Vaginal microbiome testing

[Flower212]

Can anyone recommend an at home vaginal microbiome test which is reliable but also not insanely expensive?

Does anyone have experience of doing one of these and bringing the results to the attention of NHS doctors?

What are you trying to find, OP?

@GreenTurtle75 generally about my vaginal health, but I’ve also a history of recurrent miscarriage with ttc so trying to rule out any further bacterial issues which might be going on beyond all the other tests I’ve had, as there’s new evidence material problems can be a causal factor. I’ve also got mild endometriosis.

I'm not sure where to get it done, but am aware Julia Young nutrition can probably guide you to where to get this done. She does nutrition work for fertility patients.

@Flower212 the only one I have known people do is the invivo one which can only be ordered by a healthcare professional. I have heard Melanie Brown can order one.

From a quick google this looks like one you could order yourself:

smartnutrition.co.uk/shop/vaginal-microbiome-ecologix-test/

This is a post I wrote on the microbiome in case it's helpful: www.reddit.com/r/infertility/s/daMsfx6W2H

@Flower212 sorry to hear you’ve been through recurrent miscarriage, I’m in the same boat.

I ordered a test the other day (still £230) through screen me, after listening to a really good podcast with a fertility acupuncturist/expert and on her recommendation;

https://screenme.co.uk/product/vaginal-health-swab-test-100-of-bacteria-yeast/

No experience of taking results to an NHS doctor and I’m not sure I will (dependant of course), but screen me do a free call after your results and seem to have really good reviews too! Hope this helps x

I used the Daye test last month. It was about £100 I think. They send you a testing kit and you keep the tampon up there for about half an hour and then send it off to the lab. Mine came back with elevated levels of Candida even though I had no symptoms so I've ordered treatment to hopefully get that under control. It lists several types of bacteria on the report. You can also pay for a consolation to talk through the results but I found the report had enough detail in it.

@Blueskies4 I listened to that podcast too and think it sounds like the best option out there. I wondered how you got on, did it answer your questions? I’m thinking of ordering it. I have had 6 early miscarriages now, NHS tests cannot find a cause but I am very susceptible to infections down there so I wonder if inflammation is the problem, as mentioned in that podcast.

Hey @Jfxx id definitely say worth doing. I came back with elevated candida so I’m on different supplements to address (shouldn’t be the cause, but needs sorting) and my husband had one too and needs bacteria addressing. I’m hoping it’s part of the picture we can resolve! Cx

@Gardenlady543 I was wondering if I could please ask your advice. I am due to start IVF in November for unexplained secondary infertility and I am doing letrozole cycles atm. My private clinic recommended a uterine microbiome test as I have brown bleeding at start and end of period, which I plan to do my next period in 3 weeks. I have done a vaginal swab with GP in the interim which shows group b strep and the GP provided an antibiotic. My worry is that if I take these antibiotics and my husband doesn't he will just pass this back to me potentially. Did your husband take the same antibiotics as you? And also if I do take the antibiotics now and do my Screen me test 2 weeks after the antibiotic I might miss the re-infection, i.e it shows as no strep and then the following month it would be back. I also don't know if I should take vaginal probiotics straight after the antibiotic as this will be ovulation time and will they make too acidic of an environment for TTC? I have been taking Bio Femme V and have bought the biocare fresh pessaries but not sure if they shouldn't be taken during antibiotics. I have been stalking all your posts and you are so knowledgeable on this subject! It's such a minefield I feel so overwhelmed. Thank you so much x