In recent years, people have promoted probiotics as a way to take care of your vaginal health. However, studies on this are limited, and further research is still necessary.
Consuming probiotics has become a popular way to improve digestive health. Probiotics are healthy bacteria strains found naturally in some foods and in nutritional supplements.
More recently, health experts have begun to consider the potential benefits of probiotics on vaginal health. The scientific evidence is not conclusive.
However, it appears that at least one strain of probiotic, L. acidophilus, could help prevent and treat vaginal imbalance issues like bacterial vaginosis (BV). Experts say more research is necessary.
“There has been promising research in the past few years indicating that probiotics may be effective in treating some conditions precipitated by changes in vaginal pH balance,” says Mindy Haar, PhD, RDN, CSN, of the New York Institute of Technology’s Department of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences.
More than 50 different species of tiny organisms (called microbes) live inside your vagina. Many of these microbes are a type of bacteria called lactobacilli. These bacteria help keep the vagina healthy and free of infection.
A lack of lactobacilli and an overgrowth of some other microbe can cause an imbalance in the vagina. This imbalance can occur for a number of reasons, including when a female:
- has sex without a barrier method with a male partner
- experiences changes in hormones
- has their period
- does not maintain good hygiene habits
Experts have found no conclusive evidence to show that probiotics are effective at preventing and treating conditions related to vaginal imbalance. Currently, antibiotics remain the
“As it’s important to get a proper diagnosis and treat underlying causes, the recommendation to take a probiotic in supplement form should be made by the healthcare professional only after a complete assessment and proper diagnosis of the condition is made,” says Haar.
Some research suggests that using probiotics may instead be useful in treating and establishing a healthy vaginal balance, by introducing live microorganisms into your vagina.
Taking a probiotic is a possibly beneficial behavior, with no known risks.
While the results of these studies are encouraging, most research looking at the effects of probiotics on vaginal balance is small and limited in scope.
More research is necessary to definitively determine whether or not probiotics are an appropriate treatment for vaginal imbalance issues.
Lactobacillus acidophilus is the most-researched strain of probiotic when it comes to establishing and maintaining a healthy vaginal balance. Two other important strains include lactobacillus rhamnosus and lactobacillus reuteri.
Experts believe these strains help maintain vaginal balance by sticking to vaginal surfaces and making it more challenging for harmful bacteria to grow. Lactobacillus may also adhere directly to harmful bacteria, killing them and preventing them from spreading.
When it comes to probiotics, most experts recommend consuming whole foods rather than supplements.
“Getting these helpful micro-organisms from the diet rather than supplement products brings no risk and that’s why I recommend focusing on diet rather than pills. Yogurt that contains live cultures is the best source of lactobacilli,” says Haar.
Haar also adds that reducing your sugar intake may also be a good way to reduce growth of harmful bacteria in the vagina. She recommends a diet rich in probiotics, as well as lots of fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
These foods are considered “prebiotics,” which help promote growth of healthy probiotic bacteria in the body.
Usually, conditions caused by vaginal imbalance are mild to moderate, and don’t cause severe health problems. However, BV and yeast infections can cause serious discomfort if left untreated.
If you’ve recently had sex and notice itching, burning, or other unusual symptoms in your vaginal area, you should also talk with a doctor to check for sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
You should seek medical support if you have:
- pain on your sides or lower back
- a high temperature
- shivers
- feel ill
- diarrhea
These are signs of a kidney infection, which can be serious when left untreated.
More research is necessary to determine whether or not probiotics are a reliable way to prevent and treat vaginal imbalance and the conditions it can cause.
However, some research suggests using probiotics may be useful in treating and establishing a healthy vaginal balance. Taking a probiotic is a possibly beneficial behavior, with no known risks.
