Should You Take a Probiotic Supplement For Your Vagina?

If you have even the slightest interest in gut health, you've surely heard that probiotics (aka "good" bacteria) can serve you well. But the possible benefits of probiotics don't stop there; researchers have explored other areas, like skin benefits and mood improvements.

The effects of probiotics on vaginal health is another area of interest, though the field "is still controversial," says Michael Tahery, MD, a Los Angeles-based ob-gyn. While there is promising research, there's not enough evidence to say for sure that probiotics benefit vaginal health, or that certain strains have certain specific outcomes.

What's clear is that Lactobacillus bacteria (a probiotic) are the most abundant microorganisms in a healthy vagina, according to Dr. Tahery. Lactobacilli bacteria can produce peptides and hydrogen peroxide, leading to a low-pH vaginal environment, in turn preventing the growth of harmful bacteria that require a more alkaline environment to flourish, he says.

"There's research showing vaginal probiotics help immune function and block the progression of cervical cancer, HPV infection, bacterial vaginosis, yeast infections, and recurrent urinary tract infections [UTIs]," says Dr. Tahery.

For example, a study published in the May issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases compared the rate of recurrent UTIs in women who took an oral probiotic, a probiotic suppository, both, or a placebo. At four months, the group who used the combo had the lowest rate of UTIs, followed by those who used a probiotic suppository, then the oral supplement group, then the placebo.

A 2020 review published in Microorganisms highlighted studies that have found several Lactobacillus bacteria strains effective at inhibiting the growth of pathogens that can contribute to bacterial and yeast infections.

While all of this is noteworthy, it's too soon to say for sure that taking probiotics can benefit vaginal health, according to family medicine physician Brynna Connor, MD, healthcare ambassador at NorthWestPharmacy.com. "Right now there isn't enough strong research that shows probiotic supplements benefit vaginal health," she says.

Michael Tahery, MD is a Los Angeles-based ob-gyn and an assistant professor of ob-gyn at UCLA Geffen School of Medicine.

Brynna Connor, MD, is a family medicine physician and healthcare ambassador at NorthWestPharmacy.com.

Karyn Eilber, MD, is an urogynecologist and co-author of "A Woman's Guide to Her Pelvic Floor."

If nothing is amiss, your body can maintain a normal vaginal environment without the need to supplement with probiotics, Dr. Tahery says. "However menses, pregnancy, sexual practice, uncontrolled usage of antibiotics, a high-sugar diet, and vaginal douching can alter the dominance of vaginal Lactobacillus and disrupt vaginal health," he adds.

When it comes to vaginal health, the most impactful thing you can do is avoid the cause of vaginal imbalance in the first place, says Karyn Eilber, MD, urogynecologist and co-author of "A Woman's Guide to Her Pelvic Floor." "The best 'probiotics' are avoiding things that kill our own good bacteria such as excessive use of antibiotics or douching," she says.

That said, that's not always possible. And some people with issues like recurrent yeast infections or chronic UTIs may be interested in seeing if a probiotic supplement can help prevent them from cropping up.

If you decide to try a probiotic supplement for vaginal health, ideally you'll find an option containing the bacteria strains with research behind them. Dr. Connor names Lactobacillus crispatus, gasseri, acidophilus, rhamnosus, and reuteri, and Bifidobacterium lactis as the strains that are thought to help vaginal health.

While oral supplements aren't necessarily the best way to consume probiotics to promote vaginal health, they're superior in terms of convenience. "A probiotic that's inserted directly into the vagina is likely more effective than oral probiotics — although there's not good evidence to support this statement," says Dr. Eilber. "It's also difficult finding probiotic suppositories."

The bottom line: you may not need a probiotic supplement aimed at vaginal health. If you want to try one, though, here are some of the best options to choose from.