vagina_museum

vagina_museum, 12 hours ago

The vaginal microbiome is a name for colony the microorganisms that live in the vagina, known as vaginal flora. The balance changes throughout life, and "good" bacteria such as Lactobacillus strains help the vagina to self-clean and prevent infections. Imbalances can result in infections. Research into the vaginal microbiome is in its infancy: we know a bit, but we don't know everything yet.

vagina_museum, 12 hours ago

The way paid-for at-home microbiome test kits work for the consumer is that you take a sample from your vagina and send it off to a lab. You'll then be sent a report, telling you if your microbiome is "healthy" or not, sometimes indicating the presence or absence of other microorganisms in there.

vagina_museum, 12 hours ago

In the lab, various techniques are used to analyse the sample. The sample is compared to a database using an algorithm, or relative prevalence of various microorganisms is analysed, also using an algorithm. Because the companies offering these tests are private, the algorithms and databases are usually proprietary, meaning there's no way to scrutinise the computational techniques or datasets on which results are generated.

vagina_museum, 12 hours ago

Because the data isn't publicly accessible by publication, it's rare to find a testing company who will be transparent about the basics, such as if a test was run on the same sample twice, it would give the same results. When a comparison database is used, it's also hard to know how representative the dataset is.

vagina_museum, 12 hours ago

Because we know so little about the vaginal microbiome in general, datasets are, at best, as incomplete as the rest of science. A database probably won't include every single genetic variant of a strain of bacteria. They're also likely to be skewed specifically towards white populations.

vagina_museum, 12 hours ago

At the end of the day, we don't know enough about what a typical and healthy microbiome looks like, and it's likely that this differs across populations anyway - for example, African American women are more likely to have a healthy microbiome which contains very little Lactobacillus and more of other bacteria.

vagina_museum, 12 hours ago

There's also a question over clinical validity and utility: whether the test kits are genuinely establishing a disease that needs treating. If a test detects presence of a small amount of a specific bacteria in absence of other symptoms, it doesn't necessarily mean you need treating with antibiotics - in fact, this could be harmful to your microbiome!

vagina_museum, 12 hours ago

It's also worth noting that many companies that sell vaginal microbiome test kits also sell probiotic supplements. There's not enough evidence to say whether these are effective or for whom.

vagina_museum, 12 hours ago

The surge in these products comes for several reasons. First of all, there are likely to be lots of benefits to at-home testing for infections rather than going to a doctor for your swab, and this is a preferable for some people for a variety of reasons. There are clinically-backed, regulated pilot studies and programmes happening around the world to assess at-home testing for STIs or HPV.

vagina_museum, 12 hours ago

The other reason is that gynaecological health concerns are often dismissed by doctors. If you're having recurrent yeast infections or symptoms, sometimes it can be hard to feel heard and continue advocating for yourself. These tests can feel like they provide answers.

These are genuine and real problems that healthcare providers must address.

vagina_museum, 12 hours ago

Science has a lot of catching up to do on the vaginal microbiome and its role in vaginal and broader health. The research is now happening, and every year a clearer picture begins to develop. But we're not quite there yet in this understanding.

vagina_museum, 1 day ago

we're not sure what the baggy thing in the lower left is. anyone got any ideas?

vagina_museum, 1 day ago

@CaptainJanegay @mshaw we are still not entirely convinced it's any part of the gynae anatomy whatsoever because 17th century anatomists were obsessed with putting entirely random pictures together on a page.

vagina_museum, 4 days ago

All merch in the collection is designed by sex worker artists, and the proceeds from the collection are split to support our work, and NUM's work in ending violence against sex workers. Treat yourself! https://vaginamuseumshop.co.uk/collections/num-collab-collection

vagina_museum, 6 days ago

The Conservatives won the election by a landslide, and felt they had the mandate to begin enacting their rhetoric. In their Local Government Act of 1988, they included Section 28, a provision which amended a previous Act to include:
(1) A local authority shall not—
(a) intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality;
(b) promote the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship.

vagina_museum, 6 days ago

There was campaigning from many groups before the legislation was passed. The wording of Section 28 was ultimately tempered due to interventions from the arts sector, who were concerned about broader arts censorship; and specific exemptions for health were included.

The main opposition party, Labour, initially did not oppose the legislation, but changed their course when their rivals, the Liberal Democrats, came out against it.

vagina_museum, 6 days ago

The LGBT+ community mobilised in opposition to Section 28. Actor Sir Ian McKellan came out in a radio interview in response. Lesbians invaded a BBC news broadcast, chaining themselves to desks and sitting on chairs to make themselves heard. Marches took place across the country.

Image: London march in April 1988, Rick Colls/Rex/Shutterstock

vagina_museum, 6 days ago

Despite the activism and advocacy work, Section 28 passed on 24th May 1988. The wording of the legislation was vague and somewhat circular. Multiple clarifications were issued almost immediately.

In the 15 years Section 28 was in effect, there was not a single prosecution. This was largely because under such vague wording, there was a lot of self-censorship among teachers and local authorities.

vagina_museum, 6 days ago

A 1991 survey found that 86% of young people had never received any information about lesbians, including that they exist, at school.

vagina_museum, 6 days ago

Activists worked tirelessly for the entire time that Section 28 was in effect. They campaigned for repeal, and the community mobilised to try to provide information in spaces where it was not prohibited.

Section 28 was repealed in Scotland in 2000, and in 2003 in the rest of the UK, following more than a decade of tireless campaigning to repeal the legislation.

vagina_museum, 6 days ago

The impact of a generation of people receiving next to no education about LGBT+ people existing is difficult to quantify, and difficult to measure. How do you even begin to measure the stigma, and the impact of over a decade of invisibility?

Even in 2014, a Stonewall survey found that 37% of primary school teachers didn't know if they were allowed to teach about LGBT+ issues. And even in 2019, anecdotal reports suggested some librarians thought Section 28 was still in effect.

vagina_museum, 6 days ago

Some politicians who were involved in bringing Section 28 into being, such as Michael Howard, later said their views had changed. Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron apologised for the legislation. And yet, its impact still continues to be felt.