Bacterial vaginosis | What if we also treat the partner?

Bacterial vaginosis is a very common condition: one. Consequently, in three women will be assigned during her life. Meanwhile, And 66 % of them will have a recurrence in the following year. Furthermore, A new Australian study offers a solution: what if we also dealt with the partner?

But, first of all, what is a bacterial vaginosis? Therefore, “This is a change in the vaginal bacterial flora. For example, ” explains Jacinthe Tremblay, clinical nurse and clinical coordinator at the Montreal Women’s Health Center. Consequently, A bacteria takes over the others. In addition, There may be symptoms – nauseating vaginal losses – bacterial vaginosis | what if or not. Moreover, On the other hand, the specific cause (s) are not yet known. Consequently, And we must not confuse the infection with a yeast vaginitis. Consequently, which is rather the result of the proliferation of a fungus.

The high rate of recurrence of bacterial vaginosis can create distress in affected patients. Furthermore, underlines the D^r Sean Yaphe, medical director of the current clinic. Consequently, “It’s frustrating and desperate, some live with symptoms for years,” he says.

It can also be discouraging from undertaking a second treatment “of seven days with all the potential side effects”. points Jacinthe Tremblay.

The missing link – Bacterial vaginosis | what if

This explains why this new study of researchers from Monash University in Melbourne. published in the New England Journal of Medicine Earlier this year, health professionals as much bacterial vaginosis | what if as health professionals. “It’s super interesting because there were few studies on the subject. this research is also interested in partners,” said nurse Jacinthe Tremblay. Another study had included the male partners, but had little encouraging results by treating them with only oral antibiotics.

The recent study focused on 164 heterosexual couples, whose woman had symptoms of bacterial vaginosis. These were divided into two groups. On the one hand. women took recommended antibiotics over a week, and partners received no treatment, which corresponds to the world recommended. On the other hand. women took the usual treatment, and the partners received an oral antibiotic and an antibiotic cream to apply for a week.

The couples were followed for 12 weeks following their treatment to determine the effectiveness of this intervention for healing.

The results were bacterial vaginosis | what if impressive: in the control group (where the man was not treated). 63 % of women had a recurrence while it was the case of only 35 % of women in double treatment. The researchers even stopped the test before the efficiency of the intervention.

The study thus suggests that the male partner could infect his partner. since the bacteria responsible for bacterial vaginosis could deposit on the penis. “That man can transmit vaginosis is a possibility. but we notice that women develop vaginosis without having sex,” nuance the D^r Sean Yaphe.

He is therefore cautious before asserting that vaginosis could be an ITSS. “They treated it like an ITSS, but not as we hear for a chlamydia or a gonorrhea,” illustrates Jacinthe Tremblay.

Some dead angles

The study turns out to bacterial vaginosis | what if be interesting for “stable. monogamous couples”, evokes Jacinthe Tremblay, but it has several limitations. The intervention did not look at the cases of homosexual couples. a woman who would have multiple partners, said the nurse.

Research has not detailed either if women had copper IUDs. a risk factor, or if the recurrence was lower when man was circumcised, a protective factor.

“We must also trust the confidence of partners,” she adds.

Environmental factors. such as underwear equipment, soap type or creams used as well as the use of condoms have not been taken into account, denounces for its part D^r Sean Yaphe.

And according to the two experts, the study – which lasted three months – was not long enough. “After 6 or 12 months, it is not known bacterial vaginosis | what if if there was a recurrence,” said Jacinthe Tremblay.

Women’s health in the foreground

This research is one of the “more inclusive studies” which overcome the lack of studies on the health of women. underlines the D^r Sean Yaphe. “It pushes people to do more research in the field,” he thinks.

Already. the Melbourne sexual health center, affiliated to Monash University, has changed its clinical practice to treat couples affected by bacterial vaginosis. The D^r Sean Yaphe says he is open to changing his practice. but data is still lacking to “say that it is the right processing,” he says. “It’s a good start,” said Jacinthe Tremblay, however.