Vaginal microbiome test for home use: vaginal flora analysis at species level
Beyond a simple vaginal test. Your entire vaginal flora decoded & analyzed.
With Microbiome 360° Vaginal, Bactera offers one of the most advanced vaginal flora analyses available. Conventional tests read only single genes. We decode the entire DNA of your swab using shotgun sequencing and identify lactobacilli, anaerobes, yeasts and clinically relevant organisms down to species level. As a supplement, we screen your swab for the DNA of four sexually transmitted pathogens. Any STI detection must be confirmed by a doctor.
Your swab is analyzed in-house in Germany, using advanced bioinformatics and the highest scientific standards. The result is a comprehensive view of your vaginal microbiome: community state type, protective lactobacilli, functional potential and other key areas of your vaginal health.
One swab. 360° analysis. Complete DNA. Deeper insights.
- Community state type (CST) with match strength
- Vaginal Protection Index (0 to 100)
- Lactobacillus dominance and D-lactate share
- Diversity and dominance (Shannon index)
- Lactobacillus profile at species level (6 species)
- Functional potential: lactic acid, D-lactate, protective function
- Mucin and sialidase genes (8 genes)
- Inflammation-associated organisms
- Bacterial vaginosis pattern (5 signals)
- Yeasts and thrush (6 Candida species)
- Aerobic and opportunistic organisms
- Urogenital colonisation profile
- Supplementary STI screening: chlamydia, gonorrhoea, trichomonas, Mycoplasma genitalium
- Antimicrobial resistance genes (8 gene families)
- Full organism profile (52) and raw data to download
- Free report upgrades as new analyses become available
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Product: Microbiome 360° Vaginal
Microbiome 360° Vaginal is still in development
The analysis and the report are not in their final form yet and may still change until release. The following sections show how the report could look and which analyses we perform.
What an analysis at species level makes visible
Most vaginal tests use PCR panels for a fixed list of organisms or 16S sequencing, which usually stops at genus level. We read the entire DNA of your swab and identify the individual species.
L. crispatus and L. iners differ in their lactic acid isomers, in their stability and in their protective function. We report six species separately.
Yeasts are detected in the same sequencing run. A Candida finding therefore appears in the same report and in the same ecological context as your bacteria.
Sialidase and mucin genes and the pathways for D-lactic acid production are read from the DNA itself, together with the organisms that carry them.
FASTQ files and raw abundances remain available for download, and whenever a new analysis becomes available your existing sequencing data is re-analysed and your report upgraded, free of charge and without a new swab.
What you get: a report that explains your vaginal flora instead of just counting
For every value you see the reference group, what it means for you and what to do next. Use the report interactively in the portal or download it.
- Interactive in the portalDesktop and mobile, available at any time at my.bactera.de. You can download the report and share it, for example with your doctor.
- Highest scientific standardVery deep analysis with 25 million paired-end reads per sample. On request we increase the sequencing depth: contact us before ordering via our contact page or info@bactera.de.
- Raw data includedFASTQ files and abundance tables to download
Lactobacillus-led by L. iners, alongside roughly 36 % anaerobic, bacteria associated with bacterial vaginosis with a substantial Gardnerella expansion. The report explains what follows from this.
What Microbiome 360° Vaginal covers
Ten analysis areas from one vaginal swab, all in one report.
Community state type
Assigns your bacterial community to its prevailing ecological pattern, including Lactobacillus-dominated and diverse anaerobic states. The community state type gives your report an established framework: it describes which of the 13 reference patterns your community currently follows, how clear the match is and which pattern is next closest.
Vaginal Protection Index
An index from 0 to 100 that describes how closely your bacterial community resembles the compositions most consistently associated, in published studies, with a stable and well-defended vaginal environment. It weighs protective lactobacilli, disruption-associated bacteria, community concentration and similarity to an optimal community.
Reading your 25: A community can score in the 60s while being led by L. iners alone. Yours scores 25 because that lactobacillus is sharing the space with a well-established anaerobic community.
Diversity & dominance
Diversity describes how many different bacteria live in your sample and how evenly they are spread. In the vagina, one lactobacillus usually does most of the work, which is why less diversity is the healthy norm here. The report compares your Shannon index with the 1,850 women of the reference group and adds dominance, ratio and species count.
Your diversity (1.68) is higher than 86 % of the healthy reference group. In the vagina, less diversity is the healthy norm.
Lactobacillus profile at species level
Six species do essentially all of the protective work in the vagina. Because they behave differently from one another, we report them individually rather than as a single Lactobacillus number. Separating these species requires whole-genome sequencing.
