[The laboratory and colposcopy in the diagnosis of urogenital trichomoniasis].

Urogenital trichomoniasis is a very common condition, the most frequent veneral disease in women. It is also the commonest cause of vaginal discharge. Nevertheless, it is often unrecognised since attenuated, latent, unusual forms are more numerous than acute forms which might lead to a suspicion of the diagnosis, and because the investigations which are necessary to make the diagnosis are not made often enough. Two types of investigation are available: laboratory studies to seek the parasite and colposcopy which reveals characteristic appearances. However, each may miss the diagnosis in some 25% of cases and should therefore not be seen as being mutually exclusive. Their combined use should ensure that few cases go undiagnosed.