Our 8 Picks for At-Home Bacterial Vaginosis Tests of 2023 - Verywell Health

Final Verdict

The myLAB Box V-Box is the most comprehensive at-home test on our list, since it not only checks you for common BV-causing bacterial strains but also four other frequent causes of vaginal itching, helping you better pinpoint the source of your symptoms. If you're looking for speedy (but less comprehensive results), the AZO Vaginal pH Screening Kit will give you instant clues to your vaginal health. If you need to test regularly,  Natureland Vaginal Health pH Test Strips are a reliable value option on a budget, while the Evvy Vaginal Health Test provides lab results on the presence of harmful bacteria.

Compare At-Home Bacterial Vaginosis Tests

Guide to Choosing an At-Home Bacterial Vaginosis Test

Who Should Use An At-Home Bacterial Vaginosis Test?

You may want to consider an at-home BV test if you're experiencing any unusual vaginal symptoms such as discharge, foul odor, discomfort, burning, or itching. People with a history of bacterial vaginosis are the best candidates to use an at-home test, according to Lindsay Modglin, a former nurse and subject matter expert who helped us evaluate at-home BV tests: "Home tests offer the convenience of not having to schedule a doctor's appointment every time symptoms arise." 

What Can At-Home Bacterial Vaginosis Tests Tell You?

According to Modglin, at-home BV tests can identify two things: the pH level of your vaginal fluid and common strains of bacteria known to cause BV. 

• Vaginal pH: Abnormal pH is an indicator of BV, says Modglin. If your pH test strip reads higher than 4.5, you may have BV (or, possibly, a yeast infection).  
• Bacteria: There are several strains of bacteria known to cause BV, including Gardnerella vaginalis, Mycoplasma hominis, and Ureaplasma urealyticum, among others.

Instant-result tests usually only measure your pH level, while lab-processed tests typically only check for the presence of specific bacteria. Most tests don't check both metrics, so make sure you know which type of test you want.

Both types of detection, Modglin says, require a sample of the vaginal fluid collected via swab. A few of the tests on our list use a urine sample instead, which has been shown to be as effective in detecting bacterial strains as the traditional swab. 

When Should You Take an At-Home Bacterial Vaginosis Test? 

Modglin suggests taking an at-home BV test after you've experienced symptoms such as an abnormal odor or discharge. Some other cases when you may want to take an at-home BV test include:

• If you have an upcoming vaginal surgery
• If you have a history of recurrent BV
• If you've had intercourse with someone with a BV infection
• If you've recently had BV, but who suspect a relapse

You should also get tested for BV if you have suspected symptoms and are pregnant, since untreated BV during pregnancy can cause complications.

How Accurate Are At-Home Bacterial Vaginosis Tests?

At-home tests for BV can potentially be as effective as tests done in a doctor's office, says Modglin, but there are a few things you should keep in mind.

Vaginal pH test strips have been shown to be effective in detecting abnormally high pH levels consistent with BV, but you won't get any more information with these—you'll only know your pH level, not which type of bacteria is causing your symptoms (or whether your pH level is high because of BV or because of another similar vaginal infection). 

Tests that you send back to a lab for culture processing can give you more clues about what's causing your symptoms and these, too, can be highly reliable, but Modglin says the lab processing your sample is crucial to how accurate your results are. In other words, make sure you choose a test processed by a CLIA-accredited lab for the most accuracy.

How to Compare At-Home Bacterial Vaginosis Tests

There are various factors to consider when deciding which at-home bacterial vaginosis test is best for you. These include:

• Price: Simple tests that only measure vaginal pH levels are inexpensive (often less than $20), but also less informative. If you want a test that detects strains of bacteria that commonly cause BV, you need to invest in a test that allows you to take a sample and send it to a lab. These cost more, but in general, you shouldn't have to spend more than $200 for a high-quality lab test.
• Accuracy of results: For the most part, at-home pH tests are fairly accurate, even when done at home. These rely on taking a vaginal swab or urine sample and applying them to a testing strip designed to measure the acidity or alkalinity of your vaginal discharge or urine. You can't receive accurate vaginal culture results on the spot—you need a lab for that—but a CLIA-accredited lab should be able to process the results from your sample as effectively as if they were taken at a doctor's office. 
• How long it takes to get results: Consider how long it will take for you to receive your results before committing to a test. If you're symptomatic, you may not want to wait five or more days for your results, since this will delay your treatment and prolong your discomfort. But if you're testing for asymptomatic BV, you might not mind waiting longer for lab-tested results.
• Shipping and privacy: If you're concerned about privacy, choose an at-home test that ships the product to you in a discreet box (rather than one that announces it's a box of vaginal swabs in bold letters!). Many of the tests we selected for our list use discreet packaging materials. Also check the shipping times: similar to results timing, if you have symptoms you should choose a test that ships out ASAP rather than three to five days after you order. Only one of our picks (CVS) is widely available for purchase in-store rather than online.

Frequently Asked Questions

• No, but you may see it included in some of the broader STI testing panels. That's because sexual activity is the leading cause of BV, and because having BV increases your risk for contracting an STI such as genital herpes, chlamydia, and even HIV. 

• BV can be asymptomatic, but some people experience one or more of the following symptoms:

  • White or gray vaginal discharge
  • Foul vaginal odor
  • Itching in or around the vagina
  • Pain or burning in the vagina, especially while urinating

  The symptoms of BV are similar to a yeast infection, which is why OTC testing is helpful. Typically, the discharge associated with BV is thinner than with a yeast infection and may have a distinctive "fishy" smell. 

• There are a few "home remedies" available for OTC treatment of BV, but none are confirmed to be effective in curing infections. The only approved treatments for BV are the prescription antibiotics metronidazole and clindamycin.

  If you have tested positive for BV but are asymptomatic, you probably don't need to be treated (unless you're planning vaginal surgery). Antibiotics are usually reserved for people with symptoms.

• If you have symptoms of BV—especially if you have a history of recurring infection—and don't want to test yourself at home, you should make an appointment with a healthcare provider. 

  If you self-test and receive a positive result, Modglin says it's smart to check in with your healthcare provider for recommendations on treatment: "While BV can go away on its own, it sometimes requires treatment and should be monitored by a doctor."

Methodology

To select the best at-home tests for bacterial vaginosis, we compared the options from approximately a  dozen different companies. Some of the tests we considered were too broad, testing for a range of STIs but not BV. After that, we weighed some of the most important factors in choosing a test—like type of test, accuracy, and results time—across the remaining products. 

While we prioritized tests that could identify specific strains of bacteria via lab culture, we kept in mind that those tests required longer processing times, so we also included a few simpler pH tests that could provide instant results for quicker assessment of whether or not you should seek treatment.

While the more comprehensive at-home tests that get sent off to labs for results are higher priced than the basic pH tests, we also made sure not to choose any that cost more than $199. Any more costly and it may not be worth it to test at home versus heading to a healthcare provider for a professional test and exam.

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