The one-line version: You have a lactobacillus-led community without a strongly protective lactobacillus. Only 0.56 % of your community is made up of species able to produce D-lactic acid.
Functional potential
Five panels estimate what your community is genetically equipped to do: lactic acid and acidification, D-lactic acid, protective Lactobacillus function, mucin and sialidase genes, and inflammation-associated organisms. Each panel shows your percentile versus the reference group and names the organisms driving the score.
Vaginal health patterns
Four patterns describe how closely your bacterial community resembles the communities described in the literature on bacterial vaginosis, yeasts, aerobic vaginitis and urogenital colonisation, each with the signals and organisms behind it.
Your microbial profile: 52 microorganisms
Shotgun sequencing reads the complete DNA of your community and identifies individual species rather than broad groups. The report shows the 52 microorganisms that carry the most reliable evidence in vaginal biology: how much of each you carry, how many women in the reference group carry it and where you sit relative to women with your community state type.
Supplementary STI screening: sexually transmitted infections
Your swab is additionally screened for the DNA of four sexually transmitted pathogens (STIs): Chlamydia trachomatis (chlamydia), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (gonorrhoea), Trichomonas vaginalis (trichomonas) and Mycoplasma genitalium. This way an important incidental finding does not go unnoticed. If something is found, the report recommends confirming it with a clinical test at your doctor.
| Organism | Detection quality | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Chlamydia trachomatis | Low sensitivity | Not detected |
| Neisseria gonorrhoeae | Low sensitivity | Not detected |
| Trichomonas vaginalis | Moderate sensitivity | Not detected |
| Mycoplasma genitalium | Low sensitivity | Not detected |
Antimicrobial resistance genes
Sequencing lets us look for genes known to make bacteria less sensitive to particular antibiotics. The report checks eight gene families and shows drug class, gene and status, useful information for your doctor if you are ever being treated for a genital infection.
| Drug class | Gene | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Tetracyclines | tet(M) | Detected |
| Macrolides & lincosamides | erm(B) | Detected |
| Macrolides (efflux) | mef(A) | Not detected |
| Lincosamides (nucleotidyl.) | lnu(A) | Not detected |
| Nitroimidazoles | nim family | Not detected |
| Aminoglycosides | aph(3')-III | Not detected |
| Glycopeptides | vanA / vanB | Not detected |
| Beta-lactams (MRSA) | mecA | Not detected |
Both are among the most common resistance genes found in vaginal samples. The report explains what each gene means.
Full list of your microorganisms & free report upgrades
You receive the complete profile with all 52 organisms identified in your sample, together with the raw data. And your report does not stand still: we continuously add new analyses, markers and insights, and whenever a new analysis becomes available your existing sequencing data is re-analysed and your report upgraded, free of charge and without a new swab. With a second sample, your report additionally gains the “Change over time” section: whether your community state type has changed, how your protection index has moved, how much of your community has turned over and whether your dominant lactobacillus is the same strain as before.
Bacterial vaginosis, yeasts, aerobic organisms and urogenital colonisation
For four topics, we show how closely your bacterial community resembles the patterns described in the scientific literature, and which signals the result is based on.
Bacterial vaginosis pattern
5 signals- Total Lactobacillus
- Disruption-associated bacteria
- Protective : disruption-associated ratio
- Diversity (Shannon)
- Gardnerella species count
Yeasts & thrush
6 species- Candida albicans
- Nakaseomyces glabratus
- Candida parapsilosis
- Candida tropicalis
- Pichia kudriavzevii
- Candida dubliniensis
Aerobic & opportunistic organisms
6 organisms- Escherichia coli
- Enterococcus faecalis
- Streptococcus agalactiae
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Klebsiella pneumoniae
- Streptococcus anginosus group
Urogenital colonisation profile
6 organisms- E. coli
- Enterococcus faecalis
- Staph. saprophyticus
- Klebsiella pneumoniae
- Proteus mirabilis
- Strep. agalactiae (GBS)
Each pattern shows its result with the signals behind it: your value, the reference, the points and a one-sentence reading. For yeasts and organisms, the report also shows which were detected and at what share.
| Signal | Your value | Reference | Points | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Lactobacillus | 58.96 % | ≥70 % typical of settled communities | 1 / 2 | Transitional range |
| Disruption-associated bacteria | 36.03 % | <5 % typical | 2 / 2 | Well established |
| Protective : disruption ratio | −1.81 | positive values typical | 2 / 2 | Strongly negative |
| Diversity (Shannon) | 1.68 | median 0.42 in the reference group | 1 / 2 | Raised |
| Gardnerella species count | 3 species | carrying 3 or more is strongly associated with bacterial vaginosis | 1 / 2 | Three present |
Your community closely resembles those described in bacterial vaginosis. The report recommends discussing this with a clinician, who can confirm it in minutes with a pH test and a microscope slide.
