July 12, 2011 -- A sexually transmitted infection known as Trichomonas vaginalis is more common than experts believe, especially in older women, according to a new study.
Most likely to be infected were women 45 and older. "Women, when they go for their yearly checkups, should ask their doctors to screen for this organism," says researcher Charlotte Gaydos, DrPH, professor of medicine and an infectious disease specialist at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
She says screening should be routine for all sexually active women, whatever their age. She says cases of the disease should also be reportable to public health authorities, just like other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as gonorrhea andchlamydia.
Gaydos presented the study at the International Society for STD Research meeting in Quebec City, Canada.
Another expert who reviewed the findings had some reservations: "I agree with her that we should be doing more widespread screening," says Bradley Stoner, MD, associate professor of medicine and anthropology at Washington University in St. Louis. But before recommending all women get screened, more data are needed, he says.
Gaydos reports receiving research funds from Gen-Probe, which makes a new test for trichomonas. She also received an honorarium for her lecture at the conference from the company.