A
male
age
41-50,
anonymous
writes:My girlfriend had a vaginal discharge for some time which worried her greatly. She was worried she had some sort of cancer. We had not been sexually active in quite some time (more than a year). She went to the doctor and she diagnosed her with trichomoniasis. She was prescribed Flagyl and it went away. I asked her how she got it and she said that she didn't know. The doctor said she could have gotten it from her yoga class - from the mat or from towels. I accepted that explanation, but now after reading about the disease I see that is very uncommon. She never asked that I be tested or treated and in retrospect that seems odd to me. I have asked her about it a few times since and she claims that she must have gotten it from her yoga class. Is that really possible or is it more likely that she cheated on me? There is no other evidence that she has been unfaithful, but how else does one acquire a STD?
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female
reader, Eyespy17 +, writes (21 June 2011):
Why don't you ask her for permission to talk to her doctor? All three of you can be in the room and if it's true - the doctor will tell you. If she freaks and says no - then I think you habe your answer.
You should also be tested. So when you do that - talk to your do for about whether it's possibe or whether she got it from you and it's been dormant.
Good luck.
A
reader, anonymous, writes (20 June 2011): Why not tell her you have read up on the infection and are not happy with her doctor's explanation? And suggest you go to the doctor with her to clarify this? Any reluctance should give you your answer...
From what I have read it sound like either she has has it a long long long time,(and must've had unprotected sex with someone prior to you, or she is fibbing). It seems unlikely she got it from her yoga mat and I'm sure she wouldn't share a towel with someone else for intimate use?
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A
male
reader, anonymous, writes (20 June 2011): Typically, only women experience symptoms associated with Trichomonas infection. Symptoms include inflammation of the cervix (cervicitis), urethra (urethritis), and vagina (vaginitis) which produce an itching or burning sensation. Discomfort may increase during intercourse and urination. There may also be a yellow-green, itchy, frothy foul-smelling vaginal discharge. In rare cases, lower abdominal pain can occur. Symptoms usually appear in women within 5 to 28 days of exposure.[2] In many cases, men may hold the parasite for some years without any signs (dormant). While symptoms are most common in women, some men may temporarily exhibit symptoms such as an irritation inside the penis, mild discharge, or slight burning after urination or ejaculation.
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A
female
reader, tennisstar88 +, writes (20 June 2011):
 According to that article, no she couldn't have exchanged it from yoga mats. Besides she would have to be wiping her bare vagina with these towels and rubbing her bare vagina all over these yoga mats. Doing that to someone else's yoga mat is just rude and unhygienic.
It's possible she could have acquired it 6 years prior, but that's an awful long time for an STD to lay dormant.
Sorry, but I believe she's fibbing about the doctor's reason. There's also the unexplained celibacy. Some women just can't go without sex for a year, especially when they should be getting it from their partner. Those women will get it from somewhere else.
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A
male
reader, anonymous, writes (13 June 2011): I am the original poster:We have been together for 6 years, so it is unlikely (though possible) that she had this disease from a prior relationship. We always use condoms when we have sex and she says she always did before she met me, too, because she is not on birth control. Our sex life was bad for a variety of reasons I don't need to get into right now. This question is a technical one, which is: "Can this disease be spread in ways other than sex or sexual activities?" My girlfriend says that the doctor told her she had an STD and she was shocked to hear that because we hadn't had sex in over a year. She told the doctor that. She says it was the doctor who asked her questions about her sex life and it was the doctor that suggested that perhaps she caught it at her yoga class. She was going very frequently at the time: 4-5x per week. She says that the girls often borrowed towels from each other and sometimes borrowed yoga mats, too. She swears up and down that she has been faithful and, like I said, I have no reason to doubt her except that she acquired this STD. Can she really have acquired this disease at yoga or when changing for yoga in the dressing rooms or is that pretty much impossible? Could she have acquired it as long as 6 years earlier?
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A
female
reader, Tisha-1 +, writes (13 June 2011):
 I found a link for you that suggest it can be spread with fluid transfer: "How Is Trichomoniasis Spread?
"Trich is easily passed between sex partners. It is spread through vaginal intercourse, sharing sex toys, and mutual masturbation if fluids from one partner are passed to the genitals of the other." From http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-topics/stds-hiv-safer-sex/trichomoniasis-4282.htm
More from the doctor who writes a column there: "I heard that there is a sexually transmitted infection that can be transmitted by a man to a woman, but not by a woman to a man. Is that true? Can you explain what the name of that is and what causes it?"
"It's not true, but it can certainly seem that way. You may have heard people talking about trichomoniasis. Men rarely have symptoms, and they usually don't know they are infected. But they can be infected during vaginal intercourse. And they can pass their infections to other partners. They can also re-infect women partners who have been treated.
"Trichomoniasis is a common cause of vaginitis. Symptoms, if they occur, include
frothy, often unpleasant-smelling discharge
itching in and around the vagina
blood spotting in the discharge
swelling in the groin
urinating more often than usual — often with pain and burning
"Sometimes women have no symptoms, either. Symptoms, when they happen, often take three to 28 days to develop after exposure. But it can take years before they do develop.
"Trichomoniasis is caused by a microscopic one-cell animal — a protozoan that is called a trichomonas. It causes vaginitis for more than seven million women in the United States every year.
