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Male Condoms Protect Against Bacterial Vaginosis (2009)Consistent condom use can reduce a woman’s risk of acquiring bacterial vaginosis (BV), according to a USAID-supported study in Madagascar. A team of scientists from the United States and Madagascar analyzed the relationship between the use of male condoms and the prevalence of BV among 1,000 female sex workers in Madagascar. Multivariable analyses revealed that the participants who were BV-negative at the beginning of the study were less likely to acquire BV six months later if they had used male condoms consistently. In contrast, consistent use of condoms did not decrease the risk of BV among participants who were diagnosed with BV at the beginning of the study. This suggests that the consistent use of male condoms can reduce the occurrence of BV, but not the recurrence of this condition. (It is possible that a recurrence of BV is actually due to the re-emergence of a persistent, existing BV infection rather than to a new infection.) Bacterial vaginosis has been linked to problems during pregnancy and childbirth: premature rupture of membranes, premature delivery, low birth weight, and postpartum endometritis. Women with BV also have a higher risk of sexually transmitted infections. These health risks can be reduced with the consistent use of condoms. The authors of the study are affiliated with the following institutions:
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