Frequency of <i>Trichomonas vaginalis</i> in Pap Smears of Women Referring to the Gynecology Clinics in Zahedan from 2013 to 2022

Abstract

Background: Trichomoniasis, caused by Trichomonas vaginalis, is a common sexually transmitted disease that can lead to complications such as vaginitis, pelvic infections, preterm delivery, and increased risks of HIV and HPV transmission. Women often experience foul-smelling discharge and inflammatory symptoms, though about half of cases are asymptomatic. Various diagnostic methods, including Pap smears, are used for detection. Objectives: This study investigated the prevalence of trichomoniasis among women referred to gynecology clinics in Zahedan using Pap smear testing. Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional, retrospective study was conducted based on the records of 20,607 pregnant women and those coming for periodic checkups referred to gynecology clinics under the coverage of Zahedan University of Medical Sciences in Zahedan from 2013 to 2022. The data included influential factors such as age, number of pregnancies, contraceptive methods, and number of abortions and were analyzed using the chi-square test. Results: A ten-year study involving 20,607 patients found the prevalence of trichomoniasis with 103 positive cases. Of those, 69.9% showed inflammation, 75.7% had fungal infections, and 22.35% had bacterial infections. The highest infection rates were in women aged 35 to 45 years, particularly those with three to five pregnancies using fallopian tube ligation. Significant associations were found between age, number of pregnancies, contraceptive method, and infection prevalence (P < 0.05), along with a significant relationship between inflammation and trichomoniasis (P = 0.007). Conclusions: This study reveals that trichomoniasis prevalence in Zahedan is relatively low compared to other studies. More research and better health information about symptoms and transmission are needed. It is also important to examine the infection's prevalence in men and use accurate diagnostic methods to avoid misdiagnosis. Educating women about the risks of sexually transmitted infections can help reduce prevalence.