Male-Partner Treatment to Prevent Recurrence of Bacterial Vaginosis

This open-label, randomized controlled trial evaluated whether treating male partners of women with bacterial vaginosis (BV) reduces recurrence rates. Couples were assigned to either the partner-treatment group (women received standard antimicrobial therapy; men received oral metronidazole and topical clindamycin for 7 days) or the control group (women only treated). The primary outcome was BV recurrence within 12 weeks, defined by Amsel criteria and Nugent score.

Among 164 couples, recurrence occurred in 35% of women (24/69) in the partner-treatment group versus 63% (43/68) in the control group, yielding an absolute risk difference of −2.6 recurrences per person-year (95% CI: −4.0 to −1.2; P<0.001). Male adherence was high (86%), with mild adverse events (e.g., nausea, penile irritation) reported in 46% of treated men.

This open-label, randomized controlled trial evaluated whether treating male partners of women with bacterial vaginosis (BV) reduces recurrence rates. Couples were assigned to either the partner-treatment group (women received standard antimicrobial therapy; men received oral metronidazole and topical clindamycin for 7 days) or the control group (women only treated). The primary outcome was BV recurrence within 12 weeks, defined by Amsel criteria and Nugent score.

Among 164 couples, recurrence occurred in 35% of women (24/69) in the partner-treatment group versus 63% (43/68) in the control group, yielding an absolute risk difference of −2.6 recurrences per person-year (95% CI: −4.0 to −1.2; P<0.001). Male adherence was high (86%), with mild adverse events (e.g., nausea, penile irritation) reported in 46% of treated men.