Introduction to HVS swab testEver heard of a HVS swab test? It is a test that women and girls may take to test vaginal health. The 'H' in V stands for High; hence High Vaginal Swab. That’s when a doctor or nurse uses a special swab to sample cells from the vagina. However, this test is important because it tells you whether or not everything is well with your body.
The HVS swab test aids doctors in detecting infections, such as yeast infections or bacterial infections. Such infections can occur for various reasons. Some can also be due to poor hygiene, hormonal changes, having unprotected sex. This is critical because these infections need to be rapidly treated. If left untreated, they potentially could lead to much more serious trouble later on, which is why getting tested is a worthwhile idea.
A few things you can do to prepare before you take that HVS swab test. And the first thing you do is there is — do not check your period. Menstrual blood can interfere with test results, so it’s ideal to do so after your period.” Avoid having sex, inserting tampons or washing inside your vagina for at least 24 hours before the test, too. These activities can alter the pH balance in your vagina and influence the results of the test.
Well, the HVS swab test is significantly beneficial to women's health. First, it could help identify infections early on, before they become a larger problem. That means you’re starting treatment earlier and preventing complications that could arise from wait times. It’s less likely to be complicated and easier to treat early on.
Second, the test can also assist physicians to search for certain types of cancer — for example, cervical cancer. A virus known as HPV can lead to this kind of cancer. HPV can also lead to genital warts. Doctors can detect abnormal cells that can indicate cancer or HPV from an HVS swab test The earlier you spot these signs the more critical they can be for your health.
The HVS swab test will then be sent to a lab to be checked after someone has taken it to either your doctor or nurse. The lab will search the sample for any signs of infection or abnormal cells. It may take several days for this process to be completed so don’t be discouraged if you do not receive a confirmation right away.
If the test is abnormal, then your physician will discuss next steps with you. Based on those results, you may have to take some medicine to make you feel better or be tested to see what is actually wrong. You want to follow your doctor’s advice so you can take care of your health.