Vaginitis
Does my partner need treatment for bacterial vaginosis? Gynecologist in Seoul, Korea
The short answer
Usually not. Bacterial vaginosis is not a sexually transmitted disease, so male partners are not routinely treated. Partner testing does matter when the cause turns out to be an STD such as trichomoniasis, chlamydia or gonorrhea, so confirming the diagnosis with a swab is important.
BV is an imbalance of the woman's own vaginal bacteria, not an infection passed from a partner. Standard practice is to treat the woman only.
However, symptoms that look like BV can come from STDs. If testing finds trichomoniasis, chlamydia, gonorrhea or Mycoplasma, your partner should be tested and treated as well. Dami offers male partner testing so you can do this together.
Using condoms may help some women with recurrent BV by limiting the pH change caused by semen.
Answered by Dami Women's Clinic (다미산부인과의원), Yeouido, Seoul · Dr. Ko Sang-hyun, OB/GYN. General information, not a diagnosis. Emergencies in Korea: call 119. Medical disclaimer · International Patient Center