How can people become carriers of GBS?
GBS may be passed from one person to another through skin to skin contact, for example, hand contact, kissing, close physical contact, etc. As GBS is often found in the vagina and rectum of colonised women, it is commonly passed through sexual contact. There are no known harmful effects of carriage itself and, since the GBS bacteria do not cause genital symptoms or discomfort, GBS carriage is not a sexually transmitted disease, nor is GBS carriage a sign of ill health or poor hygiene. No-one should ever feel guilty or dirty for carrying GBS its normal.