What your vaginal flora is genetically equipped to do: five panels with percentiles
Here the question shifts from which organisms are present to what they can actually do. From the organisms and genes we detect in your swab, we estimate what your vaginal flora is genetically equipped to do. Each panel names the organisms that drive it.
D-lactic acid potential !
SupportThis is the most informative single number in your report. Lactic acid comes in two mirror-image forms. L. crispatus, L. gasseri and L. jensenii make both; L. iners makes only the L-form.
Only 0.56 % of your community carries the genes for D-lactate production. That is lower than 94 % of the reference group and is the clearest single explanation for your protection index.
What's driving this scoreLactic acid is the main reason a healthy vagina is acidic. This panel estimates the community's overall capacity to produce it.
Your capacity is close to the middle of the reference range, because L. iners does produce lactic acid, just not the D-form.
What's driving this scoreA summary of how well your community is set up to keep other organisms out: through acidification, through simply occupying the space, and through crowding out disruption-associated bacteria.
Yours is low on all three counts, which is the same story the protection index tells, shown from a different angle.
What's driving this scoreYour vaginal lining is coated in a protective layer of sugar-rich mucus. Some bacteria carry enzymes called sialidases that strip the outermost sugars from that coating. We searched your sample for the genes that encode these enzymes.
Genes detected: 4 of 8. Carried by Gardnerella, Prevotella timonensis and Prevotella bivia; the report names each gene with its carrier.
What's driving this scoreSome vaginal bacteria are repeatedly found alongside higher levels of inflammatory signalling molecules. This panel adds up how much of your community is made of those organisms.
Seven of these organisms are present in your sample, led by Fannyhessea vaginae at 6.20 %. Together their share is higher than in 87 % of the reference group.
What's driving this scoreSix Lactobacillus species, reported individually
These are the bacteria that do the actual protecting: they turn sugar from the vaginal lining into lactic acid and keep the environment acidic. Which species you have matters as much as how much.
Sample illustration from the reportIn addition, the Gardnerella group (5 species), 13 anaerobes associated with bacterial vaginosis, 10 other anaerobes and genital mycoplasmas, 8 aerobic and opportunistic organisms and 6 yeasts: 52 organisms in total, each with abundance, prevalence and position versus women with your community state type.
What we screen in addition to your vaginal flora
We also check your swab for six yeasts, for the DNA of four sexually transmitted organisms and for antibiotic resistance genes across eight gene families. All from the same sequencing run, at no extra cost.
Yeasts are part of the vaginal community and are read from the same DNA as your bacteria. The report names every species individually, with detection status and read count.
The four Candida species most frequently described in vaginal samples. C. albicans is the most common among them.
Both species are associated with more persistent courses in the literature and are therefore reported separately.
Every species appears as detected or not detected, with reads and an interpretation in the same ecological context as your bacteria.
Alongside your vaginal flora, the report covers clinically relevant organisms from the same sequencing run: four sexually transmitted organisms, six aerobic and opportunistic organisms and the urogenital colonisation profile.
For each organism the report states the detection quality and the result. An STI finding has to be confirmed by a doctor.
These organisms are reported with their abundance and interpreted in the section on vaginal health patterns.
Organisms that studies associate with colonisation of the urinary tract, each with the level of colonisation.
Some vaginal microorganisms carry genes that protect them against certain antibiotics. We detect eight gene families in your sample and assign them to the corresponding drug classes.
The antibiotics named in the cards are examples of the drugs each gene family can affect. Your report shows which of the eight gene families were found in your sample and what that means for you.
Gene tet(M). Tetracyclines are used for genital infections and for acne, among other things.
Gene erm(B). Relevant for clindamycin, which is prescribed for bacterial vaginosis.
Gene mef(A). A pump mechanism that moves macrolides such as azithromycin out of the cell.
Gene lnu(A). A second route through which lincosamides can lose their effect.
nim family. Relevant for metronidazole, the most common treatment for bacterial vaginosis.
Gene aph(3')-III. Aminoglycosides are used for more severe infections.
Genes vanA and vanB. Relevant for vancomycin, a reserve antibiotic against gram-positive bacteria.
