Partner treatment in women with bacterial vaginosis: an update to the International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease (ISSVD) recommendations

Key messages

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) recurrence remains high, despite effective initial therapy.

New evidence supports a sexual transmission component and shows that treating male partners in some cases can reduce recurrence.

The International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease now endorses selective male partner treatment for recurrent or persistent symptomatic BV after confirmed BV diagnosis.

Counselling should prevent relationship distrust following an approach similar to human papillomavirus (HPV) management.

Evidence is limited to short follow-up and monogamous couples; further studies should clarify long-term outcomes, optimal regimens, role of multiple partners and transmission mechanisms.

Introduction

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common cause of symptomatic vaginitis, accounting for up to 50% of cases.1 In asymptomatic women, its prevalence can range from 10% to >50%, the higher figures being associated with sub-Saharan ancestry. Nevertheless, direct comparison of the figures is not always straightforward and can depend on diagnostic tests and criteria used.

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