How do I do my sample at home? Can I do it wrong?
You can find detailed instructions on how to collect your sample on our Get Involved page and inside your sample kit.
It's a good idea to give yourself some time to collect your sample. Read through the instructions and make sure you are comfortable before opening the swab.
When sampling, it's important not to touch the swab with your fingers, or any other surface as it may contaminate the swab. If you think that happened, you can request another kit from our team.
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If you have any other concerns or questions about sample collection please reach out to our team at info.bessproject@gmail.com
How soon after sign up should I complete my sample?
After sign-up you will be asked to fill in a consent form. You will be asked to fill out an online questionnaire.
We will send a swab collection kit to the address you provided (estimate roughly 2 weeks). From there we would like you to collect your sample and send it back to us.
The samples are stored in a preservation liquid that it prevents degradation, ensuring good quality sampling even through the mailing process.
What will the results be and will you tell me?
We will be sequencing many of the samples together, and once sequencing is complete, you will have the option to request your unique, individual vaginal microbiome profile - for free!
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We will be analyzing the types of bacteria that are found in your vaginal sample and the amount of each.
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Once all the samples have been analyzed, we will update you about any publications.
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Will my results be identifiable?
All results from this study will be anonymous, meaning no one will be able to identify you from the results. You will also be assigned a unique Study ID.
How do I know if I have a healthy vaginal microbiome and should I be worried?
In this study we are not diagnosing any health conditions, so results from this study won't indicate any health issues.
In some cases, an unusual vaginal microbiome is related to a health concern (e.g Bacterial Vaginosis). If you are experiencing any unusual gynecological symptoms, you should speak to a doctor.
However, there are some cases where a person may have an unusual vaginal microbiome and it causes no problems at all! That is because our understanding of the diversity of healthy microbiomes is limited. By participating in this study you will be helping us to expand our knowledge of 'healthy microbiomes'.
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The ISALA project have put together lots of helpful resources about the vaginal microbiome, including information about the most common vaginal bacteria. You can read more here.
How will I know about the results of the study?
We plan to publish results from this study in scientific articles. Keep an eye out on this webpage, where we will share updates on publications.
How does this study connect with other projects around the world?
The Bess project has sister projects across the Americas.
We are also part of a worldwide initiative to understand how the vaginal microbiome changes across the world, led by the ISALA project. Read about the discoveries ISALA have made so far.