"Also known as "trich," trichomoniasis is spread through sharing sex toys, mutual masturbation, and vaginal intercourse — if fluids from one partner are passed to the genitals of another. If a woman is diagnosed with trich, her partner(s) should be treated, as well, so that she does not become re-infected. Treatment is successful with oral medication. Using condoms can help reduce the risk of infection and re-infection." http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-topics/ask-dr-cullins/cullins-stis-5330.htm
Is there a reason you two are no longer sexually intimate? Perhaps there is more going on here than merely suspected infidelity?
I guess the best thing to do is to sit down and talk calmly and frankly about your concerns. I would wonder about fidelity too, especially if there had not been any sexual intimacy between you two for over a year. Something's not right, maybe this is your starting point for an honest discussion.
Good luck. Oh, and based on what the doctor wrote, you should be checked out too, just in case.
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A
female
reader, So_Very_Confused +, writes (13 June 2011):
 I do yoga. There is no way I am getting ANYTHING from a yoga mat... I wear clothing and there is never any genital to mat contact.
Nope sorry...
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A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (13 June 2011): STI/STD = sexually transmitted infection/disease.
Phew , this is a new one! Yoga mat now transferring sexual diseases? Was your gf doing the dirty with someone else on the yoga mat?
One year of NO SEX? Why? If she is not getting it from u she sure is getting it from someone else.
Time to either throw away the gf or the infectious yoga mat.
I have heard of many excuses but your gfs is rather unique and over the top.
Get yourself checked out, just in case.
LoveGirl
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A
female
reader, k_c100  +, writes (13 June 2011):
 I would say the only way she could have gotten this from a yoga mat would be if she were naked whilst doing yoga and her naked vagina touched the mat. As has been said earlier, the way you catch this particular STD is from penis to vagina (or vice versa) or vulva to vulva. It would be incredibly difficult fully clothed to catch this from a mat or towell!
Why are you not having sex? It is very unusual for a couple at your age to not have sex for a whole year - what are the reasons for this?
As the other answers have said, I would be highly suspicious if I were you. The lack of sex and bizzare way of catching the STD indicate she may well have cheated.
Or alternatively, you have carried this disease for a while (maybe even before you got together you had it) and have passed on to her. Or same for her - she could have had this before she met you. However, again this is unlikely. In men, this type of STD is symptomless but often goes away in a few weeks, whereas in women it usually has symptoms so chances of either of you carrying it without knowing are slim.
Whatever happend, you still need to get yourself tested. If she has cheated, then she could be carrying all sorts so get yourself tested ASAP.
I hope this helps and good luck!
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A
female
reader, tennisstar88 +, writes (13 June 2011):
Wow, that's a new one.
How come you two weren't sexually active for that year?
Also if she had trichomoniasis, how come you didn't get tested too?
It clearly states in that article, you get it from sexual contact..not from a item that your (bare) vagina has come in contact with. If she didn't cheat then the only other way was if you contracted it and unknowingly passed it on to her. That would mean you would have to have cheated.
I say she cheated due to the fact you guys went a year without sex for whatever reason, and that bogus excuse she gave you.
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A
female
reader, Eyespy17 +, writes (13 June 2011):
You glossed over the fact that you and she have not been sexually active in more than a year!?! What is going on there?
are you having sex outside the relationship? Or did you think you were both celebate for a year?
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A
male
reader, Dodds  +, writes (13 June 2011):
 Seems possible...but highly unlikely...i think she dogged on you,and worse still without protection. But dont go all acusatory afterall you say the two of you havent been active for a while, just keep your eyes open for red flags,perhaps she had a one night stand and its over now,you need to get yourself testd and use protection whenever the two of you hook up from now on,most important though establish how much you can trust her n decide whether to keep her or move on.
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A
reader, anonymous, writes (13 June 2011): Seeing as there are uncommon occurance with people's health I really would not be too quick to judge. People can actually pick up strange things.
However another possibility is that she picked it up from a previous partner before she met you and was too embarrased to say and also did not want to pass it on to you.
I would possibly go easy on her, but explain that you need some peace of mind and don't have an issue talking about bodies, you love her the way she is and love her on the inside. Try and ger her to open up to you and find out the truth/get peace of mind.
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A
female
reader, CindyCares  +, writes (13 June 2011):
 Uhm. Highly suspicious.
In theory, trichomoniasis COULD be transmitted also through toilet seats,or towels etc., - simply there have no been studies extensive enough or consistent enough to confirm or deny this 100%.
So, I guess you should give her the benefit of doubt if it weren't for the circumstances.
I can't see how her vagina can have come unprotected in touch with a yoga mat- what do they do, naked yoga ?? and I don't want to think that she borrowed some stranger's used towel to dry herself down there.
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A
female
reader, Tyedyedturtle +, writes (13 June 2011):
 I just read that this STD must come from genital to genital contact and that the parasite, which causes the disease, cannot even survive in the mouth or rectum. It must be passed from penis to vagina or from vulva to vulva contact. Sorry to be graphic, haha. So, I don't think it survived on a yoga mat. And a sexually transmitted disease is just that SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED. Sometimes some STD can be passed through blood or contact with other body parts, but this one buddy comes directly from sex because the parasite likes to live in the vagina. Men can get this from women, but it usually shows no symptoms and it goes away. For women, it shows and stays and can sometimes start with the symptoms of a yeast infection. So, many don't realize they have it right away. Here's an article on it: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002307/I think it is more likely she cheated on you, but don't accuse just yet. Have a sit down and share what you've read and learned. I believe science over your girlfriend. Sorry.
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