HomeAnswersObstetrics and Gynecologybacterial vaginosisI have bacterial vaginosis for the past one month. Please help.

How to treat bacterial vaginosis in men?

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The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.

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Published At January 24, 2024
Reviewed AtJanuary 30, 2024

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

I have had bacterial vaginosis for the past one month. I had sex with my partner and passed my bacterial vaginosis to him. How to treat his bacterial vaginosis? Kindly help.

Thank you.

Answered by Dr. Obinna Ugwuoke

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Thank you for your query.

Usually, treatment of a condition including bacterial vaginosis (BV) is for a duration of time because it takes the drug an average of that time to clear the infection in most people. So, if you are just on the second day of your BV medication, the BV infection has not been completely cleared and there is a tendency (moderate though) of passing the BV infection to him. However, this depends on other factors like his immune status. So, he should have the oral medication as prophylaxis.

I hope this helps. Do revert in case of any further queries.

Thank you.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

Thank you for the reply.

Do you mean men can treat BV with antibiotics? And if not treated how long they would carry the bacteria? I also used the vaginal antibiotic tablet. Can he use some intimate washes? Kindly help.

Thank you.

Answered by Dr. Obinna Ugwuoke

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Men when they become infected mostly become carriers. The medication is just to clear it from their urethra. The bacteria can survive in the urethra and sometimes penile skin for about a month to three months depending on factors like personal hygiene. The vagina antibiotic tablets can treat BV. However, you were just on your second-day course of antibiotics when you had the sex. The medications need at least a five-day course to significantly reduce the load of BV. So, there is a minor chance that it was transmitted. Using an antiseptic wash of the penis after sex further significantly reduces this minor chance. Yes, intimate wash for men can help prevent the spread. Urination before can also help. However, urination before sex can affect the strength of erection in some men. My advice is that he should use intimate wash for the next five days to eliminate the possibility that he picked BV during the sex.

I hope this helps. Do get back in case of any further queries.

Thank you.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

Thank you for the reply.

To be clear, do you mean that the wash or antibiotics will only clear the bacteria from the urethra and not the penile skin? Does intimate wash have the same effect as antibiotics? Kindly suggest.

Thank you.

Answered by Dr. Obinna Ugwuoke

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Glad to have you back.

Intimate wash will clear bacteria from the penile skin and antibiotics from the urethra. If you have been treated, there is no need to use an intimate wash every time. Some of them can change the pH in the vagina, aiding BV growth. Yes, he can use the intimate wash. Yes, BV has a minor chance of being transmitted to men. The way the vagina is what that facilitates the condition for BV to grow. The penis of a man is like a rod, has a smaller surface area, and can be washed unlike the vagina which has a larger surface area and a potential space (only opens properly during sex or when something is inserted inside). Also, the vagina always has some normal fluid, it is a change in the pH of this fluid that favors BV growth.

I hope this helps.

Thank you.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

So, if he only uses an intimate wash, will the bacteria not be cleared from the urethra? Please advise what is the best action to take if I do not want to be re-infected again after my treatment is finished. Or if no treatment is used on him? Also within these one to three months, if he still has the BV in the urethra, what must be done? I am just trying to see what the best way is to avoid antibiotics if possible. Kindly help.

Thank you.

Answered by Dr. Obinna Ugwuoke

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Yes, the urethra is a tiny tube in the penis, and the possibility of intimate wash entering it is very small and it would be very discomforting trying to force intimate wash into it. The best action is to have a course of tablet Metronidazole for at least five days. The bacteria will be found around one to three months in men after vaginal sex with a woman with BV. If you want to avoid antibiotics, let him do his urine microscopy and culture a week after the sex (because infecting him with BV was a minor possibility). If the culture comes out fine, then there is no need to take antibiotics. If not, antibiotics will be needed.

I hope this helps. Do revert in case of any further queries.

Thank you.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

Thank you for the reply.

Is urine microscopy painful? However, the laboratory here told me that they cannot test if men have BV or not. And for me, should I take antibiotics and vaginal tablets for five days or one week? The doctor here prescribed the medications for one week. And it seems it can be checked only one week after sex and not before that. What do they check in urine microscopy that can determine if he has BV? So, urinating before sex would not be effective enough then? Please help.

Thank you.

Answered by Dr. Obinna Ugwuoke

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

You are already treated so take antibiotics and vaginal tablets for a week. Infection takes time to develop, which is why it took one week after sex for the infection to develop. If they cannot check, a sign of infection in the urethra is the presence of numerous pus cells on urine microscopy. That would indicate that he needs to start antibiotics. Urinating before sex can reduce the risk of transmission of BV.

I hope this helps.

Thank you.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

I see but I heard that men do not normally have symptoms. So, if there are no symptoms, does that mean that he could still have the bacteria? Kindly let me know.

Thank you.

Answered by Dr. Obinna Ugwuoke

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Glad to have you back.

Yes, they do not have symptoms but are carriers of the bacteria. Women have symptoms because the favorable condition (if it occurs) of the vagina makes the bacteria thrive and grow. Those conditions are not present in men, so the bacteria does not thrive much. That is why they are mainly carriers. However, note that generally, men have a lesser risk of even getting infected.

I hope this helps.

Thank you.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

Thank you for the reply.

Okay, so he decided to take antibiotics just to be safe. Is the intimate wash still necessary then?

Thank you.

Answered by Dr. Obinna Ugwuoke

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Antibiotics are okay. Intimate wash will not be necessary as a man's penis is washed any time he takes his bath.

I hope this helps.

Thank you.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

How long should I take Metronidazole? Kindly let me know.

Thank you.

Answered by Dr. Obinna Ugwuoke

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Taking the medication for five days should be fine, since it is for prevention.

I wish you good health. Do revert in case of any further queries.

Thank you.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

I see otherwise the urine test will for sure be accurate. Is the intimate wash for outside and oral antibiotics for inside? Or did you mean the normal soap? Kindly let me know.

Thank you.

Answered by Dr. Obinna Ugwuoke

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Intimate wash is for outside and is okay if he uses it. A urine test will be sure to determine if he would need antibiotics or not. However, if you cannot do a urine test, to eliminate the low risk of him becoming infected, he should use antibiotics. In doing that, you can be very sure the minor risk has been eliminated.

I hope this helps.

Thank you.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

Thank you for the reply.

So, in conclusion, is it necessary to use the intimate wash or is just soap enough? Please let me know.

Thank you.

Answered by Dr. Obinna Ugwuoke

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Glad to have you back.

Let him use the intimate wash.

I hope this helps. Do get back in case of any further queries.

Thank you.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

Thank you doctor.

Answered by Dr. Obinna Ugwuoke

Hello,

Welcome back to iciniq.com.

You are welcome.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Obinna Ugwuoke
Dr. Obinna Ugwuoke

Obstetrics and Gynecology

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