good rx vaginal probiotics
Are Probiotics Good for Vaginal Health? What the Studies Say - GoodRx
Probiotics for Vaginal Health: Do They Really Work?
Written by Alicia Stevens, MD | Reviewed by Karla Robinson, MD
Published on October 26, 2023
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Key takeaways:
Probiotics are supplements that may contain different microorganisms, like bacteria and yeast. They’re similar to microorganisms normally found in the body and vagina.
Probiotics may help people with frequent bacterial vaginosis or vaginal yeast infections.
Vaginal probiotics are generally safe. There are no significant side effects or medication interactions.
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Your vaginal health can change throughout your life. Some changes can result in a higher risk of vaginal infections, vaginal dryness, or itching. And this can affect quality of life, sexual interest, or sexual comfort.
So it’s not surprising that many people are interested in a natural way to address these issues. And that’s where probiotics come in. Probiotics are helpful in many areas of the body. Let’s take a closer look at how probiotics can help with your vaginal health.
How can probiotics affect vaginal health?
The vaginal microbiome varies from person to person and includes many types of bacteria. The most common type of bacteria in the vagina is from the Lactobacillus group.
Lactobacillus is a probiotic that can help support a healthy vagina through a proper pH balance. This keeps unwanted bacteria from living in the vagina.
Let’s see how vaginal probiotics like Lactobacillus may help with different aspects of female health.
Menopause
Estrogen levels go down during menopause. This is important because estrogen supports vaginal tissues and Lactobacillus growth. As your estrogen levels go down, probiotics can be helpful to replenish the Lactobacillus in the vaginal tract.
Lactobacillus can also increase the cell lining in the vagina that decreases with menopause. This can help improve symptoms like vaginal dryness.
Medications
Certain medications can affect the types of bacteria that are in the vagina. Antibiotic use can decrease helpful bacteria in the vagina like Lactobacillus. This imbalance can result in bacterial vaginosis or vaginal yeast infections.
Vaginal probiotics can help to treat the symptoms of vaginal yeast infections. And they may prevent bacterial vaginosis from recurring.
Sexual activity
Harmful bacteria can enter the vagina during sexual activity. This may happen from:
Frequent sexual intercourse
Multiple sexual partners (with or without condom use)
Vaginal sex after anal sex
Sexual intercourse can also negatively affect vaginal pH balance. This can cause bacteria that cause infection to outgrow the healthy bacteria in the vagina. It may also be a risk factor for developing vaginal infections like bacterial vaginosis. Vaginal probiotics can help restore this balance.
Hygiene practices
Douching can remove healthy bacteria from the vagina. This practice can also change vaginal pH so that healthy bacteria are less able to grow. Both of these situations can negatively affect vaginal health.
In general, cleansing the inside of the vagina by douching is not needed. Using cleansers to wash the skin of the outer vagina will help prevent a change in the vaginal pH and bacteria there. Adding vaginal probiotics like Lactobacillus can also help to improve the vaginal pH if it has changed.
Smoking
A 2018 study found that women who smoke can have tobacco compounds in their vaginal lining. This can change the chemical makeup of the vagina and change the bacteria that thrives there. Cigarette smoking may decrease the amount of Lactobacillus in your vagina and put you at risk for bacterial vaginosis.
Using vaginal probiotics may help to counter this effect and support the growth of helpful bacteria. This can work to maintain a healthy environment in the vagina.
What vaginal conditions can probiotics be used for?
Probiotics may help improve vaginal health for a few vaginal conditions. Lactobacillus probiotics may help reduce symptoms of certain vaginal infection and menopause.
Bacterial vaginosis
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common cause of abnormal vaginal discharge in the U.S. among 15 to 44 years olds. Although it’s often treated with antibiotics, studies have shown that antibiotics may not work to completely remove the vaginal biofilm from the infection. This barrier can make it difficult for antibiotics to reach the bacteria — causing BV episodes to recur.
Lactobacillus probiotics can break up the biofilm so that antibiotics can reach the bacteria more easily. Studies have shown a lower rate of recurrence of BV in people who used probiotics.
Vaginal dryness
Vaginal dryness is a common symptom in menopause as estrogen levels decrease. This can lead to:
An increased risk of bladder infections
Painful intercourse
Vaginal itching or irritation
Using estrogen along with probiotics has been shown to lessen symptoms from vaginal dryness.
Vaginal yeast infections
Vaginal yeast infections are mainly caused by the overgrowth of Candida yeast. Candida yeast is commonly present in a healthy vagina, but it can grow too much. Lactobacillus probiotics help to prevent the overgrowth of Candida. It can be used along with an antifungal to treat yeast infections.
There’s not enough research on whether probiotics can prevent yeast infections or be used alone as treatment. But Lactobacillus can also help antifungals work better. It may help to decrease resistance to fluconazole — a common treatment for yeast infections.
How to use probiotics
Probiotic type and dosage depend on why you need them. Probiotics for vaginal health can be taken orally (by mouth) as a supplement or inserted into the vagina as a suppository.
But some studies show that probiotics may be more effective when taken orally than vaginally for bacterial vaginosis. If you’re thinking about using probiotics to improve your vaginal health, talk with your provider about the best type and dosage for you.
You may see improvements in vaginal health after using probiotics for 10 days. And effects can last after you’ve stopped the probiotic. The research is still ongoing, but most people seem to tolerate repeated or long-term probiotic use.
Are vaginal probiotics safe?
Probiotics appear to be safe for most people. Serious side effects are rare, and there are no known interactions with medications. That said, you should talk to your provider to make sure probiotics for your vaginal health are safe for you.
In theory, people who have a weak immune system may want to avoid probiotics. This includes people who:
Have active cancer
Are receiving cancer treatments
Have HIV
Are taking high-dose steroids
Are transplant recipients
In these cases, you may be at a higher risk of developing a serious infection with probiotic use.
The bottom line
Lactobacillus probiotics can help support vaginal health and may help treat vaginal yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis. Probiotics may also help vaginal symptoms from menopause.
Scientists continue to study whether vaginal probiotics are better than oral probiotics for vaginal health. If you’re considering probiotics for your vaginal health, talk with your healthcare provider for guidance on the best one for you.
References
Barrientos-Durán, A., et al. (2023). Reviewing the composition of vaginal microbiota: Inclusion of nutrition and probiotic factors in the maintenance of eubiosis. Nutrients.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). People who are immunocompromised.
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