Frequently asked questions

Yes! Our test can be taken at any time, so long as it is outside your menstrual period. The best time to collect your sample is when you are experiencing symptoms that are your main concern.

Yes. Our wellness test should not be used during the menstrual period, as this will invalidate the test results. Your vaginal microbiome changes with your cycle, and so you will see fluctuations in your symptoms. The best time to take the test is when you are experiencing symptoms that are your main concern. However, if you would like a snapshot of your vaginal microbiome profile at a certain stage in your cycle, you can choose to collect your sample then.

We recommend swabbing when you’re experiencing your primary concern (e.g. when you’re currently experiencing an unusual itch, discharge, inflammation or smell) and to never deviate from any prescribed medical treatments you may be taking. But there are a couple of things you may want to consider to ensure a representative vaginal microbiome sample.

Avoid sampling if you’re on your period (wait 1 day)

The vaginal microbiome can change dramatically during periods. The change is only transient and may not be representative of your “base” vaginal microbiome. If you’re spotting, don’t worry, it is fine to test.

Avoid sampling while using vaginally administered probiotics (wait 14 days)

Many probiotics are just dead bacteria, but dead bacteria still have DNA! When testing your vaginal microbiome we really want to know that we are sampling living bacteria rather than dead probiotic DNA. Because of this we recommend waiting 14 days after a course of vaginally administered probiotics. This way we can tell if those probiotics are working or not!

Note: Oral probiotics are fine, you can test while using them.

Avoid sampling if you have recently used vaginally administered creams or douches (wait 1 - 2 days)

Never deviate from your medical treatment plan! When you’re taking vaginally administered creams or douches it is best to wait 1 to 2 days after your last treatment in case they transiently affect the microbiome. If you’re on long term treatments, swab at the longest time gap between your last treatment (this is usually just before you take your treatment).

Avoid sampling if you have recently had penetrative sex (wait 1 - 2 days)

Barrier lubricants can transiently affect the vaginal microbiome and semen (which has its own microbiome!) can linger long after sex. If you’re able to, it is best to wait 1 - 2 days after penetrative sex to ensure your microbiome is back to its regular state.

What to do if you’re on medical treatments such as antibiotics?

Never deviate from your medical treatment plan! When you test depends on what you’re wanting to achieve. If you want to assess how the treatment has impacted your microbiome, then wait and test 7 days after completing your treatment. If you’re not sure what the issue is, then test when you’re experiencing your primary concern even if you’re in the middle of your treatment.

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The most important time to test is when you feel you're experiencing symptoms that are your main concern. If you'd prefer to have a snapshot outside the influence of antibiotics and boric acid, we would recommending waiting seven days after completing your course to collect your sample.

The best time to test is when you're experiencing your main vaginal concern. There will be no issue testing while taking oral probiotics, or supplements. However, if you are taking vaginally administered probiotics you should not test within 7 days of your last application. If you did want a snapshot outside the influence of these, we would recommend waiting14 daysafter your last use. As always, it's best to consult your physician before making any changes to any medically recommended treatment plan that you might be on.

There is no dietary prep required before taking the test. The best time to collect your sample is when you are experiencing symptoms that are your main concern.