Traditionally thought of as a women’s issue, new evidence supports that bacterial vaginosis can be sexually transmitted between men and women. Recognizing this, Wisp, a women’s telehealth company, is now offering a male bacterial vaginosis (BV) partner treatment, it announced Tuesday.

New York City-based Wisp is a direct-to-consumer company offering treatments for different sexual and reproductive health needs, including birth control, sexually transmitted diseases and hormonal health. BV is Wisp’s largest category, according to the announcement. The condition occurs when natural bacteria levels are out of balance and can cause vaginal pain and discomfort.

The new treatment is for patients assigned male at birth who are in an active sexual relationship with a partner assigned female at birth, and whose partner is either receiving prescription treatment for or has a confirmed current diagnosis of BV. They are prescribed 500 milligrams of oral Metronidazole twice daily for seven days, along with 2.5 grams of 2% Topical Clindamycin cream applied to the external penile skin twice daily for seven days. Both are intended to be taken at the same time.

The male BV treatment costs $99, according to Wisp’s website.

Research shows that 60% of BV cases return within a year. This is likely because male partners have not traditionally been tested nor treated for the condition, leading to the infection being passed back and forth between partners, according to Wisp.

“For too long, BV, a condition that affects one in three women, has been viewed and treated as a women’s-only issue,” said Monica Cepak, Wisp CEO, in an email. “Now, with new evidence supporting what many of us already knew, which is that it actually affects both female and male partners, the conversation around BV and women’s vaginal health in general is opening up. 

“As the one-stop-shop for all women’s sexual and reproductive healthcare needs, it was important for us to lead that conversation, which is why we’re launching the first-ever Male BV Partner Treatment, so our patients, and their partners, can better and more effectively treat this stubborn and very common infection,” she continued.

Other digital health companies that offer treatment for BV include Dr. B and Hey Jane. However, these companies don’t appear to offer male treatment like Wisp does.

By providing the male BV partner treatment, Wisp hopes to offer couples “quick and easy access to discreet OTC and Rx solutions that are not only affordable, but are also highly effective,” Cepak noted. 

“In doing this, we’re removing the stigma too often associated with women’s everyday health needs,” she said. “Beyond that, we want to provide options for the couple, instead of only focusing on women as the problem. This new treatment does just that.”

Thai Noipho, Getty Images