Probiotics to prevent and treat vaginosis: does it really work?

Prone to regularly suffering from vaginosis, this vaginal infection often of bacterial origin, you have recently been told about probiotics and indicated that they could be a solution to your problem. You have surely been told about probiotics to prevent or treat vaginosis , but is it really effective?

As an e-concept store dedicated to women's intimate life, we felt it was important to address this topic and understand what it's really about: probiotics and vaginosis, how they work together, let's talk about it! You'll also find a selection of interesting probiotics to fight vaginosis on our e-shop.

Probiotics and vaginosis, what's the connection?

Before we dive deeper into the link between probiotics and vaginosis and how probiotics can be a solution to vaginosis, let's go back to the basics!

A few words about vaginosis

Vaginosis is a vaginal infection that causes various discomforts (bad odors from the vulva and vagina, unusual white discharge in color and texture, itching, etc.).

Generally, they result from an imbalance in the vaginal flora that leads to an increase in bad bacteria or yeast in the vagina. Depending on the microorganisms that multiply, vaginosis is said to be of bacterial origin ( Gardnerella vaginalis vaginosis), or of fungal origin (Candidiasis).

While vaginosis is not a registered sexually transmitted disease, sexual activity is one of its vectors, as are poor hygiene and hormonal imbalances. These various factors disrupt the vaginal and intestinal flora, leading to the spread of harmful organisms that cause vaginosis.

A few words about probiotics

Probiotics are live microorganisms whose presence in our bodies is normal and desirable. In the intimate flora, vaginal probiotics are predominantly lactobacilli and help counteract the growth of bad bacteria and harmful yeasts through various actions, such as maintaining the flora's pH at the right level and preventing the spread of organisms by occupying space. To balance the vaginal flora and repopulate it with good organisms, probiotics are a natural and effective solution.

What about prebiotics?

Prebiotics are non-living molecules that are “eaten” by probiotics. They help accelerate the growth and multiplication of probiotics in the body—which is why probiotic products often also contain prebiotics.

Vaginosis and probiotics: the health of the vaginal flora

Ultimately, it's the health of the vaginal flora that links probiotics and vaginosis. Indeed, probiotics strengthen the health of the vaginal flora, while a healthy vaginal flora limits the spread of vaginosis. Also, taking probiotics can help limit the onset of vaginosis.

The Best Probiotics to Prevent Bacterial Vaginosis

To promote healthy vaginal flora and prevent bacterial vaginosis, probiotics are very interesting . Let's discover together the effective probiotic strains and the difference between the different probiotics.

Effective probiotic strains

There are millions of strains, and among them, millions of strains beneficial for the proper regulation of the vaginal microbiota. Not all of these have yet been identified, isolated, and studied. In this article, we present the most well-known and those recognized for their effects.

Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1

Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 is a well-studied probiotic strain recognized for its essential role in maintaining and restoring vaginal and urogenital health. It is particularly effective at preventing infections, stabilizing acidic pH, and strengthening the local immune response.

• Prevention of vaginal infections : L. rhamnosus GR-1 helps prevent vaginal infections such as bacterial vaginosis and yeast infections by restoring a healthy balance of vaginal flora.
• Maintains Acidic pH : This strain produces lactic acid, which helps maintain an acidic pH in the vagina, an essential condition to prevent the growth of pathogens.
• Pathogen Inhibition : L. rhamnosus GR-1 prevents harmful microorganisms from establishing themselves by producing antimicrobial substances that inhibit their growth.
• Strengthening local immunity : It modulates the immune response at the local level, thus strengthening the vagina's natural defenses against infections.

Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14

Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14 is a probiotic strain that plays a key role in maintaining vaginal health by preventing infections, supporting an acidic environment, and strengthening the vagina's natural defenses.

