Liu Y, et al. (2020). [Effect of oral Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14 on vaginal Group B Streptococcus colonization and vaginal microbiome in late pregnancy]. If you’re typically sensitive to supplements or have severe gut issues, you may notice a difference within a few days. This once-daily supplement has 50 billion CFUs (colony-forming units) of beneficial bacteria made up of 16 probiotics, including Lactobacillus reuteri and Lactobacillus fermentum, two documented probiotic species for women’s health. If you’re interested in taking a probiotic supplement, it’s important to first determine whether a probiotic supplement is necessary for your specific health needs. But despite the pioneering discoveries of these early microbial researchers, he and other fathers of microbiology viewed bacteria primarily as disruptive and disease-causing.

Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. According to a review published in the journal Microbial Cell Factories, some of the probiotic species that have been most studied for their beneficial effects on vaginal health include: What’s more, some researchers are concerned that the widespread use of probiotics may lead to antibiotic resistance and warn that many studies investigating the safety and effectiveness of probiotics are of poor quality.

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Designed just for women, the Garden of Life Dr. Formulated Probiotic was created by board-certified neurologist and gut microbiome expert Dr. David Perlmutter, M.D. to target vaginal, immune, and digestive health. Dr. Perlmutter created this unique formula exclusively for Women, with a high count of beneficial probiotics made from diverse strains that are resistant to stomach acid and bile, to support women's digestive and immune system health. López-Moreno A, et al. (2021). Vaginal probiotics for reproductive health and related dysbiosis: Systematic review and meta-analysis. This supplement also contains 200 milligrams (mg) of the prebiotic inulin, which fuels beneficial gut bacteria. Sheyholislami H, et al. (2021). Are probiotics and prebiotics safe for use during pregnancy and lactation? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

May benefit metabolic health and weight management: Alterations in gut bacteria may contribute to obesity and metabolic issues, and some studies show that probiotic supplements may promote weight loss. Research in this area is ongoing.Zhang H, et al. (2018). Prospective study of probiotic supplementation results in immune stimulation and improvement of upper respiratory infection rate. Achufusi TGO, et al. (2020). Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth: Comprehensive review of diagnosis, prevention, and treatment methods.

Goodman C, et al. (2021). Probiotics for the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

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Chen X, Lu Y, Chen T, Li R. The Female Vaginal Microbiome in Health and Bacterial Vaginosis. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2021;11:631972. Published 2021 Apr 7. doi:10.3389/fcimb.2021.631972

Not only do probiotics support gut health, but a healthy microbiome is also linked to better mood, skin, immunity, cognition, and metabolism. Probiotics for Women’s Health

Higher vaginal pH (above 4.5) is too acidic for these pathogens to grow, and probiotic bacteria can help to keep the acidity where it needs to be.