Dr. Kim Capone, Lead educator of SHWI and Chief Science Officer for Vaginal Biome Science.
VENUS Study Update: Exciting Progress and Opportunities for Collaboration
We are thrilled to report we have enrolled 95 patients across 14 clinical sites in the VENUS vaginal microbiome study thus far. We are still recruiting additional Principal Investigators, so if you are interested in contributing to this exciting research, please use our link to set up a call to discuss further.
The VENUS Study aims to explore the complex vaginal microbiome and its connection to gynecological conditions such as bacterial vaginosis, candidiasis, lichen sclerosus, GSM, vulvodynia, and more. By analyzing microbial diversity at the time of diagnosis, we hope to revolutionize diagnosis and treatment options, paving the way for more personalized care for women.
qPCR-based Vaginal Microbiome Test
Vaginal Biome Science has successfully developed the first comprehensive, multi-target, qPCR vaginal microbiota test available in the United States. In addition to the clinical utility of this test, our panel also offers a more complete, but not overwhelming, picture of the overall microbial community for holistically minded practitioners and consumers interested in understanding their own health. Our intention in building this assay was to provide a means to better understand the hard to diagnose patients with a more robust and easy to understand quantified data set.
The health of the vaginal microbiome underlies and reflects overall vaginal health. Disruptions in the vaginal microbiome can be caused by anaerobic or aerobic bacteria, or yeast. These “out of balance” or dysbiotic states can be difficult to distinguish from each other, as they can all present with varying combinations of vulvovaginal symptoms including abnormal discharge, malodor, irritation, itch, redness, pain, and even ulcers or fissures developing in the tissue. Many women with dysbiosis in their vaginal microbiome can be asymptomatic but nonetheless have increased susceptibility to sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and, for pregnant women, a wide range of adverse pregnancy outcomes like preterm delivery, maternal infections, and even infertility. Unfortunately, studies have shown that women are not able to reliably self-diagnose. Worse, healthcare providers are also inaccurate with predicting the correct diagnosis based solely on symptoms and clinical exam. A molecular test is needed to provide accurate detection of vaginal microbes that can be used by a health care provider for clinical decision-making.
We look forward to engaging with you and making this test available for your patients in 2025, along with new opportunities to partner with us both in product research, clinical trials and educational webinars.