FAQ
#LeT's SWAB
01
What is the vaginal microbiome?
The vaginal microbiome is the community of microorganisms, primarily bacteria, that inhabit the vaginal environment. This microbiome plays a crucial role in maintaining vaginal health by preventing infections and maintaining an acidic pH.
02
How will I know what my vaginal microbiome profile means?
While a lot of vaginal microbiome studies characterize some microbes as "healthy" or "unhealthy" - it is still unknown if this categorization is the same for all women. Thus, we encourage you to seek medical (gynecologic) care when you are experiencing abnormal symptoms, such as vaginal odor, discharge, itching, painful sexual intercourse or abnormal bleeding.
03
When will I get the results of my vaginal microbiome profile?
We will sequencing all participants samples at once, hopefully once we enroll 200 participants. This means you won't have your results right away, but hopefully within 4-6 months after submitting your sample.
04
Will I be compensated for my participation in the Aiona Project?
There is no direct monetary compensation for participating in the study. We hope you feel empowered to express your thoughts on the vaginal microbiome, reproductive and gynecologic health through this project!
05
Will I be identifiable by participating in the Aiona Project? Will anyone be able to tell if I have an 'unhealthy' microbiome?
There will be no way to directly identify you from the information we collect.
06
Should I seek medical help if I have an 'unhealthy' vaginal microbiome?
While there are some supposed 'unhealthy' types of vaginal microbiomes, right now - there is no evidence that giving antibiotics without symptoms is beneficial.
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Particular probiotics exist on the market to improve the vaginal microbiome, but there are no direct comparison trials to see which one is best for which type of microbiomes.
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Hopefully Isala sister projects can help answer this question in the future.
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Most importantly, if you are experiencing abnormal symptoms like increased vaginal discharge, odor, painful sex or itching, we encourage you to seek gynecologic care.
07
Do I need to live in Hawai`i to participate?
Yes - this project is limited to those individuals living in Hawai`i. We want to specifically understand how our unique environment shapes human microbes across the islands. Neighbor Island residents are encouraged to participate!
08
How big are the swabs? Will performing the swabs hurt?
The swab kit comes with 2 swabs, and both are the size of a q-tip. There shouldn't be any discomfort, and the kit will provide detailed instructions for collection. The first swab is to collect the bacterial DNA, and the other to be able to grow the bacteria in the laboratory.