Can a Male Partner Carry BV, and Does Treating Him Help?
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common vaginal infection, and it can come back even after treatment.[1] When it keeps coming back, many couples wonder whether the male partner plays a part. For a long time the answer was no. New research has started to change that.
Men do not get BV, because it is a condition of the vagina. But the bacteria linked to BV have been found on the genitals of male partners, and the men usually have no symptoms.[2] This is what people usually mean by “male BV.” A large recent trial found that treating the male partner at the same time made BV much less likely to come back.[3] Starfish.com offers male BV treatment for men whose partner has BV.
What the Research Found
The trial studied couples who had sex only with each other. In one group, both partners were treated. The man took an antibiotic tablet and used an antibiotic cream on the penis for 7 days. In the other group, only the woman was treated.[3]
Within 12 weeks, BV came back in 35% of women whose partner was treated, compared with 63% of women whose partner was not. The difference was large enough that the trial was stopped early.[3]
What Current Guidance Says
- The CDC still says male sex partners of women with BV do not need treatment.[1] Its treatment guidelines were last updated before the trial.[4]
- The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) now recommends treating partners at the same time for some patients whose BV keeps coming back. For male partners, that means a tablet and a cream.[5]
- The New York State Department of Health advises that people with BV have their ongoing male partners seek partner treatment.[2]
Partner treatment is not yet standard for everyone. But for BV that keeps coming back, there is now good evidence for it, and a major medical group recommends it.
Treatment for Male Partners
If your partner has BV that keeps coming back, answer a short questionnaire. A licensed clinician decides whether treatment is right for you.
Who Partner Treatment Helps Most
| Your situation | What the evidence says |
|---|---|
| BV keeps coming back, and you have one regular male partner | The strongest case. This is the group the trial studied[3] and the group ACOG’s recommendation covers[5] |
| This is your first time having BV | Less clear. ACOG leaves it as a case-by-case decision[5] |
| You have more than one partner | Not well studied. ACOG says more research is needed,[5] and New York State advises treating all ongoing partners the same way[2] |
| Your partner is a woman | BV can spread between female partners.[1] She can be tested for BV and, if needed, treated with standard BV treatment[2] |
What Male BV Treatment Involves
Treatment for a male partner pairs an antibiotic tablet with an antibiotic cream for the penis. Both are used for 7 days.[2] Starfish.com’s male BV treatment includes both: metronidazole, an antibiotic tablet prescribed for BV, and clindamycin 2% cream. A licensed clinician reviews your answers and decides whether it is right for you. If it is, the prescription goes to your pharmacy. You pay for the medication there, the same way you would with a prescription from your own doctor.
Partner treatment works alongside her own treatment, not in place of it. She still needs a prescription antibiotic, such as metronidazole tablets, metronidazole gel or clindamycin vaginal cream.[4] Starfish.com also offers BV treatment for women. In the trial, both partners were treated at the same time.[3]
Why BV Matters Even Without Symptoms in Men
Men usually have no symptoms from these bacteria,[2] so there is often nothing to make them seek treatment. For the woman, though, BV that keeps coming back is more than a nuisance. The CDC notes that BV can raise the risk of HIV and other STDs, such as chlamydia and gonorrhea. In pregnancy, it can also raise the risk of preterm birth.[1]
If you are pregnant, contact your obstetrician. We do not treat anyone who is pregnant.
FAQ
Can men get BV?
Not in the same way, because BV is a condition of the vagina. Men can carry the bacteria linked to BV on the genitals, usually without symptoms.[2]
Should my partner be treated if this is my first time having BV?
It is less clear for a first episode, and ACOG leaves it as a case-by-case decision.[5] The strongest evidence is for BV that keeps coming back.
Do we both need to be treated at the same time?
It is not required, but it is what worked in the trial. Both partners started at the same time. BV came back in 35% of those women, compared with 63% when only the woman was treated.[3] Starting both treatments together follows the approach the study found most successful.
Is BV a sexually transmitted infection?
BV is linked to sex, and it most often occurs in people who are sexually active, but the CDC says it is not yet known exactly how sex causes it.[1]
Break the Cycle Together
A licensed clinician reviews your answers and, if treatment is right for you, sends the prescription to your pharmacy within 1 to 2 hours.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “About Bacterial Vaginosis (BV).” https://www.cdc.gov/bacterial-vaginosis/about/index.html
- New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute, Clinical Guidelines Program. “Partner Treatment to Prevent Recurrent Bacterial Vaginosis.” https://www.hivguidelines.org/guideline/sti-bv/
- Infectious Diseases Society of America. “Will treating male partners prevent bacterial vaginosis recurrence?” Science Speaks, 2025. Summary of Vodstrcil LA, et al. “Male-Partner Treatment to Prevent Recurrence of Bacterial Vaginosis.” New England Journal of Medicine, 2025. https://www.idsociety.org/science-speaks-blog/2025/will-treating-male-partners-prevent-bacterial-vaginosis-recurrence/
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Bacterial Vaginosis.” Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines, 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/std/treatment-guidelines/bv.htm
- Healio. “ACOG issues new guidance on treating recurrent bacterial vaginosis.” 2025. https://www.healio.com/news/womens-health-ob-gyn/20251017/acog-issues-new-guidance-on-treating-recurrent-bacterial-vaginosis
