Bacterial vaginosis can be passed to women by men, researchers find

In one group, women and their male partners were given tablets and topical cream, and in the other, only the women received the treatment. Photograph: alvarez/Getty Images

Bacterial vaginosis can be passed to women by male sexual partners, researchers have said, challenging the longstanding view that it is not a sexually transmitted infection.

Experts say the study offers a new way to reduce the risk of the infection returning in women, with another scientist saying it showed up the UK’s NHS website as “outdated and misleading”.