• Prevention of vaginal infections : L. reuteri RC-14 helps prevent infections such as bacterial vaginosis and candidiasis by restoring and maintaining the balance of vaginal flora.
• Lactic Acid Production : This strain generates lactic acid, helping to maintain an acidic pH in the vagina, which creates an environment hostile to pathogens.
• Pathogen Inhibition : L. reuteri RC-14 produces antimicrobial substances that inhibit the growth of harmful microorganisms in the vagina.
• Vaginal Barrier Strengthening : It strengthens the cell junctions of the vaginal epithelium and stimulates mucus production, thus providing increased protection against infections.

Lactobacillus acidophilus

Lactobacillus acidophilus is crucial for digestive and vaginal health, aiding digestion, preventing infections, and strengthening the immune system.

• Improved Digestive Health : L. acidophilus aids digestion by breaking down food and optimizing the absorption of essential nutrients.
• Prevention of vaginal infections : It plays a key role in maintaining a balanced vaginal flora, thus reducing the risk of infections such as bacterial vaginosis and candidiasis.
• Lactic acid production : This strain promotes an acidic environment in the intestine and vagina, creating unfavorable conditions for the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria.
• Strengthening the immune system : L. acidophilus stimulates the immune system by increasing antibody production and regulating the inflammatory response.

Lactobacillus crispatus

Lactobacillus crispatus is essential for preventing vaginal infections, maintaining an acidic pH, and protecting against pathogens.

• Prevention of vaginal infections : L. crispatus plays a crucial role in preventing vaginal infections, such as bacterial vaginosis and yeast infections, by promoting a balanced vaginal flora.
• Maintains Acidic pH : By producing lactic acid, this strain helps maintain an acidic vaginal pH, making the environment hostile to pathogens.
• Protection against pathogens : L. crispatus limits the proliferation of harmful microorganisms by colonizing the vagina and secreting antimicrobial substances.
• Strengthening the epithelial barrier : It helps strengthen the epithelial barrier of the vagina, providing increased protection against the invasion of pathogens.

Lactobacillus gasseri

Lactobacillus gasseri plays a crucial role in vaginal and digestive health by preventing infections, maintaining an acidic pH, and supporting a balanced metabolism.

• Prevention of vaginal infections : L. gasseri helps prevent infections such as bacterial vaginosis and yeast infections by promoting healthy vaginal flora.
• Maintains Acidic pH : This strain produces lactic acid, helping to maintain an acidic vaginal pH, which is essential to prevent the proliferation of pathogens.
• Digestive Health Support : L. gasseri helps balance intestinal flora, which promotes healthy digestion and reduces digestive issues such as bloating and inflammation.
• Potential impact on metabolism : Research suggests that L. gasseri may influence fat metabolism and aid in weight management, although further studies are needed to confirm these effects.

Lactobacillus jensenii

Lactobacillus jensenii is essential for maintaining vaginal health by preventing infections, maintaining an acidic pH, and protecting against pathogens.

• Prevention of vaginal infections : L. jensenii helps prevent infections such as bacterial vaginosis and yeast infections by promoting a healthy balance of vaginal flora.
• Lactic Acid Production : This strain produces lactic acid, which helps maintain an acidic pH in the vagina, making the environment inhospitable to pathogenic microorganisms.
• Protection against pathogens : By colonizing the vagina, L. jensenii inhibits the growth of pathogens by competing with them for resources and producing antimicrobial substances.
• Strengthening vaginal health : It supports the vaginal epithelial barrier, thus strengthening natural defenses against infections and inflammation.

Lactobacillus fermentum

Lactobacillus fermentum is crucial for digestive and immune health, balancing gut flora, strengthening the immune system, and helping prevent infections.

• Digestive Health Support : L. fermentum promotes healthy digestion by helping to balance intestinal flora, reducing bloating and digestive discomfort.
• Immune System Boost : This probiotic strain boosts the immune system by increasing antibody production and modulating immune cell activity, thereby enhancing protection against infections.
• Lactic acid production : By producing lactic acid, L. fermentum helps maintain an acidic environment in the intestine, which limits the growth of pathogenic bacteria.
• Protection against vaginal infections : Although primarily recognized for its digestive benefits, L. fermentum can also help prevent vaginal infections by helping maintain the balance of vaginal flora.

