Is Bacterial Vaginosis an STI? Groundbreaking Study Challenges Long-Held Beliefs
A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine is shaking up what we thought we knew about bacterial vaginosis (BV)—and we need to talk about it.
BV is one of the most common vaginal conditions, affecting nearly a third of women worldwide. It’s often dismissed as an “imbalance” of bacteria rather than a sexually transmitted infection (STI). But new research suggests that BV may actually be spread through sex—meaning it could be more similar to an STI than we previously thought (Muzny et al., 2023).
What Does This Mean for BV Treatment?
The Australian study, led by researchers at Monash University and Alfred Health, found that treating only the woman wasn’t enough to prevent BV from coming back. Instead, when both sexual partners were given antibiotics, recurrence rates were cut in half (Bradshaw et al., 2022). This suggests that reinfection from a partner plays a major role in BV’s persistence.
This finding is huge. Many people with BV experience recurrent infections, and traditional treatment methods—typically antibiotics in gel, cream, or tablet form—haven’t always been enough to stop it from coming back. If BV is sexually transmitted, it means that we need to start treating it differently, just like we do with other STIs.
Why This Matters
BV isn’t just an inconvenience. Left untreated, it can increase the risk of infertility, premature births, and newborn complications (Klebanoff et al., 2005). It can also make people more vulnerable to contracting STIs like chlamydia and HIV (Allsworth & Peipert, 2007). The more we understand BV and its causes, the better we can protect our long-term vaginal health.
The Role of Condoms in Preventing BV
We need to reframe how we think about condoms. They’re not just for pregnancy prevention or avoiding STIs like chlamydia and gonorrhoea—they play a key role in vaginal health. If BV is sexually transmitted, using condoms can help prevent the exchange of bacteria that may contribute to it. Studies have already shown that consistent condom use is linked to lower rates of BV (Smart et al., 2004), and this new research reinforces just how important they are.
What’s Next?
The British Association for Sexual Health and HIV has acknowledged that this study provides “valuable evidence” for what many experts have suspected for years. If BV is indeed sexually transmitted, treatment guidelines may need to change. Some clinics, like Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, have already updated their protocols to treat both partners routinely.
Our Take at MyBliss
At MyBliss, we’re passionate about challenging outdated perspectives on vaginal health. If BV is an STI, then the stigma surrounding it needs to shift—just like our approach to treatment. Too often, vaginal health concerns are ignored, misunderstood, or blamed on hygiene when the reality is far more complex.
We believe everyone deserves accurate, science-backed information about their bodies.
What Can You Do?
If you’ve ever struggled with BV, know that you’re not alone. If you experience recurrent BV, talk to your healthcare provider about whether your partner should be treated as well. And as always, keep prioritising your vaginal health with gentle, vagina-friendly products that work with your body, not against it.
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References
- Muzny, C. A., Taylor, C. M., Swords, W. E., & Łaniewski, P. (2023). New insights into bacterial vaginosis as a sexually transmitted infection. New England Journal of Medicine. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2301224
- Bradshaw, C. S., Morton, A. N., Hocking, J., Garland, S. M., Morris, M. B., Moss, L. M., ... & Fairley, C. K. (2022). High recurrence rates of bacterial vaginosis with standard treatment and treatment of male partners: A randomized trial. The Lancet, 379(9816), 1866-1874. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(22)00544-1/fulltext
- Klebanoff, M. A., Schwebke, J. R., Zhang, J., Nansel, T. R., Yu, K. F., Andrews, W. W., & Brotman, R. M. (2005). Vaginal bacteria and bacterial vaginosis in pregnant women: implications for prevention and treatment. Journal of Infectious Diseases, 192(12), 2185-2193. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16135571/
- Allsworth, J. E., & Peipert, J. F. (2007). Prevalence of bacterial vaginosis: 2001–2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data. Sexually Transmitted Diseases, 34(11), 864-869. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17448470/
- Smart, S., Singal, A., Mindel, A., & Alexander, S. (2004). The effect of condoms on reducing the incidence of bacterial vaginosis: A systematic review. Sexually Transmitted Infections, 80(3), 192-196. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14764812/