Bacterial vaginosis (BV) affects nearly 1 in 3 women worldwide — but what many don’t realise is that treating BV isn’t always a one-person journey. For countless women who’ve experienced the stress, discomfort, and recurrence of BV, there’s now compelling evidence that involving your partner in treatment could break the cycle for good.
What Is BV — and Why Does It Keep Coming Back?
BV is a common imbalance in the vaginal microbiome, where the healthy Lactobacillus bacteria are outnumbered by overgrowths of anaerobic bacteria like Gardnerella vaginalis and Atopobium vaginae (Temirova, 2025). It can lead to symptoms like unusual discharge, an unpleasant “fishy” odour, and discomfort during or after sex. But many women don’t experience any symptoms at all — making the condition difficult to detect and easy to spread unknowingly.
Even with standard antibiotic treatment, BV tends to come back — up to 60% of women experience a recurrence within 12 months (Temirova, 2025). The reason? In many cases, untreated partners may be silently carrying BV-associated bacteria, reintroducing them during sex (King et al., 2025).
The Game-Changer: Partner Treatment
Groundbreaking research from the Melbourne Sexual Health Center shows that when male partners receive treatment alongside their partners — called Male Partner Treatment (MPT) — the recurrence of BV drops significantly (King et al., 2025). The treatment is straightforward: a 7-day course of oral antibiotics and a topical cream applied to the penis. While it may be a minor inconvenience, couples in the study described it as a shared commitment that strengthened their relationship.
One participant put it best: “It was just a week of inconvenience — but it made a big difference to her health, and to us” (King et al., 2025).
Why It’s Worth Talking About
Many women feel isolated when dealing with BV. Repeated antibiotic treatments without lasting results can lead to frustration, embarrassment, and strain on relationships. But when partners are educated, involved, and supportive, it shifts the narrative. It’s no longer “her problem” — it’s something both partners face and solve together (King et al., 2025).
Men in the study shared that understanding the science — including how BV can impact future fertility and increase STI risk — was key to them getting onboard. Making the treatment process simple (like offering telehealth appointments or e-scripts) also helped remove barriers to participation.
How Epicentre Walk-In Lab Can Help
At Epicentre, we believe in empowering people with knowledge and offering real solutions. Our STI and women’s health test packages screen for BV and other infections, and our trained professionals can guide you and your partner through treatment options that make sense for both of you.
We also believe in clear communication and stigma-free care. Whether you’re experiencing symptoms or just want to take proactive steps, we’re here to support you — as a couple.
Let’s Talk About It
BV isn’t an STI, but sex plays a major role in its recurrence. The new research shows what many have long suspected — that treating both partners leads to better results. It’s time to stop dealing with BV alone. Let’s deal with it together.
Latest News
Keep up to date with all the latest developments around BV at Epicentre right here.
📚 References
King, A. J., Phillips, T. R., Plummer, E. L., Wild, N., Fairley, C. K., Chow, E. P. F., Vodstrcil, L. A., & Bradshaw, C. S. (2025). Getting everyone on board to break the cycle of bacterial vaginosis (BV) recurrence: A qualitative study of partner treatment for BV. The Patient – Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, 18(279–290). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40271-025-00731-z
Temirova, D. O. (2025). Bacterial vaginosis is a dangerous disease. Modern Education and Development, (19), 139–151.
