How Healthy is Your Vagina?

Vanita Dahia

Vanita Dahia - Integrative Medicine Expert, Pharmacist, Naturopath and Author of Alchemy of the Mind and Alchemy of Amino Acids

How Healthy is Your Vagina?

by Vanita Dahia

The health of your vagina affects much more than your sex life.

Vaginal health is an important part of a woman\’s overall health as it can affect your fertility, desire for sex and ability to reach orgasm.

Ongoing vaginal health issues can affect your confidence and cause stress in a relationship. We know about the gut microbiome but did you know the vaginal microbiome is equally important?

The vaginal microbiome is an intricate and dynamic microecosystem that constantly undergoes fluctuations during the female menstrual cycle and the woman\’s entire life.

In females, one of the main microbiota sites is the genital tract that hosts over 200 bacterial species. Unlike other microbiota sites, the vagina is extremely dynamic and is affected by numerous host factors including age, ethnic background, sexual intercourse, changes in hormone levels during pregnancy, menstruation and menopause, genital infections and personal hygiene.

Who gets Vaginal infections?

The prevalence of vaginal dysbiosis in women is at a rate of over 33%. Vaginal infections are common in Indigenous Australian women, and in excess of 50% in sub-Saharan African and African American women.

Did you know that about 50% are asymptomatic ( have no symptoms)?

Vaginal infections are common in women in their reproductive years who are sexually active at any age.
Bacterial vaginosis often coexists with STI’s and trichomoniasis.
Association between BV and PID following IUD use or termination of pregnancy
Women who have sex with women (WSW) have consistently demonstrated higher BV prevalence rates than exclusive heterosexually active women
Studies of female-female monogamous couples demonstrate extremely high concordance for BV (73–95%)

What does it feel like to have a vaginal dysbiosis?

Clear or slightly cloudy vaginal discharge allows it to clean itself
Does not need to smell or make you itch
Vary during a menstrual cycle
Pay attention when there is:

✨Noticeable discharge – change in color, heaviness, odor

✨Burn, itch, noticeable odor

✨Irritation at night, or during sex

✨Pain around or outside vagina

✨Burns when urinating

✨Sex is uncomfortable

Testing for Vaginal Microbiome

At-home vaginal swab collection kits offer a discrete and convenient way to assess vaginal health by providing a detailed profile of the vaginal microbiome.

These kits typically include a sterile swab for collecting a sample, which is then sent to a lab for advanced analysis, often using PCR technology .

The testing comprehensively screens for imbalances that lead to infections: it identifies the relative abundance of beneficial commensal bacteria like various Lactobacillus species (which dominate a healthy environment and maintain a low, acidic pH), and detects the overgrowth of opportunistic pathogens associated with Bacterial Vaginosis (BV), such as Gardnerella vaginalis and Prevotella species. Furthermore, some comprehensive kits also screen for common fungal infections like Candida (thrush), and a panel of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), including Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, and Trichomonas vaginalis, providing an actionable snapshot of your reproductive tract health that can be shared with a healthcare provider for targeted treatment.

Test for Vaginal and Urinary Health

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