Gene mecA, the marker for methicillin-resistant staphylococci.
- When symptoms return after several courses of antibiotics.
- With recurrent vaginal symptoms or urinary tract infections.
- Before a planned procedure.
- After a hospital stay.
Resistance genes are part of our standard report. It shows the drug class, the gene and the status, so that you can discuss the result with your doctor.
Everything you need to take your swab
The kit arrives as a box with everything you need to take your swab at home. Afterwards, the tube goes back into the same box and you send it to the laboratory using the prepaid return label. Nothing to buy, nothing to pack and no appointment needed.
Render: box with kit contents-
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Swab with stabilising tubeFor the self-collected vaginal swab. Keeps the DNA in your sample stable in the post, without refrigeration.
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Illustrated step-by-step instructionsGuides you through the sampling in a few minutes, plus the notes on preparation.
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Card with your registration code (Sample ID Card)Use it to link the kit online with your Bactera account.
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Hygiene bag (protective bubble wrap)Sealable and padded, for safe transport of the tube.
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Prepaid return label on the boxThe same box goes back to the laboratory. Seal it, apply the label, drop it off. Return shipping is included in the price.
Why shotgun shows more than a 16S test
Most vaginal flora tests read a single marker gene or culture only what will grow in the lab. We read the entire DNA of your swab.
| Culture methodCulture (other providers) | 16S sequencing16S (other providers) | Shotgun metagenomicsShotgun (Bactera) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What is read | Some bacteria and fungi | A single marker gene | The entire DNA of the sample |
| Resolution | A few bacteria | Mostly genus level | Species level |
| Lactobacillus species separated | No | Unreliable | ✓Yes, six species individually |
| Gardnerella species separated | No | No | ✓Yes, four species |
| Yeasts | Partly | No | ✓Yes, six species |
| Functional genes | No | No | ✓Yes, D-lactate, sialidase and more |
| Antimicrobial resistance | Limited | No | ✓Yes, eight gene families |
The comparison covers only the sequencing depth per sample, i.e. the number of reads analysed. It refers to the analysis method and not to individual providers. More sequencing depth means more DNA analysed per sample.
Among the leading vaginal flora analyses in Europe
Most vaginal tests on the German market are pH self-tests, culture methods or PCR panels for a few target organisms. We sequence the entire DNA of your swab, the method used in international vaginal microbiome research. Here is what that means in numbers.
Sequencing depth at the level of international microbiome research, instead of the roughly 10,000 reads of a typical 16S test. If required, we increase the sequencing depth: contact us before ordering via our contact page or info@bactera.de.
L. crispatus, L. iners, L. jensenii, L. gasseri, L. paragasseri and L. mulieris are reported separately. That distinction is what matters in vaginal ecology.
Antibiotic resistance genes are part of our standard report and not an add-on module at extra cost.
A 16S test shows the genus Lactobacillus. The species differ considerably in stability and metabolism, and that distinction is the core of a vaginal flora analysis.
We assign your community to one of the 13 published ecological reference patterns and describe how clear the match is.
Shotgun metagenomics at species level is the standard that international microbiome research works to. In consumer analytics it is one of the few methods used worldwide.
Yeasts are read from the same DNA, together with the antibiotic resistance genes across eight gene families. Both are part of the standard report.
The bioinformatics runs in our own analysis pipelines in Cologne, at the highest scientific level. We do not buy in finished reports.
The full organism list, FASTQ files and raw abundances are available for download at any time, plus the free reanalysis of your stored sample.
This positioning refers to the analysis method used in each case and to publicly available information from providers of vaginal tests for consumers in the German-speaking market, as of 2026.
Four steps to your report
Order and register your kit
With you in 1 to 3 working days. Register your kit online at www.my.bactera.de with the code from the box.
Take your swab at home
Self-collected following the illustrated instructions, in a few minutes and without an appointment.
Send it back prepaid
The same box goes back to the laboratory with prepaid postage. The analysis is carried out by Bactera in Germany with our own bioinformatic analysis pipelines at the highest scientific standard.
Your report after 4 to 6 weeks
In your Bactera account at www.my.bactera.de, with explanations, interpretation and raw data to download.
Frequently asked questions about the vaginal analysis
What is a vaginal microbiome test and what does it show?
