Is Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) an STI?
What is Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)?
Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) is an incredibly common (30% of women will experience it) and for some a very challenging overgrowth/ imbalance of normal flora in the vagina that can lead to symptoms of watery discharge with a strong, fishy or foul scented odour, it can also be accompanied by itching and discomfort, although some women experience little to no symptoms at all.
There has been a lot of media attention in the past week regarding BV. With new research noting a statistically significant reduction in reoccurrence of BV in women whose male partners were also treated. This research also noted the presence of the bacteria that can cause BV on penile skin and within the urethra of male partners of women who had experienced BV. This raised the question for many - is BV an STI / should it be treated like one?
No, you don’t have to be sexually active to develop BV. However, there is an interplay with female-male intimate microbiomes, which means when there is sexual contact between partners it can have an influence on one another that can result in disruptions to vaginal pH and sharing of microbes.
So what does this all actually mean?
This opens an important conversation on how we address women’s intimate health concerns and makes considering treatment of both partners the normal to reduce reinfection.
An important part of minimising BV and other imbalances / infections is creating an environment within the vaginal microbiome that is resilient. Understanding why these imbalances occur and addressing individual factors can play a beneficial part in addressing the issue long-term. Unfortunately, many women experience BV during or after treatment with antibiotics, so looking at how we can restore normal function and balance of the vaginal and gut microbiome is, in my opinion key to stopping the cycle of reoccurrence.
Need support with recurrent BV or wanting to optimise your intimate health?
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Further reading
Vodstrcil, L. A., Plummer, E. L., Fairley, C. K., Hocking, J. S., Law, M. G., Petoumenos, K., Bateson, D., Murray, G. L., Donovan, B., Chow, E. P. F., Chen, M. Y., Kaldor, J., & Bradshaw, C. S. (2025). Male-Partner Treatment to Prevent Recurrence of Bacterial Vaginosis. New England Journal of Medicine, 392(10), 947–957. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2405404