ABSTRACT

Vaginal discharge caused by Trichomonas vaginalis is one of the most frequently encountered sexually transmitted infections in women. This study was planned to investigate the frequency of T. vaginalis in patients with a vaginal discharge. Vaginal specimens were collected from 233 women with a vaginal discharge and from 100 women without any discharge as a control group. Materials were taken with a speculum and sterile cotton swabs from the posterior fornix of the vagina; and inoculated into Trypticase–yeast extract–maltose (TYM) medium. T. vaginalis was detected in 11 (4.7%) samples out of the 233 specimens from women with a discharge using both diagnostic methods (direct examination and culture). No T. vaginalis trophozoites were detected in the control group.