Natural Remedies for Trichomonas in Pregnancy
What to Do When Medication is Contraindicated
Sep 17, 2009
Trichomonas, also known as trich, is a protozoan infection spread by sexual contact. It can infect the vagina and cervix. 40% of women and 60% of men do not have symptoms.
Medical Treatments
Metronidazole (Flagyl), the most effective medication for trich, can cure the infection in one dose. However, metronidazole is contraindicated in pregnancy because it was found to increase the risk of preterm birth.
Clotrimazole may be used vaginally, but is only effective in 50% of cases. Some trichomonas infections are resistant to antiprotozoal drugs. Often doctors elect not to treat during pregnancy, because the risk of complications does not decrease with treatment.
Symptoms of Infection
The incubation period of trich is from four days to one month after exposure, but symptoms may not appear for six months. The disease can be spread during the incubation period and until completion of treatment.
A thin yellow or green discharge, itching, or pain on urination or sexual intercourse are symptoms of trich infection. Men may have a thin white discharge. The itching may mimic symptoms of a yeast infection, so accurate diagnosis is important. A DNA probe or wet mount slide that is examined under a microscope are most accurate, but trich is occasionally found during routine pap smears. Ask your doctor if routine prenatal exams include testing for trich. This is especially important if your partner has a history of the disease.
Transmission of trichomonas is usually by unprotected sex, however rarely a mother can transmit the infection to her newborn. Getting trich from using a wet towel immediately after an infected person has used it is possible but extremely rare. Trichomonas protozoans cannot live long outside the body.
Untreated trich infections may cause pelvic inflammatory disease in women, characterized by abdominal pain, vaginal discharge, and fever over 101F.
Complications During Pregnancy
Infection with trichomonas during pregnancy increases the risk of maternal urinary tract and bladder infections, low birth weight and preterm babies, and premature rupture of membranes (PROM). PROM is a serious complication that can also be caused by other infections. It occurs when the bag of waters breaks before the baby is ready to be born. The risk of serious infection prompts delivery of the infant, usually within 24 hours. Babies of mothers infected with trichomonas during pregnancy are twice as likely to be stillborn as babies of uninfected mothers.
Natural Remedies
Since there is no reduction in pregnancy risk with drug treatment of infection, it is not known whether alternative therapies, focused on reducing colonies and nourishing and strengthening the uterus and immune system, could have other benefits, such as prevention of PROM.
Tea tree oil reduces bacterial colonies. It should be diluted in concentrations of 2% tea tree oil to 98% olive oil, and a tampon soaked in the mixture can be inserted in the vagina and worn for four hours a day for six days.
Raw virgin coconut oil is 50% lauric acid, an antiprotozoal substance also found in breastmilk. A tampon soaked in coconut oil may be used as an alternative to the tea tree and olive oil remedy. Coconut oil can also be taken by mouth as often as desired. It is delicious on bread or vegetables and can be used for cooking.
Vitamin C 500mg taken every six hours while awake may increase antibodies and fight infection.
Probiotic supplements taken frequently increase the body's defenses against trichomonas and other infections. Dietary sources of probiotics include kefir, yogurt, and fermented foods. The frequency, not the amount, is most important. Follow label directions when using supplements.
Nourishing herbal teas such as red raspberry leaf and stinging nettles that contain calcium and iron as well as chlorophyll and other phytochemicals can be taken liberally. Red raspberry tea is specific to strengthen the uterine muscle so that second stage labor is shorter for women who drink it regularly (Raspberry Leaf in Pregnancy, Simpson, M. et.al., Holistic Nurses Assoc., 2001). Since the amniotic sac is replenished and maintained by the uterus and placenta, it is possible these herbs could have a strengthening effect on the membranes.
When trying natural remedies for trichomonas infection, the disappearance of symptoms is suggestive of success, but retesting is the best way to determine effectiveness. A midwife or naturopathic doctor can answer questions about these, or other, alternative treatments.
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