Can You Catch Bacterial Vaginosis From a Partner?
Can you catch bacterial vaginosis from a partner? A weighty question for those with active sex lives or those with partners suffering with this condition. Bacterial vaginosis can be embarrassing, uncomfortable, and distressing, and the idea of unwittingly passing it on to a partner – or contracting it from one – is not an appealing one. Fortunately, the jury is pretty much in on this one – as far as we can tell, bacterial vaginosis isn’t a sexually transmitted disease.
There are a number of reasons that bacterial vaginosis isn’t very transmissible between people. The primary reason for this is that the condition has as much to do with an individual’s body chemistry as it does with the specific bacteria present. Now we’ll get into the delicate bits: a “healthy,” vagina contains a mix of beneficial and potentially harmful (but population controlled) bacteria. When bacterial vaginosis occurs, some event triggers wither the proliferation of the “bad” bacteria, or a die-off of the “good” bacteria. Changes in ph levels, unusual food or drink intake, douche, and smoking are all known triggers for these events.
All of this means that EVEN IF some “bad” bacteria were somehow transported into a “healthy” vagina by a partner (or any other event), the recipient wouldn’t necessarily get bacterial vaginosis. It would take a number of events working in concert for this to happen, and the likelihood is very low.
One thing worth noting is that women who struggle with frequent outbreaks of baterial vaginosis may have “trigger events,” increasing the likelihood of an outbreak. We discussed a few of these above, but sex is another possible trigger, which can create the perception that they have “contracted,” the condition from a partner. It’s much more likely that the firction, introduction of spermicides, lubrications, or body fluids (from both partners), coupled with the overall chemical changes we all experience during sex offered the “bad” bacteria an opportunity to kick-start their growth. It’s unlikely that these bacteria were introduced during the process.
Women suffering with seemingly incurable bouts of bacterial vaginosis aren’t alone. The condition can be irksome and difficult to control, partly due to the number of possible triggers and causes. Care should be taken in selecting a treatment option, as many offer little, or only temporary relief. Whatever path you choose, it’s important to remember that these outbreaks don’t mean that there’s something wrong with you, and that your partner likely plays little role in the condition’s resilience, either.
Rachel Gipson is a health and healing enthusiast and writer living in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. If you found these tips helpful, but need a GUARANTEED solution for bacterial vaginosis => CLICK HERE!
Processing your request, Please wait....
