Every woman’s vaginal flora is a unique blend of around 50 different species of microbes, including healthy bacteria, to keep everything fresh and infection-free. Taking a probiotic specifically for vaginal health can help ward off nasty and uncomfortable infections by balancing your lady garden. We’re going to show you exactly how they do this and which products you should be looking out for.
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Are probiotics right for me?
If you’re someone who struggles with recurring yeast infections (thrush), urinary tract infections (UTI) or bacterial vaginosis (BV) then a probiotic supplement may be exactly what you need to help your body fend them off.
However, there are a few people that shouldn’t be taking probiotics:
- Anyone with immune problems
- Critically ill individuals
- Anyone who has undergone surgery recently
Probiotic supplements are considered safe for healthy individuals due to the fact we have good bacteria in our bodies already – so adding a few more shouldn’t hurt. However, some mild side effects in the first couple weeks can include gas, bloating and an upset stomach. Speak to your doctor and cease use if these symptoms don’t subside or if they’re anything more than slightly uncomfortable, as the probiotics may not be agreeing with your system.
Alternatively, you can get your probiotics from fermented food and drink such as kimchi, kombucha and yoghurt. We’re going to give you some recommendations for probiotic supplements at the end of this article though, so you can decide which avenue is right for you.
How do probiotics help with vaginal health?
Let’s get straight to the point. The most prominent and helpful type of bacteria in your vaginal flora is Lactobacillus and it basically helps to maintain balance of the acidic pH down there (very important). When the balance of good bacteria inside the vagina is thrown out of whack, it gives way for bad bacteria to fill the spaces which results in nasty infections.
There are a number of factors that can throw off the delicate balance like contraceptives, unprotected sex, antibiotics, perfumed soaps and so much more. Unpleasant odours, irritation like stinging, itching and burning and/or funky discharge that’s anything other than a clear or creamy colour, are solid indications that something’s not quite right.
Antibiotics are generally the recommended treatment after an episode of thrush, BV or a UTI, but this will kill off the good bacteria as well – leaving you susceptible for recurring episodes if the bad bacteria repopulates your vagina before the healthy microbes have the chance to. That’s why taking a good quality vaginal probiotic supplement is a great prevention method, even for stubborn cases of recurring infections.
Besides the above, a healthy vaginal microbiome also assists with:
- Reducing the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STI)
- Promoting healthy fertility and pregnancy
- Possibly easing symptoms of endometriosis
- Preventing cervical cancer
Lactobacillus – a strain you need
According to this in-depth medical article, a healthy woman’s vaginal flora will be dominated by Lactobacillus species. Within this species of probiotic, the most commonly seen strains in the vagina are:
- L. iners
- L. crispatus
- L. gasseri
- L. jenesenii
- L. acidophilus
- L. fermentum
- L. plantarum
- L. brevis
- L. casei
- L. vaginalis,
- L. delbrueckii
- L. salivarius
- L. reuteri
- L. rhamnosus
Some women have a natural lack of lactobacilli strains and so are more susceptible to infections such as:
Yeast infections (vaginal thrush)
Caused by an overgrowth of the fungus candida albicans, this can range from mild to severe irritation of the vagina and vulva including itching, burning, pain and rashes accompanied by thick, white discharge.
Bacterial vaginosis (BV)
One of the most common vaginal imbalance issues that results in a fishy odour, milky or gray, lumpy discharge, itching and burning during urination. This is a direct result of too many different species of bacteria in the vagina causing an elevated pH (above 4.5). It can be caused by new or multiple sexual partners, washing or douching the vagina and other factors that are harder to pinpoint.
Urinary tract infection (UTI)
When nasty bacteria enters the urethra (close to the vagina), they can travel up it and multiply in your bladder. This leads way to highly uncomfortable symptoms, the most common one being an intense need to urinate frequently but only being able to pass small amounts when you do. The urine will appear cloudy and pink, smelling quite strongly and this will all be accompanied with pain in the pelvis. Ensuring the bacteria in your vagina is healthy will minimize the risk of contracting a UTI.
