New research of The New England Journal of Medicine has shed new light about how Bacterial vaginosis (BV) Distributed between humans and can categorize how health specialists categorize the infection.
What could that mean for you? Read on to find out.
If you believe that you have BV, you will be tested with one of the comfortable hometown of Better2 Knows.
What is BV?
BV is an incredibly common infection in women. It is caused by an overgrowth of bacteria that can usually be found in a healthy vaginal environment. The symptoms of BV can include:
- White or gray vaginal discharge
- Vaginal irritation such as itching and burning
- A strong “fishing” smell, especially after sex
- Pain during urination
- Pain during sex
The symptoms of BV can disappear without treatment, but it is important to be checked if you worry about infection.
Why is it important to treat BV?
Apart from the physical complaints that BV can cause, it is important to treat BV because it remains untreated to cause poor health results.
BV can increase the risk of catching other infections that can be fogged into an inflammatory disease (PID), which can damage their fertility. In pregnant women, BV can lead to early birth and low weight in infants. It can also increase the likelihood of falling ill HIVPresent ChlamydiaAnd gonorrhea.
Why is BV not a STI?
While research has shown that the infection can be handed over from women to men in rare cases Is unlikely.
The bacteria that cause BV naturally appear in the vagina so that many women can get it without sex. Therefore, BV is not considered to be.
Until now.
What does research show?
Researcher Publication in The New England Journal of Medicine I tried a new approach to follow how BV can be transferred to women by men. Earlier findings have pointed out that the treatment of men for BV can increase the likelihood of healing.
This randomized study included couples where the woman had BV and was in a monogamous relationship with a male partner. The male partners in the partner treatment group received oral and topical antimicrobial antimicrobias. The women received first -line treatment in the control group, and the male partner received no treatment.
The results showed a significant success in combining the treatment of male partners with the treatment of women for BV, which led to a lower recurrence rate of the infection within 12 weeks. The process was so successful that his ethics committee stopped him early. When comparing 81 couples, in which the male partner was treated with 83 couples, in which the male partner was not treated, the risk of reducing the woman with a BV repetition was reduced by 63%.
This study shows that male partners can transfer BV bacteria to female partners.
What could be the disadvantages of calling BV as a STI?
Such studies raise questions about the classification of BV as an infection.
How we feel a state of health and approach it depends on how we talk about it – which words we use and which emotions are connected to these words.
For many people, feelings of stigmatization, moral judgment and fear can be triggered if health experts describe an infection as “sexually transferable”. These feelings may not arise from diseases that people get through their own action, such as a rhinovirus or the flu.
Such associations can prevent some people from looking for treatment.
A similar question was asked about it MPOX In 2022. During the outbreak this year, most cases of MPOX were recorded in men who have sex with men. Some public health officers wondered whether the call from MPOX would cheer on as a stigma and discrimination and deter the treatment efforts.
Others would argue that changing this classification is scientifically more precise and that people would help people get the treatment they need to heal their infection.
Last thoughts
If you believe that you may have BV, it is very important to be tested as soon as possible, and treatment for you and your partner can increase your chances of recovery.
Get to know yourself with better2 to plan a complete STI screen in a clinic for sexual health near you.
Do not leave your sexual health to chance. Book an appointment with Better2 Know today.