Trichomoniasis discharge is typically thin, frothy, and yellowish-green with a noticeable fishy smell. The color can range from clear to white, yellow, or green, and the texture is often bubbly or foamy rather than thick. Not everyone with trich has visible discharge, though. About 70% of infected people have no symptoms at all, and when symptoms do appear, they can take anywhere from 5 to 28 days after exposure to show up.
Discharge Color and Texture
The most characteristic sign of trichomoniasis in women is a frothy, yellowish-green vaginal discharge. “Frothy” means the discharge looks bubbly or foamy, almost like it has tiny air pockets mixed in. This is one of the more distinctive features that sets trich apart from other vaginal infections. The volume of discharge also tends to increase noticeably compared to what’s normal for you.
That said, the color isn’t always green. Trich discharge can also appear clear, white, or just slightly yellow. The consistency is generally thin rather than thick or clumpy. What tends to be more consistent across cases is the smell: a strong, unpleasant fishy odor that may get worse after sex.
In men, discharge looks different. When men do have symptoms (which is uncommon), they may notice a clear or slightly cloudy, pus-like discharge from the tip of the penis. It’s usually much less obvious than what women experience, and many men never notice it at all.
Other Symptoms That Accompany the Discharge
Discharge is rarely the only symptom. Women with trich often experience itching, burning, redness, or soreness around the genitals. Urination can feel uncomfortable or stinging. The vulva and vaginal opening may look swollen or inflamed. In about 40% of cases, the cervix develops small red spots that create what clinicians call a “strawberry” appearance, though you wouldn’t be able to see this yourself.
Men are more likely to feel irritation or itching inside the penis, along with a burning sensation during urination or after ejaculation. These symptoms can be mild enough to ignore, which is one reason trich spreads so easily.
How Trich Discharge Differs From Other Infections
Three common vaginal infections produce noticeably different types of discharge, and telling them apart can help you figure out what you’re dealing with before you get tested.
- Trichomoniasis: Frothy, yellowish-green, thin, with a fishy or foul smell.
- Bacterial vaginosis (BV): Thin, grayish-white, and homogeneous (smooth and uniform) with a fishy smell. BV discharge is not frothy and tends to be a more muted gray color rather than green or yellow.
- Yeast infection: Thick, white, and clumpy, often described as looking like cottage cheese. Yeast infections typically do not have a strong odor.
The frothiness and greenish tint are the biggest visual clues pointing toward trich specifically. BV and trich can both produce a fishy smell, which makes them easy to confuse based on odor alone. The color and texture are more reliable distinguishing features. Still, self-diagnosis isn’t reliable for any of these. Testing is the only way to confirm which infection you have, since overlap between symptoms is common.
When Symptoms Appear
After exposure, trichomoniasis has an incubation period of 5 to 28 days. Some people develop noticeable discharge within the first week, while others may not see symptoms for nearly a month. A significant number of people, especially men, never develop symptoms at all but can still pass the infection to partners.
Symptoms can also come and go. You might notice discharge for a few days, have it seem to resolve, and then have it return. This doesn’t mean the infection cleared on its own. Trich is caused by a parasite, and without treatment, it persists indefinitely.
How Trich Is Treated
Trichomoniasis is curable with prescription antibiotics. Women are typically prescribed a week-long course of oral medication, while men usually receive a single, higher dose taken all at once. An alternative single-dose option exists for both. Most people clear the infection completely within a week or two of starting treatment.
Sexual partners need to be treated at the same time, even if they have no symptoms. Otherwise, reinfection happens quickly. You should avoid sex until both you and your partner have finished treatment and symptoms have resolved. Discharge and odor typically improve within a few days of starting the antibiotic, with full resolution by the end of the course.