{"id":8592,"date":"2025-03-28T12:43:48","date_gmt":"2025-03-28T12:43:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/?p=8592"},"modified":"2025-08-20T14:45:46","modified_gmt":"2025-08-20T14:45:46","slug":"could-bacterial-vaginosis-become-an-sti","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/could-bacterial-vaginosis-become-an-sti\/","title":{"rendered":"Could Bacterial Vaginosis become an STI?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Could Bacterial Vaginosis become an STI?\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/GKpEWqfSey8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>New research from <em>The New England Journal of Medicine<\/em> has shed new light on how <a href=\"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/page\/gardnerella\"><strong>Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)<\/strong><\/a> spreads between people, and may up-end how health professionals categorise the infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, what could this mean for you? Keep reading to find out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"752\" height=\"381\" src=\"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/image-4.jpeg\" alt=\"A person wearing gloves and holding a pipette\n\nAI-generated content may be incorrect.\" class=\"wp-image-8594\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/image-4.jpeg 752w, https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/image-4-300x152.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>If you think you may have BV, get tested with one of Better2Know\u2019s convenient Home Test Kits.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link\">Get tested<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>What is BV?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>BV is an incredibly common infection among women. It\u2019s caused by an overgrowth of bacteria normally found in a healthy vaginal environment. Symptoms of BV can include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>White or grey vaginal discharge<\/li><li>Vaginal irritation, like itching and burning<\/li><li>A strong \u201cfishy\u201d odour, especially after sex<\/li><li>Pain during urination<\/li><li>Pain during sex<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The symptoms of BV may go away without treatment, but it\u2019s important to get checked if you\u2019re worried about an infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>Why is it important to treat BV?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Aside from the physical discomfort BV can cause, it\u2019s important to treat BV since leaving it untreated can cause bad health outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>BV can increase your risk of catching other infections that can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can damage your fertility. In pregnant women, BV can lead to premature birth and low weight in infants. Having it can also increase the likelihood of contracting other STIs like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/page\/hiv\"><strong>HIV<\/strong><\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/std-sti-testing\/chlamydia\"><strong>Chlamydia<\/strong><\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/std-sti-testing\/gonorrhoea\"><strong>Gonorrhoea<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>Why isn\u2019t BV an STI?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While research has shown that the infection can be passed from women to men in rare cases, transmission the other way <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/std\/treatment-guidelines\/bv.htm\"><strong>is unlikely<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The bacteria that cause BV naturally occurs within the vagina, so many women can get it without having sex. This is why BV isn\u2019t considered an STI. Being sexually active does, however, increase your risk of BV.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, is it sexually transmitted?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>What does the research show?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nejm.org\/doi\/full\/10.1056\/NEJMoa2405404\"><strong>Researchers<\/strong><\/a> publishing in <em>The New England Journal of Medicine <\/em>have tried a new approach to tracking how BV may be transmitted from men to women. Previous evidence has suggested that treating men for BV may increase the likelihood of cure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This randomised trial involved couples in which the woman had BV and was in a monogamous relationship with a male partner. The male partners in the partner-treatment group were given oral and topical antimicrobials. In the control group, the women received first-line treatment, and the male partner received no treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The results showed significant success in combining the treatment of male partners with the treatment of women for BV, which resulted in a lower rate of recurrence of the infection within 12 weeks. The trial was so successful that its ethics committee stopped it early as the weight of evidence was so strong. When comparing 81 couples where the male partner was treated to 83 couples where the male partner was not treated, the risk of the woman having BV recur was reduced by 63%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This study shows that male partners can transmit BV bacteria to female partners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There remains much more research to be done on this issue. For example, for every woman we see with BV bacteria, we don\u2019t see 100 men who are positive, which would make us think that the men can kick out the bacteria much more easily than women. How and why this may happen are still to be determined. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>What could be the drawbacks of calling BV an STI?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Such studies raise questions about how we classify BV as an infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>How we feel about and approach a health condition depends on how we talk about it \u2013 what words we use and the emotions attached to those words.