Thursday 14 January 2016

HIGH VAGINAL SWAB

High vaginal swab (HVS) is a medical test every sexually active female should regularly take. Virgins don't need the test. It is done to detect infections in the female vagina. The vagina is a self-cleaning part of the female body but certain things can lead to infections such as unclean underwear, sexually transmitted infections, yeast growth etc.

The HVS test is usually part of many tests a female is expected to take whenever she visits a laboratory. It takes a few days to get the test result because the whole test involves culturing the vaginal sample.
A lady who goes for the test is given a swab stick (pictured below) which looks like a cotton bud, only longer. The swab stick has a very narrow head and is sterile. It is inserted into the vagina and the sample of the female vaginal fluid is taken. The swab stick is removed and replaced in its container and is taken to the lab for culture.

Like I earlier stated, every female who experiences any of the following should do a HVS test.

- itchy vagina
-unusual vaginal secretions
-smelly vaginal fluid
-lower abdominal pain etc.

As a matter of fact, this test should be a routine test as it is very painless.

P.S: If you have any addition to this, kindly send a mail to the admin.


SHL