The health of your vaginal microbiome might not be the first thing you think of every day, but a growing number of products are helping us to understand more about what it means to keep things shipshape down there. The only tricky bit is knowing where to start.

While symptoms such as bloating, excess gas and digestive discomfort can be signs of a disrupted gut microbiome, vaginal dysbiosis – the term used to describe any kind of imbalance in the composition of bacteria, fungi and viruses that make up the vaginal microbiota – is symptomless in a large proportion of cases. Many STIs also do not produce symptoms, so it’s hard to tell if or when you need to act. 

It’s situations like this that Daye’s new microbiome and STI screening test is designed for. The gynaecological health and period care company, which first became known for its CBD tampons, has now released an at-home testing service. It’s a non-invasive, discreet option for anyone who finds GP appointments intimidating or just wants to find out more about their vaginal health, using a tampon to collect a sample which is then sent to a lab.

As well as being able to detect infections such as bacterial vaginosis (BV) and thrush, the company claims the test can help users to better understand their risk of developing STIs and UTIs, among other things. But what does the test involve? And is it worth it? 

When you buy your test online, you can pick one of two options – a simple STI test (£99), or one that involves an STI test and a microbiome screening (£129). I’m trying the combined option, and my test arrives in a small letterbox-sized cardboard box. It’s dark blue with the words Daye on the top, but otherwise you wouldn’t be able to tell what it contains.

Inside the box, you get all the tools you need to complete the test and send it off to the lab. That includes two diagnostic tampons (just in case you mess the first one up), a bag to store the tampon after you’ve collected the sample, some liquid to pour over it that helps to protect the sample, and a shock-proof bag to keep everything secure in transit.

I knew the test was supposed to be simple, but I was shocked at just how simple it was. All I had to do was fill in an initial questionnaire about my vaginal health and then insert the tampon (which is smaller than a regular tampon). You have to do the test when you’re not on your period, and you can keep the tampon in for as little as 20 minutes or up to eight hours. I popped it in after I’d been to the toilet and pulled it out when I next needed to go – so much more comfortable than any test done using a speculum and vaginal swab.

Once that’s done, all you have to do is put the tampon in the sample bag, add the liquid and ensure the bag is tightly sealed. After placing it in the additional shock-proof bag, you simply pop it back in the cardboard box it was shipped in, seal it up and send it off.

It’s recommended that you send your test the same day as you collect the sample, to ensure it’s fresh when it arrives at the lab. So make sure you leave yourself enough time to get to your local postbox before the last collection of the day. 

Once you’ve put your sample in the post, you get a notification confirming when it arrives at the lab. Your Daye dashboard (which you get when you create an account on their website) updates to reflect this, so you can check the status of your test. While Daye says you can expect your results within 10 working days, mine took slightly longer – almost two weeks.

This delay didn’t bother me too much because I wasn’t in a rush to get my results. But if you’re relying on this test to tell you whether you’ve got an STI, having to wait longer than expected could be frustrating.

Once I got my results back, however, they were easy to access. The report is split into nine different areas the test looks for: four different types of STI, and five different types of vaginal bacteria.  

I tested fine on eight of the nine areas, but found out the number of lactobacilli in my vaginal microbiome is lower than the optimal range. The results don’t indicate exactly how low my lactobacilli count is (which would have been helpful), but make it clear that this reading isn’t a medical emergency, so there’s no need to panic.  

Underneath my lactobacilli result there are resources to help me learn more about what the result means, with studies outlining the potential impact low lactobacilli can have on vaginal and urinary tract infections, STIs and reproductive health. It’s helpful to know exactly what the current state of my vaginal health means in real terms.

If Daye’s test does reveal a positive STI result, you should seek professional treatment, whether from one of Daye’s doctors, your GP or an NHS sexual health expert. To help you take these next steps, Daye will provide you with a list of specialists with whom you can book an appointment to talk through your results (for an additional fee), as well as signposting your nearest free NHS sexual health clinic. Resources are also offered for looking after your vaginal health in the future, including tips on diet, hygiene and suggested treatments for thrush and BV. 

My only frustration is that the dashboard doesn’t make it clear which of the resources are applicable for improving my lactobacilli reading. My summary of results suggests trying Daye’s ProViotics and using medical-grade tampons to keep my microbiome happy, but most of the lifestyle suggestions feel very general, and it’s hard to know exactly what I need to do next. 

After clicking through all of the suggestions, I stumble across a few lactobacilli-specific interventions, such as wearing breathable underwear and eating more probiotic-rich foods. But having that information provided to me automatically would make the test even more helpful.

Overall, the test has given me some welcome peace of mind. I no longer need to worry I’m dealing with some symptomless infection or horrific bacterial overgrowth, and even though my lactobacilli reading was low, I do feel equipped to make some changes to help.

The most valuable thing about this at-home screening service was how easy and discreet it was. As someone who tends to get anxious about seeing the doctor, it was nice not to have to drag myself out for an appointment. Doing the whole thing from home was not only hassle-free, but felt a lot less medical and intimidating.  

Images: Daye