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For many people, feelings of stigma, moral judgement, and fear can be triggered when health professionals label an infection \u201csexually transmitted\u201d. These feelings may not arise from illnesses that people get through no action of their own, like a rhinovirus or the flu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Such associations may prevent some people from seeking treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A similar question was raised about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/new-mpox-variant-moves-into-europe-making-testing-essential\/\"><strong>Mpox<\/strong><\/a> in 2022. During the outbreak in that year, most of the cases of Mpox were recorded in men who have sex with men. Some public health officials wondered if calling Mpox an STI would fuel stigma and discrimination and deter treatment efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Others would argue that changing this classification is more scientifically accurate and would help people get the treatment they need to cure their infection. If their partners were notified, and they turn out to be the source of the infection, we may well see a huge impact on the number of cases in women if infected men get treated too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To date, this debate is still ongoing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>Final thoughts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you think you may have BV, it\u2019s very important to get tested as soon as possible, and getting treatment for both you and your partner may increase your chances of a cure if your infection is stubborn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Get in touch with Better2Know to schedule a full STI screen at a sexual health clinic near you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"752\" height=\"381\" src=\"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/image-5.jpeg\" alt=\"A person holding a phone\n\nAI-generated content may be incorrect.\" class=\"wp-image-8595\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/image-5.jpeg 752w, https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/image-5-300x152.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Don\u2019t leave your sexual health to chance. Book an appointment with Better2Know today.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/clinics\/book-online\">Get tested<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><em>This article has been medically reviewed by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/page\/dr-steve-chapman\"><strong>Dr. Steve Chapman<\/strong><\/a>, 16\/07\/2025.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<!-- Simple Share Buttons Adder (8.1.2) simplesharebuttons.com --><div class=\"ssba-classic-2 ssba ssbp-wrap left ssbp--theme-1\"><div style=\"text-align:left\"><span class=\"ssba-share-text\">Share this...<\/span><br\/><a data-site=\"\" class=\"ssba_facebook_share\" href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8592\"  target=\"_blank\" ><img src=\"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/simple-share-buttons-adder\/buttons\/somacro\/facebook.png\" style=\"width: 35px;\" title=\"Facebook\" class=\"ssba ssba-img\" alt=\"Share on Facebook\" \/><div title=\"Facebook\" class=\"ssbp-text\">Facebook<\/div><\/a><a data-site='pinterest' class='ssba_pinterest_share' href='javascript:void((function()%7Bvar%20e=document.createElement(&apos;script&apos;);e.setAttribute(&apos;type&apos;,&apos;text\/javascript&apos;);e.setAttribute(&apos;charset&apos;,&apos;UTF-8&apos;);e.setAttribute(&apos;src&apos;,&apos;\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinmarklet.js?r=&apos;+Math.random()*99999999);document.body.appendChild(e)%7D)());'><img src=\"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/simple-share-buttons-adder\/buttons\/somacro\/pinterest.png\" style=\"width: 35px;\" title=\"Pinterest\" class=\"ssba ssba-img\" alt=\"Pin on Pinterest\" \/><div title=\"Pinterest\" class=\"ssbp-text\">Pinterest<\/div><\/a><a data-site=\"\" class=\"ssba_twitter_share\" href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8592&amp;text=Could%20Bacterial%20Vaginosis%20become%20an%20STI%3F%20\"  target=&quot;_blank&quot; ><img src=\"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/simple-share-buttons-adder\/buttons\/somacro\/twitter.png\" style=\"width: 35px;\" title=\"Twitter\" class=\"ssba ssba-img\" alt=\"Tweet about this on Twitter\" \/><div title=\"Twitter\" class=\"ssbp-text\">Twitter<\/div><\/a><a data-site=\"linkedin\" class=\"ssba_linkedin_share ssba_share_link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8592\"  target=&quot;_blank&quot; ><img src=\"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/simple-share-buttons-adder\/buttons\/somacro\/linkedin.png\" style=\"width: 35px;\" title=\"LinkedIn\" class=\"ssba ssba-img\" alt=\"Share on LinkedIn\" \/><div title=\"Linkedin\" class=\"ssbp-text\">Linkedin<\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>New research from The New England Journal of Medicine has shed new light on how Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) spreads between people, and may up-end how health professionals categorise the infection. So, what could this mean for you? Keep reading to find out.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_s2mail":""},"categories":[11,20,2606],"tags":[],"yst_prominent_words":[1850,608,560,602,629],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8592"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8592"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8592\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8721,"href":"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8592\/revisions\/8721"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8592"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8592"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8592"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=8592"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}