As mentioned above, the treatment for these bacterial infections and imbalances are generally antibiotics. Taking a probiotic at the same time has been seen to stop recurring infections and prevent future ones as well because your lactobacilli strains are replenished and start working before the bad bacteria can take hold.
What should I be looking for in a probiotic supplement?
Not all probiotic supplements are made equal, and that’s because each different probiotic strain and family have their own unique strengths and weaknesses.
Different probiotic products will contain strains and species to target certain aspects of health. In general, a standard probiotic for overall health will be focused towards the bacteria in your gut, of which there are trillions, and will include a mix of beneficial bifidobacteria and lactobacilli strains. Some of these lactobacilli probiotics will trickle down to assist with your vaginal health.
But we’re focusing on vaginal health in particular here – so finding a probiotic supplement that targets your vaginal flora is crucial. This ensures that the supplement is made up of only (or mainly) beneficial lactobacilli strains that specifically populate the vagina, so you’re going to have a plentiful amount of them end up down there to help colonize and maintain the balance of healthy bacteria.
It will also ensure that the strains included are known to be hardy enough to survive the trip through your body, or the supplement has added technology to carry them there. This is necessary because probiotic bacteria can easily be killed off by the harsh acid in your stomach or lose their potency after travelling through the gut. To combat this further, some probiotic capsules are designed to be inserted directly into the vagina – but if this makes you feel uneasy, don’t worry, the majority are designed to be consumed orally!
5 best probiotics for vaginal health
#1 Balance Complex for Women
A potent mix
Along with 4 billion colony forming units (CFU) of L. acidophilus, this probiotic and prebiotic product contains the following goodies to boost your vaginal health:
- Anise seed – Known to have antibacterial properties that allows it to kill off bad bacteria so lactobacilli can populate instead. Good for preventing BV.
- Aloe vera – Antifungal properties that attack yeast. Anti inflammatory properties to reduce irritation and itching.
- Wormwood – A herb powder that attacks bacteria and is good for preventing BV and yeast infections, good at reducing length of infections due to aggressive nature.
- Black walnut hulls – Effective antifungal ingredient, good for fighting BV.
- Oregano extract – Antifungal, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial herb extract which is said to be one of the best natural BV remedies available.
- Reishi mushroom – Used for centuries in oriental medicine, it contains magnesium, fiber, calcium and potassium to fight BV.
Tried and tested
With over 2,500 reviews on Amazon and a 4.5/5 star rating, this product has been tried and tested by thousands of happy customers. So many women have commented that they feel much fresher when using this product with noticeably less odour and abnormal discharge, boosting their confidence significantly after having tried so many ineffective products.
Some have even remarked that their acne has been reduced which is an awesome bonus and is probably due to all the anti-inflammatory/antibacterial ingredients it contains.
The most common improvement reported was no more (or significantly reduced) BV episodes, so if this is something you suffer from you may want to consider getting your hands on a bottle of these capsules.
Price: (90 capsules) on Amazon
PRO’S
- Lots of anti-inflammatory, antifungal and antibacterial ingredients
- 4 billion CFU of L. acidophilus
- Contains prebiotic to feed the probiotics
- Targeted support for vaginal health
- Over 2,500 reviews on Amazon and a 4.5/5 star rating
CON’S
- Only 1 strain of probiotic
- Less affordable than other brands
- 2 capsules a day
#2 RepHresh Pro-B Feminine Probiotic
2 targeted strains
This product keeps it super simple with a blend of 5 billion CFU containing the strains L. rhamnosus and L. reuteri which have been clinically tested and proven to balance yeast and bacteria in the vagina. There are no other ingredients except a few fillers and binders like potato starch and magnesium stearate. This product does contain milk, so if you’re lactose intolerant you may want to steer clear, even though it’s a tiny amount.
One capsule daily
This is super convenient for those who dislike swallowing capsules and generally just keeping things simple. Reviewers report that this product really helped them with their recurring BV or chronic yeast infections, minimising odour and prolonging freshness more than anything they’d tried so far.
