Occurrence of trichomoniasis in women in Denmark, 1967-1997

Background: The Neisseria Unit at Statens Serum Institut (SSI), Copenhagen, Denmark administers laboratory surveillance systems for gonorrhea and chlamydia, however, no similar system has been available for trichomoniasis. Objectives: To describe changes in the occurrence of trichomoniasis in women and in the distribution according to age, and to compare these changes with those observed in women with gonorrhea or chlamydia, Study Design: Data on the epidemiology of trichomoniasis were based on the annual laboratory records at the Neisseria Unit at SSI, Data on gonorrhea (1967-1997) and chlamydia (1994-1997) originated from the National Laboratory Surveillance Systems. Results: During the period 1967 to 1997, the percentage of Trichomonas vaginalis-positive specimens showed a constant decrease from 19 to fewer than 2, The annual number of specimens received varied between a maximum of 31,626 in 1975 and a minimum of 3291 in 1997, The median age of women with trichomoniasis increased from 31 to 39 years as compared with a change from 21 to 24 years in women with gonorrhea (1967-1997) and a median age of 22 years in women with chlamydia (1994-1997). Conclusions: A significant decline in the occurrence of trichomoniasis in women concurrent with a significant rise in the median age of women with the disorder was observed. During the periods investigated, women with trichomoniasis were significantly older than women with gonorrhoeae or chlamydia.