Swab
Vaginal screening (incl. mycology)
Examines vaginal microbiome balance and fungi. Detects dysbiosis and infections.
€ 115,00
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Infections · Swab
Enterococcus species (vaginal swab)
Gut bacteria that are also found in the vagina; without symptoms they usually have no significance.
At a glance
- Measured in a swab
- In 1 test panel
- No special preparation
Explanation
Enterococcus species (vaginal swab): what is measured?
Enterococci are bacteria that normally live in the gut. They also reach the vagina via the skin around the anus, and they are often found in small amounts in women without symptoms. The result shows how many enterococci were found in the swab.
What can it detect?
- The amount of enterococci, gut bacteria that are also found in the vagina
Result
What does the result mean?
Enterococcus species (vaginal swab) too high
A larger amount of enterococci may fit a flora with fewer lactic acid bacteria, for example after a course of antibiotics. Without symptoms, this is no reason for treatment. Enterococci can cause a bladder infection, but finding them in the vagina does not mean that you have or will get one.
Enterococcus species (vaginal swab) too low
Few or no enterococci in the vagina is normal and has no adverse significance.
After an abnormal result
Without symptoms, no follow-up or treatment is needed after a positive result. With symptoms, the GP assesses whether it is a yeast infection, too many bacteria or an STI; a yeast infection that causes a lot of discomfort is treated with a cream or vaginal tablet, or with fluconazole to swallow.
Reliability
How reliable is the test?
According to the Dutch GP guideline (NHG) on vaginal discharge (fluor vaginalis), as summarized on Thuisarts.nl, a yeast infection or too many bacteria in the vagina can mainly be recognized by the symptoms and by how the vagina looks; sometimes some fluid is examined under the microscope or in the laboratory. A culture or profile of the vaginal flora shows which bacteria and fungi are present, but not whether they cause symptoms. Because yeasts and many bacteria also occur in healthy women, finding them without symptoms says little.
What can affect the result?
- Soap, douching, spermicides or vaginal products shortly before sample collection can change the result.
- Antibiotics, antifungal medicines and hormones, such as with the pill, pregnancy or menopause, change the composition of the flora.
- With self-collection, too little material may end up on the swab.
- Culture and DNA methods, cutoff values and the way results are reported differ between laboratories.
Who it is for
Who is the test useful for?
Useful for
The result says the most with symptoms such as itching, more discharge or discharge that smells different, or pain when urinating or having sex; an STI can also be the cause then. In women without symptoms, a positive result says little: according to the Dutch GP guideline (NHG) on vaginal discharge (via Thuisarts.nl), bacteria and fungi in the vagina are normal and no treatment is needed then. With a yeast infection that comes back more than 3 times a year, the GP looks for a cause together with you.
How common is it?
A vaginal yeast infection is common and, according to Thuisarts.nl, not dangerous and not contagious; in some women it keeps coming back. Candida and other yeasts are also found in the vagina of women without symptoms. How often the individual bacteria and fungi from this test occur in healthy women in the Netherlands has not been recorded in a Dutch source.
Thuisarts.nl (NHG)
Get tested
Enterococcus species (vaginal swab): test panels
Enterococcus species (vaginal swab) is part of these test panels. You order online and have your blood drawn at a collection point or collect the sample at home.
Evidence
Sources
This explanation is based on Dutch guidelines and independent information. It is general information, not a diagnosis. Discuss an abnormal result with your GP.
More about risks and resultsMore explanations
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