The role of sexual transmission of viral, bacterial and parasitic pathogens in lower genital tract infections in women is well established. Although the sexual transmissibility of bacterial vaginosis (BV)-associated bacteria has historically been debated, recent evidence has substantially clarified this issue. A landmark randomised controlled trial by Vodstrcil et al provided compelling evidence that dual-antimicrobial treatment of male sexual partners significantly reduced BV recurrence in women, strongly supporting that sexual transmission of BV-associated pathogens occurs.
Additional observations from this study suggest a possible role for sexual transmission of Candida spp in heterosexual women that could contribute to episodes of recurrent symptomatic vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). While the…