Bacterial Vaginosis

To help prevent bacterial vaginosis:

• Limit the number of sex partners you have. Multiple sex partners increase your risk of getting bacterial vaginosis by changing the normal environment of the vagina.
• Avoid douching.

Bacterial vaginosis may be passed between women during sexual contact. If you have a female sexual partner, you may benefit from using condoms with or careful washing of shared sex toys.^{Reference 4}

Bacterial vaginosis is not passed between men and women and is not considered a Reference sexually transmitted infection (STI) Opens New Window. But if you are exposed to an STI while you have bacterial vaginosis, you are more likely to be infected by that infection.

It is always important to Reference practice safer sex to prevent sexually transmitted infection, whether or not you have bacterial vaginosis. Preventing an STI is easier than treating an infection after it occurs.

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