Price: (30 capsules) on Amazon
PRO’S
- 5 billion CFU of L. rhamnosus and L. reuteri
- Affordable
- 1 capsule daily
- Targeted support for vaginal health
- Almost 2,000 reviews on Amazon and a 4/5 star rating
CON’S
- No prebiotics
- No guarantee of CFU delivery or added technology to keep bacteria alive
#3 Renew Life Ultimate Flora Women’s Probiotic
Does it all
Whilst this isn’t specifically targeted at vaginal health, it’s a women’s probiotic from a well-known brand that will assist with immune and digestive health as well. With 25 billion CFU, a hefty amount of them will make it through your gut and down to your vagina. 22.5 billion CFU are made up of 8 different lactobacilli strains so you know you’re going to get a range of targeted support for your vaginal health.
Guarantees
Probiotics tend to die off over time and so it’s not always guaranteed that you’ll get the amount of CFU you see printed on the label. But Renew Life guarantees that 25 billion CFU will be ready to work all the way up until the product’s expiry, so you can be assured you’re getting your money’s worth.
Price: (30 capsules) on Amazon
PRO’S
- 25 billion CFU
- 10 strains (8 lactobacilli strains)
- Affordable
- 1 capsule daily
- Supports immune, digestive and vaginal health
- Almost 1,000 reviews on Amazon and a 4.5/5 star rating
- Guaranteed CFU
- Gluten, dairy and soy free
CON’S
- No prebiotics
- Not specifically targeted for vaginal health
#4 Garden of Life RAW Probiotics Women’s Vaginal Care
A powerhouse blend
This product contains 50 billion CFU, 3 yeast-digesting enzymes, 38 probiotic strains (20+ lactobacilli strains) and a blend of RAW fruits and veggies to mimic the experience of eating real, fermented, probiotic-rich foods. With this many probiotics contained in each capsule, all your digestive, immune and vaginal needs will be supported and nourished.
Price: (30 capsules) on Amazon
PRO’S
- 50 billion CFU
- 38 strains (20+ lactobacilli strains)
- Yeast-digesting enzymes
- Affordable
- 1 capsule daily
- Supports immune, digestive and vaginal health (targeted mainly towards vaginal health)
- Guaranteed CFU
- Fruits and veggies added blend
CON’S
- Not all strains specifically targeted for vaginal health
#5 vH Essentials Prebiotic Vaginal Suppositories
For the brave
Last but not least, we have a product that’s a little different from the rest. Firstly, it’s made with prebiotics which are tiny, indigestible fibres that feed probiotics and get them working optimally. But secondly, these suppositories are inserted straight into the vagina with the provided applicator. This might be a good product for someone who dislikes swallowing capsules or wants fast, targeted support. Designed for use over a 15 day period, this product combines prebiotics and lactic acid to feed the probiotics in your vagina, balance your pH and keep you fresh.
Price: (15 suppositories) on Amazon
PRO’S
- Once daily application
- Targeted and fast support
- No capsules to swallow
- Prebiotics to help probiotics work optimally inside vagina
- Lactic acid to balance pH
CON’S
- Some women may find application inconvenient/unsuitable
- No included probiotics
Conclusion
If you’re struggling with BV, vaginal thrush, UTIs or just want some extra protection to safeguard your vaginal flora then you should consider a vaginal probiotic supplement. Restore balance, prevent infections and reap all of the health benefits of a happy vaginal flora with a powerhouse probiotic blend that your lady garden will thank you for.
Take a look at the products we’ve listed above to explore the top probiotic supplements on the market right now that will help you and your vagina live your best life!
Adele Taylor
Writer, Product Tester.
Adele is a budding content writer with a passion for all things health and fitness related. In her time off Adele enjoys reading, travelling and exploring Sydney’s culinary delights.
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PREBIOTIC VAGINAL SUPPOSATORIES – CAN THESE BE USED WITH VAGIFEM ( TWCE A WEEK). I HAVE VAGINAL ATROPHY AND MENOPAUSAL