatively unknown sexually transmitted infection has found to be disproportionately affecting women from racially minoritised and deprived communities.
Women from Black, Black British, Caribbean, or African backgrounds were more likely to have an STI called trichomonas vaginalis (TV) – a condition that can increase the likelihood of contracting HIV if untreated – according to sexual health testing provider, Preventx.
In fact, 5.2% of women from those backgrounds who were experiencing vaginal discharge – an established symptom of TV – tested positive for the infection, compared to 3.4% of white women and 3.5% across all women.
TV also disproportionately affects women from Black Caribbean or African heritage without any symptoms, with a positivity rate more than twice that of asymptomatic white British women (2.0% vs 0.8%).
As well as racial background, levels of deprivation also increased the risk of TV. The most deprived communities had higher levels of positivity than other communities, with 5.9% of symptomatic women in the most deprived quintile testing positive. This was significantly higher than the 1.4% positivity rate seen in the least deprived areas.
People without any symptoms from the most deprived groups were also three times more likely to test positive for TV than other groups (2.7% vs 0.8%).
What is trichomonas vaginalis?
TV causes the condition trichomoniasis. Women with trichomoniasis can experience painful urination (dysuria), vulval itching and discomfort, vaginal discharge, and offensive odour.If left untreated, it can increase the likelihood of acquiring HIV after exposure and can cause complications in pregnant women, including low birth weight and early birth.
Symptoms of trichomoniasis usually develop within a month of infection.
But up to half of all people will not develop any symptoms (though they can still pass the infection on to others).
The symptoms of trichomoniasis are similar to those of many other STIs, so it can sometimes be difficult to diagnose.
Symptoms in women
- abnormal vaginal discharge that may be thick, thin or frothy and yellow-green in colour
- producing more discharge than normal, which may also have an unpleasant fishy smell
- soreness, swelling and itching around the vagina – sometimes the inner thighs also become itchy
- pain or discomfort when passing urine or having sex
Symptoms in men
- pain when peeing or during ejaculation
- needing to pee more frequently than usual
- thin, white discharge from the penis
- soreness, swelling and redness around the head of the penis or foreskin
‘Women, in particular, can remain infected for years – and their distressing symptoms are often misdiagnosed or dismissed.
‘If untreated, TV can also increase the chance of acquiring HIV in at-risk communities, as well as cause complications in pregnancy.’
The study team reviewed data from 8,676 women from six English local authority areas who had completed remote STI tests, making this the largest study of its kind and providing much-needed new insight into TV.
Dr White says this new data reveals ‘worryingly high’ positivity rates, with certain communities more affected than others.
High-quality TV testing is not currently carried out as standard in the UK, but the infection is known to be far more common than gonorrhoea globally, which is routinely tested for.
The study team compared the two infections and found that 3.5% of women with symptoms tested positive with TV compared to only 0.6% for gonorrhoea.
Source:https://metro.co.uk/2022/06/20/unkn...is-more-common-in-racial-minorities-16857356/
