Treating Both Partners: A New Approach to Recurrent Bacterial Vaginosis
New research shows that treating male partners at the same time as women lowers the risk of recurrent bacterial vaginosis by more than half. Find out what this means for you and how to take action.
Your health concerns are valid. If you’re frustrated by recurrent BV, you’re not alone and you deserve solutions that work for you.
Why Does BV Keep Coming Back?
BV is the most common vaginal infection among women, with over 50% experiencing recurrence within three months of treatment.
Recurrence is especially likely in women with a regular male partner.
BV isn’t just a “women’s issue” new evidence shows it can be passed back and forth between partners.
What’s New: Treating Both Partners
Recent studies reveal that treating both you and your male partner at the same time can cut your risk of BV coming back by more than half.
The approach: Both partners take antibiotics together, targeting bacteria in both the vagina and on/inside the penis.
This method is especially effective in monogamous relationships.
What Does Treatment Look Like?
For women: Standard BV treatment (oral metronidazole or topical clindamycin/metronidazole for 7 days).
For male partners:
Oral metronidazole 400 mg (or 500 mg) twice daily for 7 days
Clindamycin 2% cream applied to the glans and upper shaft of the penis (under the foreskin if uncircumcised) twice daily for 7 days.
Important: No sex during treatment, abstinence is needed to prevent reinfection and ensure success.
What’s the Evidence?
In a recent clinical trial, recurrence rates dropped from 63% to 35% when both partners were treated.
This is the first major advance in BV care in decades finally offering hope for women who have felt stuck in a cycle of recurrence.
What Should You Do Next?
If you’re in a monogamous relationship and struggling with recurrent BV, talk to your provider about partner treatment.
Shared decision-making matters: Your preferences, comfort, and relationship dynamics are part of the conversation.
Your provider can guide you and your partner through the process and answer any questions about side effects or logistics.
You deserve more than temporary fixes. Your questions matter, and together, we can find a better way forward—so you can reclaim your comfort, confidence, and health.
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