BV Treatment and Why It Keeps Coming Back

By Richard D. Porter, Patient Advocate Updated October 26, 2026

Quick answer

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is treated with antibiotics prescribed by a clinician, as tablets, gels or creams. It can clear up well, but it often comes back, sometimes within a few months. If symptoms return, go back to a clinician. They can retest and may suggest a different or longer treatment.

Does this sound like your situation?

Tick the field marks that match.

I was treated for BV and the smell or discharge has come back
I stopped my medicine early because I felt better
I have had BV more than once in the past year
I use douches, scented washes or wipes
I have a new partner, or my partner is a woman or has a vagina

These are common reasons BV returns or lingers. This is not a diagnosis. A clinician can check whether your symptoms are BV again.

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If you have BV and want it gone, the short answer is that a clinician can treat it, and it often comes back. Neither of those is a reflection on you. Here is what treatment involves, what doesn’t help, and what to do if it returns.

How is bacterial vaginosis treated?

BV is treated with antibiotics prescribed by a clinician. NHS says these can be antibiotic tablets, gels or creams. The CDC says there are no data directly comparing oral and vaginal treatments, so your clinician will choose one based on you, including any allergies and whether you are pregnant.

Treatment is recommended if you have symptoms. The CDC says treatment relieves symptoms and signs of infection, and it may also lower the chance of catching some STDs.

Take every dose your clinician prescribes, even if you feel better. The CDC specifically advises this.

What should I avoid during treatment?

Douching. The CDC says douching might increase the risk of relapse, and no data support it for treatment or symptom relief.
Unprotected sex. The CDC advises avoiding sex or using condoms consistently and correctly during treatment.
Damaging condoms. Some vaginal creams are oil-based and can weaken latex condoms and diaphragms. The CDC says to check the product label.
Scented products. NHS suggests washing the outside with water and plain soap and avoiding perfumed soaps, bubble bath and vaginal washes.

If you are pregnant, tell the clinician before you start. The CDC says symptomatic BV in pregnancy should be treated, because it has been linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes, including preterm birth, and some medicines are better avoided in pregnancy.

Can I treat BV myself with over-the-counter products or home remedies?

Not reliably. The CDC reviewed probiotic products and found no studies supporting them as an add-on or replacement for BV treatment. High-dose vitamin D has also not been shown to prevent BV returning, and the CDC does not recommend it.

Over-the-counter yeast treatments are antifungals, while BV is treated with antibiotics. The CDC warns that using over-the-counter products without a clear diagnosis can delay treatment of other causes. If you aren’t sure what you have, get checked first. Our guide on BV vs yeast infection shows how they differ.

Why does BV keep coming back?

Nobody has a complete answer. The CDC says the cause isn’t fully understood, and that persistent or recurrent BV is common. NHS says it commonly returns within a few months.

Things linked to BV include:

Douching
A new partner, or more than one partner
Not using condoms
A copper IUD (the CDC says BV is more common with these)
Your period (the CDC says BV is more common during menses)
Perfumed products in or around the vagina (NHS)

A clinician can help work out whether anything on that list is a trigger for you. Because some of these overlap, it can take some trial and error.

Does my partner need to be treated?

The CDC says routine treatment of male partners isn’t recommended, because studies haven’t shown it stops BV returning. For partners who are women or have a vagina, advice differs. NHS says they may need treatment too. The CDC notes that no studies have evaluated treating female sex partners of women who have sex with women, so it isn’t known whether this prevents BV coming back. See whether BV can be passed to a partner for more.

What if BV comes back after treatment?

Go back to a clinician. The CDC says follow-up visits are unnecessary if symptoms clear, but you should return if they come back. For a recurrence, a clinician may use a different treatment, or the same one again. The CDC says retreating with the same regimen is an acceptable approach.

If it keeps happening, longer-term treatment is an option. NHS says that if you get BV more than four times in a year, you may be given an antibiotic gel to use for a few months. The CDC adds that this type of ongoing treatment reduces recurrences, but the benefit doesn’t last once it stops. Your clinician will decide the details.

When should I retest?

You don’t need a routine “test of cure” if your symptoms have cleared. Retest when symptoms return or never fully go away, so you aren’t treating the wrong thing. Also order an online STD test. CDC guidelines say people diagnosed with BV should be tested for HIV and other STIs.

Our page on BV symptoms and the fishy smell can help you recognise a return.

Get care today if

You have a fever or chills along with discharge
You have pain low in your belly or pelvis
You are pregnant and have unusual discharge or smell
You have severe pain or bleeding that isn't your period
You have a rash, swelling or trouble breathing after starting a new medicine

Call 911 for a medical emergency. Otherwise, urgent care or your doctor can see you today.

When to test

Before treatmentGet a swab and exam first. Treatment only works if the problem is BV. If you could have been exposed to an STD, you can also order an online STD test.
If symptoms continue or return after treatmentGo back to a clinician for another check. Follow-up visits aren't needed if symptoms clear, but they are if the symptoms come back.
If you keep getting BVAsk about a longer treatment plan and whether something is triggering it, such as sex, your period or products you use.

Common questions

Can I cure BV at home?

There is no home remedy with good evidence behind it. The CDC says studies do not support probiotics as an add-on or replacement for BV treatment, and high-dose vitamin D is not recommended to prevent it coming back. Antibiotics from a clinician are the treatment that works.

Why does BV keep coming back?

The exact cause of BV isn't fully understood, and the CDC says persistent or recurrent BV is common. Douching, new or multiple partners, not using condoms and having a copper IUD are all linked to BV. NHS notes that sex or your period can trigger it.

Do I need to finish all the medicine if I feel better?

Yes. The CDC advises taking all the medicine your provider prescribes, even if symptoms go away.

Can BV go away without treatment?

Sometimes, but treatment is advised if you have symptoms. The CDC says treating BV helps avoid some serious health risks, including a higher chance of catching HIV and other STDs, and early birth in pregnancy.

Sources

This guide is general information written by a patient advocate using public health sources. It is not a diagnosis. Only a clinician who examines you, or a lab test, can tell you what you have. Read how we write and check our guides.