If you have ever been diagnosed Bacterial vaginosis (BV), you know how frustrating it is to handle itching and burning sensations down there. As it turns out, this common condition that affects Nearly 1 in 3 women can actually be one sexually transmitted infection (STI), according to a new study in New England Journal of Medicine.
Bacterial vaginosis – a bacterial infection caused by an overgrowth of harmful bacteria that disturbs the pH in vagina – all have the characteristics of a STI, according to study author Lenka Vodstrcil, a senior researcher at Melbourne Sexual Health Center at Monash University in Australia.
“We gathered a lot of evidence to show that it is strongly associated with having sex is strongly associated with catching bacterial vaginosis and it comes back after treatment and That bacterial vaginos bacteria are present in the men-in urethra and on the penishud, “Vodstrcil tells PS.” Women in the same gender conditions can also share this bacteria. “In other words: Getting and treating, BV is not the responsibility for a person — which can be an important de-stigmatizer For those who get the infection.
Experts in this article
Lenka vodstrcil are senior researchers at Melbourne Sexual Health Center on Monash University in Australia.
Sherry RossMD, is an ob-gyn, co-founder of himself and author of “She-Ilology“and”SHEology: The She-Quel. ”
So exactly what found the study?
The 12-week study recruited 164 couples where a woman had bacterial vaginosis and was in a monogamous relationship with a male partner. About half of the couples were awarded the partner treatment group and the second control group. In the partner therapy group, both partners received antibiotic therapy (for the man included this oral medication and A current cream for Penishud). In the control group, the woman received an antibiotic and the male partner received no treatment.
The results: When BV was treated as a STI, with both partners who received a course with antibiotics (instead of just the person showing symptoms), the recidivism rate fell by over 50 percent, according to Vodstril’s research.
“We have used a new combination of antibiotic treatment strategy in men -a cream to direct the BV bacteria on the penishud and oral tablets to get rid of the BV bacteria in the urethra,” says Vodstrcil. “We have shown for the first time that the treatment of a male partner while a woman receives treatment improves BV fundamentally and reduces the relapse. So this is now the first strong evidence that BV, especially the BV bacteria, is being sexually transmitted.”
While the study was limited to couples in the opposite sex, Vodstrcil says that there is evidence that shows that women also share vaginal bacteria (both good and bad) during sex. “We believe that partner therapy makes sense for (women in pairs of the same sex too, but there just has not been evidence to support this yet. We are currently conducting a study to inform this practice,” she says.
How will this change how BV is treated?
It is too early to say what this means for the future. The study was quite small and included only 164 Australian couples, but it was stopped early, after 150 pairs had finished treatment and a follow -up due to “the big difference between partner therapy and treatment without partners,” says Vodstrcil.
Researchers still see the potential. “This is the first major progress in a BV BEN, and it opens up exciting opportunities for preventive strategies, including tests for BV in men, which would be a first,” says Vodstrcil.
Dr. However, Ross, for one, is not surprised by the results. “For chronic affected by BV, it is to treat the male partner completely, and some caregivers have already done so for several years,” she says. “Recurring vaginal infections are not only frustrating to the patient, but also frustrating for the health care provider. Medical studies are often lies after sensible medical care in terms of recurring and disturbing gender infections such as BV.”
This research offers hope. Contrary to being heard over the years, BV is not a simple one -sided infection and it is time that we stop seeing it that way. While more research is needed to prove that the study’s results are applicable to the masses, Vodstrcil and her research team have been developed a resource For the public, doctors and other healthcare professionals who help them navigate in a new game plan for women with BV and their partners.
At least it is the key to taking control of your health to have access to more information. Here is to combat BV -stig matonization.
Danielle Zickl is a freelance writer who has 10 years of experience covering fitness, health and nutrition. You can find her work here on PS, and in many other publications including the self, well+good, runner’s world, outside driving, peloton, women’s health and men’s fitness.
