Vaginal pH test (BV test) - 2 pcs
Do you have an imbalance in the vaginal microbiota, bacterial vaginosis, or other vaginal infections?
Test characteristics are:
- For women only (measurement of vaginal pH level)
- Certified quality, Clinically validated test
- Results: in just 10 seconds
- Contents: Kit with 2 tests
- Discreet delivery - unmarked shipment
- Safe, painless, and comfortable
- For home use
The normal pH value of the vagina is acidic. This pH value is caused by bacteria that live on the vaginal epithelium and convert sugars into acidic products during the fermentation process. Such pH value protects against the proliferation of unwanted microbes and the emergence of infections.
Information about the BV test viola® vaginal pH Test
The Vaginal pH test is a certified home medical diagnostic device for the measurement of vaginal pH level. Vaginal pH test is also known as BV test.
Testing is easy, painless and safe. You only need to insert a vaginal applicator into the vagina for 10 seconds and read the result right after.
You receive two tests in a kit, and this is all you need for BV testing at home.
Why monitoring vaginal pH level matters?
A variety of microbes populate the vagina, and when they are in balance, they constitute a healthy vaginal microbiota that offers natural protection against infections.1
Bacteria populating vaginal epithelium transform sugars into acid products during a fermentation process.
A dominating bacteria in a healthy vaginal microbiota are bacteria from a genus Lactobacillus. These bacteria create an acidic environment and protect against sexually transmitted pathogens and opportunistic infections.2
A healthy vaginal pH is acidic, ranging between 3.8 to 4.5.3
When there is a disruption in a balanced vaginal microbiota, it rises vaginal pH above 4.5. Increased pH can lead to infections affecting health and pregnancy.
Vaginal pH values above 4.5 are a beneficial environment for the growth of pathogenic microorganisms (e.g. Trichomonas vaginalis - home medical test for Trichomonas vaginalis).4
Vaginal pH levels of 4.7 and above are an indication of the imbalance in vaginal microbiota or the lack of Lactobacilli. In women whose vaginal microbiota is not lactobacilli-dominated, anti-bacterial defence mechanisms are reduced.5
Therefore, it is important to test regularly vaginal pH level and act if the pH level increases.
What a vaginal pH value has to do with bacterial vaginosis?
Vaginal pH values above 4.5 are a sign of bacterial vaginosis. Bacterial vaginosis is formally known as Gardnerella vaginitis (certified home medical test for Gardnerella vaginalis).6
BV is characterized by a white-grey and homogeneous discharge, a pH level higher than 4.5, and a non-inflammatory process at the epithelium.3
It is the most common cause of vaginal discharge and odour in women, affecting 29% of women overall.6
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a frequent genital infection among women worldwide. Research showed that BV could lead to severe health complications.
Bacterial vaginosis increases the risk of preterm delivery, pelvic inflammatory disease, and risk for acquiring sexually transmitted infections including HIV.7
Having your vaginal pH level under control is a considerable preventative measure against the development of unpleasant discharge, odour or even development of severe health complications.
When is it best to do BV test?
Several conditions may increase the vaginal pH level:
- bacterial vaginosis or other bacterial infections (possibly through sexually transmitted diseases),
- premature rupture of the amniotic sac,
- false or excessive intimate hygiene (frequent vaginal douching, inappropriate hygiene products),
- estrogen deficiency (estrogen supports the glycogen breakdown to lactic acid),
- postoperative infected wounds.
Regular testing for BV is especially beneficial if you experience symptoms of bacterial vaginosis or other genital infections like fishy odour or discharge, itching or irritation.
During pregnancy, experts recommend monitoring vaginal pH level to reduce the occurrence of preterm birth.5
How accurate is the vaginal pH test?
In clinical trials, this vaginal pH test correctly identified 100% of positive and 86.4% of negative results.
This Vaginal pH test is manufactured in Austria according to standard ISO13485 and CE0483 certified for testing at home.
Testing for the bacterial vaginosis at home (BV home testing)
Testing a vaginal pH level is very useful to determine bacterial vaginosis. That is why the test is commonly now as BV test.
This Vaginal pH test enables you to monitor the pH of your vagina intimately by yourself. It will take you 10 seconds to know the result.
How does the BV test work?
This BV test works on the principle of a colour change. When the reagent pad on the testing device comes into contact with vaginal secretions, it will change the colour.
The test measures the pH level in the range of 4-7. The reagent pad on the testing device (applicator) will change the colour according to the acid level of your vagina.
Testing is straightforward, painless and comfortable. You carry out BV testing in three steps:
- Insert the applicator into the vagina.
- Press it for 10 seconds against the wall of your vagina.
- Take it from the vagina and interpret the result.
How you interpret the result of the BV test?
You interpret the result by comparing the colour of a reagent pad with the colour scale printed in the instructions for use that you receive with the testing kit.
The test measures the pH level in the range of 4-7.
The pH level of a healthy vagina: pH level is in range 4 to 4.4.
pH levels indicative of imbalances in the vaginal microbiota: pH level is higher than 4.4.
Important notice. If the pH of your vagina is occasionally outside the normal range, there is no reason to worry. Repeat the test in a few hours or the next day with another test (there are two tests in the testing kit).
If the measured pH is still not within normal levels, consult your doctor about the test result to determine the cause.
If you experience any health-related issues, we recommend that you always consult your doctor.
Literature:
1 Martin D. H. (2012). The microbiota of the vagina and its influence on women's health and disease. The American journal of the medical sciences, 343(1), 2–9.
2 Miller A. E., et al., 2016. Lactobacili Dominance and Vaginal pH: Why Is the Human Vaginal Microbiome Unique? Frontiers in Microbiology, 2016(7:1936). Accessible at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2016.01936/full (7. 7. 2018).
3 Leyva-Gómez, G., Prado-Audelo, M., Ortega-Peña, S., Mendoza-Muñoz, N., Urbán-Morlán, Z., González-Torres, M., González-Del Carmen, M., Figueroa-González, G., Reyes-Hernández, O. D., & Cortés, H. (2019). Modifications in Vaginal Microbiota and Their Influence on Drug Release: Challenges and Opportunities. Pharmaceutics, 11(5), 217.
4 Frobenius, W., & Bogdan, C. (2015). Diagnostic Value of Vaginal Discharge, Wet Mount and Vaginal pH - An Update on the Basics of Gynecologic Infectiology. Geburtshilfe und Frauenheilkunde, 75(4), 355–366.
5 Witkin S. S., 2014. The vaginal microbiome, vaginal anti-microbial defence mechanisms and the clinical challenge of reducing infection-related preterm birth. An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 2015(122), 213–219.
6 Bagnall, Paulette MPAS, PA-C; Rizzolo, Denise PA-C, PhD Bacterial vaginosis, Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants: December 2017 - Volume 30 - Issue 12 - p 15-21.
7 Christina A Muzny, Christopher M Taylor, W Edward Swords, Ashutosh Tamhane, Debasish Chattopadhyay, Nuno Cerca, Jane R Schwebke, An Updated Conceptual Model on the Pathogenesis of Bacterial Vaginosis, The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 220, Issue 9, 1 November 2019, Pages 1399–1405.
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