The kit uses a tampon instead of a swab to take a sample (Picture: Daye)
Wondering about your vaginal and sexual health?
You can now find out how it’s doing from the comfort of your home, as Daye has launched a tampon-based at-home vaginal microbiome screening kit.
Wondering what the heck a microbiome is? Just like your stomach, your vagina is home to billions of good and bad bacteria and these make up your vaginal microbiome.
The nine-factor vaginal microbiome screen from the award-winning female-founded gynaecological health startup can will tell you if you have a vaginal infection like thrush or bacterial vaginosis (BV).
However, it’s much more than just a regular test, as it also lets you know if your microbiome is disrupted, which could leave you prone to a higher risk of STIs, vaginal infections, gynaecological cancers, and fertility and IVF complications.
Knowing that you have an unbalanced vaginal microbiome allows you to implement interventions and lifestyle changes so as to repopulate your good bacteria (lactobacilli).
According to Daye, using a tampon screening kit is much more convenient and pleasant than a long, uncomfortable swab and has the added benefit that it can be done from the comfort of your home.
Using a tampon can also improve the accuracy of the test, as a tampon collects a bigger and more comprehensive sample than a swab.
The process is very simple, similar to the Covid test kits we have become accustomed to.
The kit gets delivered to your door, and once you collect your sample, you send it back to an accredited lab to be analysed.
Here’s how it works:
Get a screening kit – Order a one-off test or subscribe for regular proactive screening. Take the sample – Insert and remove the tampon to easily collect a sample in the comfort of your own home. Send the sample back to Daye – The tampon will be analysed quickly and accurately in a UKAS accredited lab. Get your results online or on your phone – Access your results and aftercare securely via your phone or online. Book aftercare with a specialist if needed – In-person or virtual appointments with specialists can be scheduled via the Daye platform. Medication can be ordered via a digital prescribing pharmacist and people can also get personalised treatment options and lifestyle health hacks based on the results.
Prices for Daye’s screening kit start at £69.95.
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Understand the composition of good and bad bacteria in your vagina with a non-invasive tampon screen