There’s something fishy going on — and finally, a way to reel in one of the leading culprits.
A female-founded health startup just unveiled a game-changing treatment for the most common vaginal issue women face during their reproductive years. But here’s the twist: It targets their male partners.
“With this launch, we are empowering couples to tackle it together, with transparency, science and zero shame,” said Priyanka Jain, CEO and co-founder of Evvy, a vaginal health care platform.
What is BV?
Short for bacterial vaginosis, BV is a common infection that strikes when the natural balance of bacteria in the vagina gets thrown out of whack. About 35% of women will experience it at some point in their lives.
It’s usually treated with antibiotics — but for more than half of patients, the infection comes back within six months, kicking off a frustrating cycle.
What are the symptoms of BV?
Symptoms include:
- Thin, grayish-white vaginal discharge
- A strong fishy odor, often more noticeable after sex
- Mild vaginal itching, irritation or burning
But up to 84% of people with BV may experience no symptoms at all, Dr. Kate McLean, Evvy’s chief medical officer and ob-gyn, told The Post. That’s why “proactive testing and awareness of your baseline vaginal microbiome can be so important.”
BV also can trigger widespread inflammation that messes with more than just your comfort. Untreated, it’s been linked to infertility, IVF failure, preterm birth, increased risk of sexually transmitted infections and even gynecological cancers.
“This makes BV not just a discomfort issue, but a critical, under-recognized driver of women’s health,” McLean said.
How do women get BV?
It’s technically not an STI, but men play a role.
“Men can carry and transmit the bacteria associated with BV because the bacteria can live on the skin and mucous membranes of the penis or genital area,” McLean said.
They may not feel a thing, but they can still pass along the bacteria that trigger infection.
“Research shows it’s more common in women with new or multiple male partners, and in those whose partners don’t use condoms,” McLean said.
Uncircumcised men may also carry higher levels of BV-linked bacteria under the foreskin.
“While men don’t technically ‘catch’ BV, they can act as carriers and reintroduce BV-associated bacteria, which may explain why BV often recurs after treatment,” McLean said.
How can men help prevent BV?
“Emerging research validates what so many of us in women’s health have suspected — untreated male partners can be a major reason BV keeps coming back,” McLean said.
BV may not be on men’s radar, but that doesn’t stop them from unknowingly passing it to their partners — again and again.
“This is similar to how STIs like chlamydia or gonorrhea can be asymptomatic in men but symptomatic and damaging in women,” McLean explained.
In a new landmark study, researchers found that treating male partners alongside women with BV slashed the chances of the infection coming back.
In fact, the results were so strong that researchers cut the trial short to offer the treatment to everyone involved.
“Treating both partners at the same time helps break that ‘ping-pong’ cycle of reinfection, reducing the likelihood of frustrating recurrences and downstream health impacts,” McLean said.
What is Evvy’s new treatment, and how do men get it?
The two-part antibiotic regimen is given to men to help reduce BV recurrence in their female partners. It combines oral metronidazole with a topical clindamycin gel, taken twice a day for seven days.
First, women need to get diagnosed with BV — which they can do through their doctor or Evvy, which sells a vaginal microbiome test that helps uncover infections, fertility issues and menopause concerns.
Their male partner can then use Evvy’s website to request the $129 treatment, which is shipped to their door.
“You fill out a short health intake for a clinician to review asynchronously, and if appropriate, the clinician prescribes male partner BV treatment within 12 hours,” she explained.
“For decades, BV treatment has failed to account for the full picture,” McLean said. “By offering science-backed treatment for male partners, we’re offering support to both in achieving lasting relief.”
