Trichomoniasis testing in London: private trich test, results in 24–42 hours

Trichomoniasis, commonly called trich, is one of the most common curable STIs in the world, yet it is consistently left out of standard NHS sexual health screens. Most people who have it have no symptoms at all. And because it is not routinely tested for, it often goes undiagnosed for months, quietly increasing the risk of other infections and, in pregnancy, causing serious complications.

At Marylebone Diagnostic Centre on Baker Street, we test for trichomoniasis by PCR, the most sensitive method available, as a standalone test or as part of our Advanced Sexual Health Panel. Results in 24–42 hours, with nothing shared with your GP or NHS record.

Trichomoniasis is caused by the parasite Trichomonas vaginalis, which infects the urogenital tract. It is transmitted through sexual contact, including genital-to-genital contact without penetration.

When symptoms do appear, they present very differently in women and men.

The high rate of asymptomatic infection is what makes trich clinically significant. Men in particular almost never notice anything, but they carry and transmit the infection just as readily as those with symptoms. Routine testing after unprotected sex or a new partner is the only reliable way to detect it.

Untreated trichomoniasis is associated with increased susceptibility to HIV, pelvic inflammatory disease, and in pregnancy, premature birth and low birth weight.

Standard NHS sexual health screening, whether at a GUM clinic, via a postal kit, or through your GP, typically covers chlamydia, gonorrhoea, HIV, and syphilis. Trichomoniasis is not part of this routine panel.

There are two reasons for this. First, NHS screening resources are prioritised around the infections with the highest clinical burden. Second, trichomoniasis was historically diagnosed by wet-mount microscopy, a less sensitive method that requires immediate analysis of a fresh swab. Many clinics simply did not have the capacity.

PCR testing, which MDC uses, is significantly more sensitive than wet-mount microscopy, detecting the parasite's DNA even in low-level infections. It has made trichomoniasis testing faster, more accurate, and practical to run alongside other STI tests without additional clinic visits.

If you have attended an NHS sexual health clinic and received an "all clear," that result does not cover trichomoniasis unless you specifically requested it.

We offer trichomoniasis testing in two ways: as a standalone test, or included within the Advanced Sexual Health Panel alongside 11 other infections.

Mycoplasma genitalium (Mgen) is a bacterial infection that shares several features with trichomoniasis: it is sexually transmitted, frequently asymptomatic, not included in standard NHS screens, and increasingly common in London.

Where it differs is in treatment. Mycoplasma is developing significant resistance to azithromycin, the antibiotic commonly used for chlamydia. Treating mycoplasma without knowing the specific strain's resistance profile risks treatment failure and contributes to further resistance. This is why accurate detection is especially important before any treatment begins.

In women, untreated mycoplasma is associated with pelvic inflammatory disease and subfertility. In men, it can cause persistent urethritis. Like trich, the infection is often entirely silent until complications develop.

Both trichomoniasis and mycoplasma are included in the Advanced Sexual Health Panel at MDC. If you have persistent discharge, pelvic discomfort, or an unexplained "all clear" from a standard NHS screen, testing for both is worth discussing with our clinical team.

Trichomoniasis is easily cured. Treatment is with metronidazole: either 2g as a single oral dose, or 400mg twice daily for 5–7 days. Both regimens are highly effective. You should avoid alcohol during treatment and for 48 hours after completing metronidazole.

Crucially, both you and any current sexual partners need to be treated at the same time. Reinfection from an untreated partner is the most common reason treatment appears to fail. A follow-up test 3–4 weeks after treatment confirms clearance.

MDC provides the confirmed test result and advises on next steps. Treatment itself is prescribed by a GP or dispensed free at an NHS sexual health clinic. You do not need to pay privately for antibiotics when free treatment is available.

For mycoplasma, treatment requires a specific antibiotic regimen and ideally a resistance test before prescribing. Your MDC result, combined with a GP or GUM clinic consultation, gives you everything needed to start the right treatment.

Yes, and this is one of the most common reasons it goes undiagnosed. The discharge and irritation caused by trich can look very similar to bacterial vaginosis (BV) or candida (thrush). All three cause discharge and discomfort, but they require completely different treatments. Treating BV or thrush with antifungals or metronidazole when the cause is actually trich will not clear the infection. A PCR test is the only way to know for certain which infection you have.

Trichomoniasis does not resolve on its own. Without treatment, the infection persists indefinitely and can be passed to sexual partners throughout that time. Symptoms in women may come and go, which can create a false impression that the infection has cleared. It has not.

Yes. Trichomoniasis can be asymptomatic for months or years. It is possible to acquire the infection and not be diagnosed until a routine screen, even within a relationship where both partners have been monogamous for some time. A positive result is not necessarily evidence of recent infidelity. The infection may have been present before the relationship began.

Yes. Trichomoniasis, trichomonas, and trich all refer to the same infection: the STI caused by the parasite Trichomonas vaginalis. The terms are used interchangeably.

Yes. If you test positive for trichomoniasis, any current sexual partners should also test and be treated, even if they have no symptoms. MDC offers testing for partners at the same appointment, or separately. See our STD testing for couples page for more information.