Sometimes, vaginal infections can be so mild, you may not realize you have one. Other times, there is burning, itching and discharge! Still, when you’re experiencing a vaginal issue, it’s not always easy to figure out what type of infection you have. Don’t feel discouraged if you’re confused! Here, we discuss the differences between a […]
Author: MyPathAdvantage
We think women deserve valid and relevant answers about their health. That’s why PathAdvantage was started; a pathology laboratory, founded and owned by a woman pathologist, and not beholden to shareholders or investment firms. We wanted to offer a different kind of experience for patients and doctors by placing accuracy and patient experience above profits. […]
Regular testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is essential; many common STIs show no symptoms and can still cause serious long term health issues. Scary, we know! We recommend testing at least once a year if you are sexually active. But we know finding the time for appointments isn’t always easy. That’s where at-home STI […]
One of the remarkable aspects of the vaginal microbiome is just how varied it can be from one person to the next. Clinically, we know what bacteria and organisms tend to be linked to infections or imbalance. But a healthy vaginal microbiome can present in several different ways. To make sense of this variety, researchers […]
Vaginal health tests (like ours) are becoming more common — and more accessible — thanks to advances in lab testing and growing interest in personal health. These tests can give you an in-depth look at the makeup of your microbiome, reporting on things like bacterial balance, yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis (BV), sexually transmitted infections (STIs), ulcers, […]
Endometriosis affects 10 percent of women of reproductive age, yet we still know relatively little about its causes — largely due to a long-standing lack of research in women’s health. A McKinsey analysis found that in 2019-2023 funding for companies focused on erectile dysfunction was six times higher than that for companies focused on endometriosis. […]
Would you believe the most common STIs often cause no symptoms? It’s true! And the impact on women is significant — compared to men, women lose more quality-adjusted life years due to infections from chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trich. These infections can have severe health consequences if left untreated. And because these STIs can be asymptomatic, […]
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is one of the most common vaginal infections, affecting 1/3 of women worldwide at some point in their lives. Treatment of BV is simple, but rates of reinfection are high, and often women will struggle with fully eradicating the infection. However, a new study sheds light on what might be causing the […]
Bathrooms can be vile, unsavory and smelly places — so no wonder people think you can get an STI from a toilet seat! But the theory doesn’t hold much scientific sway. Here, we dispel restroom fact from fiction. How STIs are Transmitted STIs are transmitted in multiple ways. Some can be transmitted skin to skin; […]
When it comes to STIs, trichomoniasis, or trich as it is commonly called, is the most common curable sexually transmitted infection. It’s spread through vaginal fluids and semen during sexual intercourse. The complicated sounding name comes from the parasite, Trichomonas vaginalis. The reason it’s so common is that most people (up to 95%) don’t have […]