Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common vaginal infection affecting 30% of women worldwide. The Step Up study investigated whether treating male partners alongside women with BV could improve cure rates. Women with BV and their male partners were randomly assigned to either concurrent treatment for both partners or the standard approach—treating only the woman.
The findings revealed that adding a combination of oral and topical antimicrobial therapy for male partners significantly reduced BV recurrence within 12 weeks compared to treating the woman alone. This groundbreaking evidence strongly suggests that BV is sexually transmitted and that the bacteria responsible for the infection can also be found in men.
This research marks a major step forward in addressing BV globally, offering the first real opportunity to reduce its burden and prevent complications such as preterm birth. Upon the study’s release, Burnet Institute’s Gilda Tachedjian described it as a “landmark study that is going to rewrite textbooks.”
Lifebuoy Video played a key role in bringing this research to a global audience by producing animation, interviews, photography and video footage for media coverage. This study brings hope to millions of women worldwide who have experienced and continue to suffer from—BV.
