You might be wondering when to test (and when to skip it). Here’s your quick cheat sheet for the best and most optimal times to use your Evvy kit.
Testing swab do’s and don’t’s!
We recommend not taking your swab sample in the following situations:
During active menstruation, blood can change the pH of the vagina and affect results.
Within 24 hours of having sex.
Within 24 hours of using an oral antifungal.
Within 24 hours of using any vulvar topical creams or gels (e.g., HRT, steroid cream).
Within 48 hours of using vaginal suppositories, gels, or treatments (including boric acid and topical antifungals).
Within 7 days of taking antibiotics, antibiotics can reduce both good and bad bacteria, making it difficult to collect enough bacteria for accurate sequencing.
Outside of these situations, it’s up to you when to test. Many members choose to:
Test when they have symptoms and when they don’t, to see differences in their microbiome.
Test about a week after finishing antibiotics to see if harmful microbes return.
Test after starting certain probiotics to see if protective bacteria are taking hold.
Your results will reflect what’s happening in your microbiome at that point in time. Because the vaginal microbiome can shift with hormones, diet, lifestyle, and more, we recommend testing over time rather than just once to get the most complete picture of your vaginal health.