Swab
Vaginal screening (incl. mycology)
Examines vaginal microbiome balance and fungi. Detects dysbiosis and infections.
€ 115,00
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Infections · Swab
Lactobacillus species (vaginal swab)
Lactic acid bacteria that keep the vagina slightly acidic; in women of childbearing age, the most important bacteria.
At a glance
- Measured in a swab
- In 1 test panel
- No special preparation
Explanation
Lactobacillus species (vaginal swab): what is measured?
Lactobacilli are lactic acid bacteria. In women of childbearing age, they are usually the most important bacteria in the vagina. They produce lactic acid, which keeps the vagina slightly acidic so that other bacteria and yeasts grow less easily. The result shows how many lactobacilli were found in the swab.
What can it detect?
- The amount of lactic acid bacteria, the most important bacteria of a healthy vaginal flora
- A shift in the flora with few lactobacilli, as in bacterial vaginosis
Result
What does the result mean?
Lactobacillus species (vaginal swab) too high
Many lactobacilli is the normal situation in the vagina of women of childbearing age. These lactic acid bacteria keep the vagina slightly acidic and so slow the growth of other bacteria and of yeasts. A high value has no adverse significance and needs no treatment.
Lactobacillus species (vaginal swab) too low
Few lactobacilli may fit a shift in the flora, in which other bacteria take over. With symptoms such as a lot of grayish-white, bad-smelling discharge, this may fit bacterial vaginosis (too many of certain normal bacteria); according to Thuisarts.nl, this usually clears up on its own within a few weeks. After menopause and after a course of antibiotics there are often also fewer lactobacilli, without this causing symptoms. Without symptoms, treatment is not needed, and according to Thuisarts.nl, probiotics or yogurt in the vagina do not help.
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
Lactobacillus species (vaginal swab): test panels
Lactobacillus 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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