Completed in 2017

Women who previously had bacterial vaginosis (BV) completed a questionnaire about their experience of BV. Women reported that the onset and reoccurrence of BV was triggered by sexual activity rather than other lifestyle factors.

The top three factors women attributed to both BV onset and recurrence were:

  • unprotected sex
  • sex with a new male partner
  • sex in general

While many women felt BV was sexually transmitted and supported partner treatment, they did not consider BV an STI.

Publications

Women view key sexual behaviours as the trigger for the onset and recurrence of bacterial vaginosis

Bilardi, JE, Walker, S, Bellhouse, Temple-Smith, M., C, McNair, R., Mooney-Somers J, Vodstrcil L., Fairley CK., Bradshaw C

(2017), PLOS ONE,

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0173637