Today, many microbiology labs offer vaginal microbiome testing with the cutting-edge NGS (next generation sequencing) technology. Such a test may cost about $100 each. But we have obtained a group discount for our NeuEve customers from Juno.
Understanding Vaginal Microbiome Test Results
The NGS technology provides detailed insights into your vaginal microbiome. A healthy microbiome is dominated by Lactobacillus (90–98%), which maintains an acidic environment. Imbalances (dysbiosis) can lead to conditions like BV (bacterial vaginosis), AV (aerobic vaginitis), CV (cytolytic vaginosis), or yeast infections.
Key Conditions and Recommendations
- Normal: Predominantly Lactobacillus (90–98%) with no symptoms. No treatment needed.
- BV: Anaerobic bacteria* (>80%), symptoms like odor, discharge, or irritation. Use BV Clear or NeuEve products tailored to your age.
- AV: Aerobic bacteria** (even <50%), symptoms like irritation without odor. Use AV Clear (AV NIL).
- CV: Nearly 100% of total lactic acid bacteria, pH <4.5, and symptoms of burning or irritation. Use *CV Clear (CV Ease).
- Yeast: High Candida levels with itching and cottage-cheese like discharge. Use antifungals like Monistat-3 or Yeast Reset for gut yeast.
* BV-associated bacteria are mainly obligated anaerobes. These include Gardnerella, Atopobium, Prevotella, Mobiluncus, Fusobacterium, Bacteroides, Peptostreptococcus, and others species.
** AV-associated bacteria may include both aerobes and facultative anaerobes that can grow under both oxygen and anaerobic conditions. These include Escherichia coli (E. coli), Staphylococcus aureus, Group B Streptococcus (GBS), Enterococcus faecalis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus species, and Citrobacter species.
***Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) includes a dozen genera of bacteria that produce lactic acid as a byproduct of carbohydrate fermentation. In the vagina, Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, Leuconostoc, Bifidobacterium, and Streptococcus are common. When the total number of these bacterial species reaches near 100%, burning symptoms appear and CV occurs.
Special Cases:
- Lactobacillus iners: Can contribute to BV or AV at a lower level (>5%) but may mimic CV at a higher level when combined with other Lactobacillus species (total >95%). For L. iners-related issues, use AV Clear (AV NIL).
- Ureaplasma: At a low level (<5%), it may be a symptomatic. When it causes discomfort symptoms, like odor, discharge, itching and pain, it should be treated with AV Clear (AV NIL).
This article shows how to use AV Clear: I have aerobic vaginitis (AV). Which product should I start?
If the level is low (<5%) and no discomfort symptoms, treatment may not be necessary.
Single or Mixed Infections in the lab test
- If discomfort symptoms are fishy odor and discharge: Likely BV dominant. Treat BV first.
- If discomfort symptoms are pain without odor: Likely AV dominant. Treat AV first.
- If both symptoms are present, like odor and pain, treat AV first, as AV Clear may help alleviate both conditions, while BV Clear only clears BV.
For more details, see this article.
To understand vaginal microbial imbalance, you may find these articles helpful:
https://www.neueve.com/blogs/blog/end-feminine-discomforts-by-balancing-the-microbiome
How to differentiate among AV, BV, and CV? How to identify false positive lab tests?
**Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes only. It is about natural products, nutrients, and/or methods for managing discomforts associated with vaginal dysbiosis (not a true infection or disease). It is not medical advice for the treatment of any disease.