Bacterial Vaginosis vs Trichomoniasis
Bacterial Vaginosis and Trichomoniasis are easy to mix up on the boards. Here's a side-by-side comparison — presentation, workup, imaging, and first-line treatment — drawn from our full outlines.
Bacterial Vaginosis vs Trichomoniasis at a glance
- Bacterial Vaginosis: Dysbiosis of vaginal flora — loss of lactobacilli with overgrowth of anaerobes; thin gray discharge with fishy odor.
- Trichomoniasis: Sexually transmitted protozoal infection — frothy yellow-green discharge, strawberry cervix; treat patient and partners.
Keep comparing — start your free trial
You've used your 2 free previews. Create your free account to see the full Bacterial Vaginosis vs Trichomoniasis comparison — plus all 514 diagnosis outlines, 5,500+ board-style questions, and an AI tutor. Your 7-day free trial includes everything, no credit card required.
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | Bacterial Vaginosis | Trichomoniasis |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | Dysbiosis of vaginal flora — loss of lactobacilli with overgrowth of anaerobes; thin gray discharge with fishy odor. | Sexually transmitted protozoal infection — frothy yellow-green discharge, strawberry cervix; treat patient and partners. |
| Classic presentation | Reproductive-age woman with thin gray discharge, fishy odor after intercourse, vaginal pH >4.5, clue cells on wet mount, positive whiff test.; Thin,… | Sexually active woman with frothy malodorous discharge, vulvar pruritus, and strawberry cervix on colposcopy or speculum exam.; Frothy, malodorous… |
| Workup / key labs | Amsel criteria (3 of 4): (1) thin homogeneous gray-white discharge, (2) vaginal pH >4.5, (3) positive whiff test with KOH, (4) clue cells on saline wet mount.… | NAAT (nucleic acid amplification test) — preferred; high sensitivity/specificity; Wet mount microscopy — motile, pear-shaped flagellated trichomonads (~50-70%… |
| First-line treatment | Metronidazole 500 mg PO BID × 7 days; Metronidazole 0.75% vaginal gel 5 g intravaginally daily × 5 days; Clindamycin 2% vaginal cream 5 g intravaginally at… | Women: metronidazole 500 mg PO BID × 7 days (CDC 2021 — replaced single 2 g dose for women based on trial data showing lower recurrence with 7-day regimen);… |
Drill Bacterial Vaginosis vs Trichomoniasis questions on FirstPassPA
Turn this comparison into retention. 5,500+ board-style questions with an AI tutor that explains every answer — free to start, no card required.
Start studying free → Try today's free questionEducational use only. This outline is a study aid for PA students and is not medical advice or a substitute for clinical judgment. FirstPassPA is an independent study tool and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by NCCPA. PANCE® and PANRE® are registered trademarks of the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.