Vaginal swabs are tools used to collect vaginal secretions or cell samples, and they have various specific applications in the medical field, mainly including the following aspects:

Disease Diagnosis

• Diagnosis of Vaginitis
  By collecting vaginal secretions with a vaginal swab, the microbial community in the vagina can be detected to determine whether there is an infection by pathogens such as bacteria, fungi (e.g., Candida), or Trichomonas. This helps diagnose common vaginal inflammations like bacterial vaginitis, mycotic vaginitis, and trichomonal vaginitis. For example, observing under a microscope whether there are active Trichomonas in the vaginal swab sample or detecting the presence of clue cells to judge bacterial vaginitis.
• Detection of Sexually Transmitted Diseases
  It can be used to detect pathogens of sexually transmitted diseases such as Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, human papillomavirus (HPV), and herpes simplex virus. For instance, using nucleic acid testing methods to detect the vaginal swab sample can accurately determine whether HPV is infected and the specific HPV types, which is of great significance for the screening and prevention of cervical cancer.
• Diagnosis of Cervicitis
  The samples collected by vaginal swabs can also help doctors determine whether there is inflammation in the cervix. By examining indicators such as the number of white blood cells and the types of pathogens in the sample, combined with the patient’s symptoms, it can be diagnosed whether the patient has cervicitis.

Cervical Cancer Screening

• ThinPrep Cytologic Test (TCT)
  A vaginal swab is used to collect cells at the cervical os and vaginal fornix. Then, the cell samples are placed in a special preservation solution for processing. Through techniques such as centrifugation and filtration, the cells are evenly distributed on a glass slide. Under a microscope, the cell morphology is observed to determine whether there are abnormal cells, such as precancerous lesion cells or cancer cells. This is one of the commonly used methods for cervical cancer screening.
• HPV Detection
  The samples collected by vaginal swabs can be used for the detection of HPV virus, to determine whether HPV is infected and the specific HPV types. Persistent infection with high – risk HPV is the main risk factor for the occurrence of cervical cancer. Therefore, HPV detection is crucial for the early screening and prevention of cervical cancer.

Reproductive Health Assessment

• Hormone Level Assessment
  In some cases, the vaginal exfoliated cells collected by a vaginal swab can be used for hormone receptor detection, indirectly understanding the levels of hormones such as estrogen and progesterone in the body, and assisting in the assessment of a woman’s reproductive endocrine status. This has certain reference value for the diagnosis and treatment of problems such as irregular menstruation and infertility.
• Vaginal Microbiome Assessment
  Analyze the types, quantities, and proportions of various microorganisms in the sample collected by a vaginal swab to evaluate the balance of the vaginal microbiome. Under normal circumstances, there are various microorganisms in the vagina that restrict each other to maintain the balance of the microbiome. When this balance is disrupted, various vaginal diseases may be triggered. Through the assessment of the vaginal microbiome, problems can be detected in a timely manner and corresponding intervention measures can be taken.

In the Field of Assisted Reproduction

• Egg Retrieval
  In assisted reproductive technologies, such as in vitro fertilization – embryo transfer (IVF – ET), under the guidance of vaginal ultrasound, a special vaginal – swab – like instrument is used to puncture the ovaries through the vagina to retrieve eggs. The vaginal swab plays a role in guiding and assisting egg retrieval in this process.
• Monitoring after Embryo Transfer
  After embryo transfer, vaginal swabs may be used to collect vaginal secretions to detect some biochemical indicators or hormone levels in them, such as progesterone levels, etc., to understand the endometrial receptivity and embryo implantation status, providing a basis for subsequent treatment and care.