VagiSense | A Non-Prescription Vaginal Infection Screening Test

According to a study, about 66% of women who self-diagnosed a vaginal yeast infection were wrong.

VagiSense® is a non-prescription home vaginal infection screening test that helps identify if vaginal symptoms are more likely caused by a bacterial or parasitic infection to know what steps to take next.

It’s a swab that tells within 10 seconds whether the symptoms are more likely caused by a bacterial or parasitic infection.

When to use it?

Abnormal or excessive vaginal discharge.
Vaginal itching or vaginal burning.
Vaginal discharge with abnormal colour or unpleasant odour.

How does it work?

It reacts to vaginal discharge and gives a fast answer based on vaginal PH.

How to use?

Take one of the included pH strips and hold it against the vaginal wall for a few seconds. Then, the color is compared the chart that came with kit.

Interpretations of the test results after 10 seconds?

Negative result: If the swab does not change in colour (PH < 4.5), a yeast infection may be suspected.

Positive result: A change in color, blue or green, indicates a possible acidity imbalance in vaginal secretion (a high PH > 4.5). This may indicate bacterial vaginosis, trichomoniasis, or mixed yeast and bacterial infections.

Do not use:

In pregnancy
One day before or the day after the period.
If there is signs of menstruation or any vaginal bleeding.
Less than 12 hours after sexual intercourse or vaginal douching.
Less than 72 hours after the application of vaginal preparations such as contraceptive creams or lubricants.

VagiSense® is not used to test for sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV, chlamydia, herpes, gonorrhea or syphilis.

What to do next?

Positive results should be reported to a healthcare professional as soon as possible.
Negative results may indicate yeast infection and non-prescription treatments may be consodered after consulting your pharmacist.

Preventive measures you can use to counsel your patients:

Hygiene: keep genital area clean and dry; wipe from front to back. Avoid OTC feminine hygiene products and douches. Change sanitary pads and tampons regularly; practise safe sex.
Clothing: choose cotton underwear. Avoid tight or synthetic clothing; avoid thongs. Promptly change out of wet clothes/swinsuits.
Diet: Balanced, nutritious diet. Decrease sucrose and refined carbs if poorly controlled diabetic. Drink suffiecient fluids. Eat yogurt (8 oz/day) with live lactobacillus cultures?! more studies are needed to confirm effectiveness- evidence based studies are currently lacking.

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Resource Person: Lobna Adi