Treating Male Partners Halves BV Recurrence Rates

Tejal Somvanshi

Australian researchers discovered bacterial vaginosis (BV) can be sexually transmitted, challenging decades of medical belief about this infection that affects one-third of women globally.

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Treating both partners halved BV recurrence rates compared to treating women alone, according to the landmark study from Melbourne Sexual Health Centre and Monash University.

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The trial of 164 couples showed BV returned in just 35% of women whose male partners received treatment, versus 63% in women whose partners went untreated.

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This successful intervention is relatively cheap and short," said Professor Catriona Bradshaw, pointing to new possibilities for BV prevention and treatment.

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Earlier studies from the 1980s missed the connection because they only gave male partners oral antibiotics, failing to target bacteria on penile skin.

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BV increases risks of other STIs, pelvic inflammatory disease, miscarriage, and premature birth—making effective treatment crucial for women's health.

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Despite promising results, researchers noted 14% of men took less than 70% of their prescribed medication, highlighting potential challenges with partner compliance.

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For women like Hanae, who suffered repeated BV infections, the findings offer hope: "It came back time and time again. I thought there was something wrong with me.

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The Melbourne Sexual Health Centre has already changed its practices to treat couples, though wider adoption in clinics nationwide is still needed.

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