A vaginal microbiome test, also called a vaginal flora test, examines the microorganisms in the vagina from a self-collected swab. Our test uses shotgun DNA sequencing to read the entire DNA of the sample and identifies bacteria and yeasts down to species level. The report shows your community state type, the Vaginal Protection Index, diversity and dominance, the Lactobacillus profile with six species, five functional panels, four vaginal health patterns, the microbial profile with 52 organisms, a screening of clinically relevant organisms and eight families of resistance genes.
What is a community state type?
Vaginal communities fall into a small number of recurring patterns called community state types. They are the framework the scientific literature on the vaginal microbiome is organised around. Your sample is compared against 13 reference patterns and matched to the closest one, with match strength, the next closest pattern and a classification. The report also shows how common each type is in the reference group and which organisms define your type.
Why does the Lactobacillus species matter?
Because the species behave differently from one another. L. crispatus, L. gasseri and L. jensenii make both D- and L-lactic acid; L. iners makes only the L-form. The D-form is the one most closely associated with a settled, well-defended environment. That is why we report L. crispatus, L. iners, L. jensenii, L. gasseri, L. paragasseri and L. mulieris individually rather than as a single Lactobacillus number, each with its share, percentile and position versus women with your community state type.
What is the Vaginal Protection Index?
An index from 0 to 100 in five bands, from strongly protective to strongly disrupted. It describes how closely your bacterial community resembles the compositions most consistently associated, in published studies, with a stable and well-defended vaginal environment. Four components go into it: protective lactobacilli, disruption-associated bacteria, community concentration and similarity to an optimal community. The report shows your points for each component and explains what is driving the score.
What does the test show about bacterial vaginosis or thrush?
The report describes how closely your bacterial community resembles the communities described in the literature on bacterial vaginosis: five signals, each with your value, the reference, points and a reading. Six yeast species, including Candida albicans and Nakaseomyces glabratus, are reported in the same run as detected or not detected. Every pattern is explained in the report so you can take it straight to your consultation.
What is the difference between shotgun sequencing, 16S and a PCR panel?
A PCR panel checks a fixed list of organisms that someone selected in advance. A 16S test reads a single marker gene and usually stops at genus level: it shows that Lactobacillus is present, but the species remains open. Shotgun metagenomics reads the entire DNA of the swab: six Lactobacillus species and four Gardnerella species individually, yeasts in the same run, functional genes such as sialidase genes and the pathways of D-lactic acid production, and eight families of resistance genes.
How do I take the sample and when in my cycle should I test?
With the swab from the test kit, at home, in a few minutes following the illustrated instructions. Take the sample outside your period, avoid vaginal medication, lubricants and intercourse for 24 hours beforehand, and do not shower or bathe immediately before sampling. After antibiotics or antifungals, wait at least two weeks if you want to see your community in its normal state.
Which reference group is my sample compared with?
With 1,850 reproductive-age women who reported no vaginal symptoms at the time of sampling. Every value in the report is positioned against this group, and many additionally against women with your community state type, because vaginal organisms are usually either dominant or nearly absent. Because vaginal communities differ substantially between life stages, a matching reference group is used during pregnancy or after the menopause.
How long does the analysis take?
Usually 4 to 6 weeks after your sample arrives at the laboratory. The reason is the method: shotgun metagenomics generates considerably more data than a 16S test, and this data is then analysed in our own pipelines. You will be notified by email as soon as your report is ready.
What does the test cost and does health insurance pay for it?
The test costs a one-time €329,00 including shipping and prepaid return within Germany. It is a self-pay service. Statutory health insurers in Germany generally do not cover the cost of microbiome analyses. Whether a private insurer or a subsidy scheme contributes depends on your plan.
Does the analysis also test for sexually transmitted infections (STIs)?
Yes, as a supplement. Your swab is additionally screened for the DNA of Chlamydia trachomatis (chlamydia), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (gonorrhoea), Trichomonas vaginalis (trichomonas) and Mycoplasma genitalium, so that an important incidental finding does not go unnoticed. To put it in context: the screening is based on sequencing and is less sensitive than the PCR tests doctors use to investigate sexually transmitted infections. Any detection is therefore confirmed by your doctor, and for regular STI check-ups the test at your clinic remains the right way.
What do free report upgrades mean and what happens to my data?
Your sample is analysed in Germany and processed under a pseudonym. Genetic data is specially protected data under Article 9 GDPR. Your sequencing data stays securely stored: whenever a new analysis becomes available, your existing sequencing data is re-analysed and your report upgraded free of charge, without you sending in a new swab, and with a second sample your report gains the Change over time section. You can download your complete organism list, your FASTQ files and your raw abundance data at any time. Your data is never sold, and you can object to the storage at any time.