In recent years, there has been a huge shift in recognizing the impact our health has on our career success. While it is great to see strides being made when it comes to aspects of our health, such as mental health in the workplace, conversations around gynecological health still remain fairly taboo. In fact, research has shown that 41% of women said they had taken time off work for health issues they did not feel comfortable sharing with their boss, and 36% said they had felt anxious, embarrassed and uncomfortable at work due to issues with their pelvic health. 

However, knowing that every woman will have a vaginal infection in her lifetime and that BV (bacterial vaginosis), specifically, plagues 30% of American women and AFAB individuals, we cannot ignore the impact that our vaginal health has on our lives any longer. Enter Daye, the pioneering healthcare brand on a mission to remove the pain, shame and time wasted from gynecological health. They are tackling gynecological health from every angle, with a particular focus on the vaginal microbiome and how we can use new technologies to learn more about our bodies than ever before, putting us in control of our own health journeys.

What is the vaginal microbiome and why should I care about it? 

If the phrase 'vaginal microbiome' isn’t familiar to you, you are not alone. The gender health gap that is embedded into our healthcare system means that relevant understanding of gynecological health has often been lacking. This is due to a woeful scarcity of funding when it comes to research in this field. Yet, Daye believes that 2024 will be the Year of the Vaginal Microbiome because of the knowledge it can provide in many areas, including: 

- Unlocking the reasons why someone may be having recurring infections (yeast, BV, STIs)

- Checking for microbes that may make it more difficult to conceive, determining if an IVF cycle is less likely to be successful

- Shedding more light on chronic gynecological health conditions and changes including menopause and endometriosis

So, what exactly is it? Put simply, the vaginal microbiome is the ecosystem of good and bad bacteria, yeasts and other microorganisms that live inside your vagina. When its balance is off, bad bacteria and pathogens take over, making it more vulnerable to infections and other gynecological health complications, including fertility challenges. The team at Daye assert that if we are able to demystify the vaginal microbiome, we can gain a more holistic understanding of our overall health. This even has the potential to save women thousands of dollars on ineffective vaginal infection treatments and IVF, or other fertility interventions, by exposing any underlying issues and allowing personalized treatment plans.

The part disruptive technology plays 

Now we know the value of understanding the role that our vaginal microbiome plays in our overall health, what can we do to find out more? Daye have created the first-of-its-kind At-Home Vaginal Microbiome Screening, where you can receive a kit directly to your door, send back your sample to their lab and they will provide you with easy to understand results online. The kit itself includes a tampon to take better, more accurate samples than a standard swab. Tampons are used by 90% of American women and AFAB individuals, and using them as a sample collection device is not only innovative but they allow for comfortable, at-home testing, a much welcome development in a field that is known for uncomfortable, and often painful, experiences.

Innovations such as these have huge potential to change how women and AFAB individuals experience personalized gynecological care. In an age where we can have any product in the world delivered to our doorstep at the touch of a button and breakthroughs are being made in healthcare everyday, it is time we take gynae health out of the shadows. Daye are leading the charge when it comes to innovative thinking around women’s health, not just through their diagnostic tampons, but with their CBD tampons and Period Pain Clinic. 

Jumping in the driver's seat of our own gynae health

Here at AllBright we know how inextricably linked our health and our career success are, which is why we welcome this new frontier in women’s health.

The importance of disruptive technology like this, when it comes to tackling issues like period pain and fertility, will be incredibly important to help close the gender healthcare gap, by raising the standards in gynae health. As we move forward in a world where disruptive technologies, such as AI, are transforming landscapes, it’s essential we continue to take Daye’s lead and support innovative products and services that can help women across the globe. 

Learn more about Daye’s mission to support women’s gynae health and their ground-breaking products. AllBright members enjoy an exclusive 20% off sitewide with code ALLBRIGHT20. Valid through Jan 31, 2024.