Overview

• A new clinical trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine provides evidence that bacterial vaginosis (BV) is sexually transmitted between partners.
• The study found that treating both male and female partners with antibiotics reduced BV recurrence rates from 63% to 35% within 12 weeks.
• BV affects nearly 30% of reproductive-aged women globally and can lead to serious complications like pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, and pregnancy issues if untreated.
• The research highlights the role of male partners in harboring BV-causing bacteria on penile skin and in the urethra, contributing to reinfection.
• Experts say the findings represent a 'paradigm shift' in BV treatment, calling for updates to clinical guidelines to include partner treatment strategies.