Should I abstain from sexual intercourse during treatment for bacterial vaginosis and for how long after completing therapy?

Sexual Abstinence During Bacterial Vaginosis Treatment

You should abstain from sexual intercourse until you complete your full course of treatment (7 days after starting therapy or immediately after a single-dose regimen). 1

Why Abstinence Is Recommended During Treatment

• The CDC explicitly states that patients and their sex partners should abstain from sexual intercourse until therapy is completed—specifically, 7 days after a single-dose regimen or after completion of a 7-day regimen. 1

• This recommendation applies regardless of which treatment regimen you receive (oral metronidazole, vaginal gel, or clindamycin cream). 1

Duration of Abstinence by Treatment Type

For 7-day oral metronidazole (500 mg twice daily):

• Abstain for the full 7 days of treatment. 1, 2

For single-dose metronidazole (2 g):

• Abstain for 7 days after taking the single dose. 1

For vaginal gel or cream formulations:

• Abstain for the duration of treatment (5-7 days depending on the specific regimen). 1, 2

Critical Reason: Oil-Based Products Damage Barrier Contraception

• If you are using clindamycin cream or ovules, these are oil-based formulations that will weaken latex condoms and diaphragms, making them ineffective for pregnancy and STI prevention. 2

• You must use alternative contraception during treatment and for several days after completion if using clindamycin products. 2

What About Your Partner?

• Your partner does not need treatment. Multiple randomized controlled trials demonstrate that treating male partners does not improve your cure rate, reduce recurrence, or affect your response to therapy. 1, 2, 3

• The one exception is a very recent 2025 study 3 showing that combined oral and topical partner treatment reduced recurrence from 63% to 35%. However, this contradicts decades of CDC guidance and has not yet been incorporated into treatment guidelines. 1, 2

• Until guidelines are updated, standard practice remains no partner treatment. 1, 2

After Treatment Completion

• You may resume sexual activity once you complete the full treatment course. 1

• No follow-up visit is necessary if your symptoms resolve completely. 2

• Be aware that recurrence is common—approximately 50% of women experience BV recurrence within one year of treatment. 4, 5

Common Pitfall to Avoid

• Do not stop treatment early just because symptoms improve after 2-3 days. Complete the full course to maximize cure rates and minimize recurrence risk. 2, 6