Difference between oral and vaginal probiotics

Probiotics can be taken in two different forms: oral probiotics , to be taken by mouth, and vaginal probiotics , to be placed directly on the vaginal mucous membranes, in the form of an ovule or gel.

Oral probiotics

Oral probiotics are, as their name suggests, probiotics that are taken orally. These can be fermented foods containing probiotics (kimchi, miso, skyr, kefir, etc.) or specific dietary supplements .

The specificity of oral probiotics is that they must be particularly resistant and present in large numbers to be effective: in fact, they must resist the digestive process before reaching the intimate flora. They will therefore generally be less effective than vaginal probiotics, applied directly to the vaginal mucosa, internally.

This is why it's more beneficial to consume oral probiotics in the form of dietary supplements rather than through food. Supplements benefit from extensive research to protect the nutrients and probiotics.

Vaginal probiotics

Unlike oral probiotics, vaginal probiotics are probiotics that are applied directly internally to the vaginal mucosa.

They can have two distinct forms:

• Ovules: Probiotic ovules are small capsules that are inserted directly into the vagina, where they dissolve. Unlike gel and cream textures, they offer the advantage of being placed in direct contact with the vaginal mucosa, which allows for immediate action without passing through the digestive system, thus avoiding any degradation of the probiotics.
• Gels and creams: Probiotic-enriched gels and creams are particularly effective because they are applied directly to the vaginal mucosa, allowing for immediate rebalancing. Their main advantage? Probiotics are protected from degradation by the digestive system, thus ensuring optimal effectiveness.

Our selection of probiotics to prevent vaginosis

Gapianne is an e-shop dedicated to feminine intimacy, created by women for women. We select each of our products based on their effectiveness, customer feedback, and brand values. Find here our selection of the best vaginal probiotics to prevent and treat vaginosis naturally .

🌈 The Probiotics cure: vaginal and intestinal flora from the Miyé brand is our favorite! We really love the brand's values: it's French, made in a French laboratory 🇫🇷 and vegan 🌱. And we also love the composition of this cure which contains many probiotics: Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus Plantarum and Lactobacillus Acidophilus. Regarding its dosage, you should take two capsules per day at the time you prefer for a month. Take a break for a week and resume the cure for a month if you feel the need.

I want this probiotic cure >

🌈 We also really like Miyé's soothing intimate gel with probiotics ! We've already told you about the brand's values, so let's focus on the product's composition. Made from 99% natural ingredients, it contains a complex set of prebiotics and probiotics, including different strains of Lactobacillus. Apply a small amount of the product to your vulva or internally once a day for one month. After a one-week break, resume use if needed.

I want this anti-itch intimate gel >

How to use probiotics for bacterial vaginosis?

There are two ways to use probiotics: to support the good health of your vaginal flora to prevent vaginosis naturally or to rebuild your vaginal flora after an infection to avoid recurrences and repeated vaginosis .

Using probiotics to prevent bacterial vaginosis

To maintain a healthy vaginal flora, you can use probiotics to prevent bacterial vaginosis. This can be achieved by supplementing your body daily using various vectors. Don't hesitate to consult a doctor to learn exactly how to proceed:

• Ovules: Probiotic ovules can be your body's first source of probiotics. In this case, it's a good idea to take one ovule every 3 to 7 days, preferably in the evening before going to bed. Take them over a period of several weeks to a few months.
• Dietary supplement treatment: Dietary supplements containing probiotics are also a good solution for ensuring the balance of your vaginal flora over the long term. In this case, you can favor a one-month treatment, at a rate of one or two capsules per day (depending on the recommendations of the selected brand). Probiotics are often more effective when taken on an empty stomach or 30 minutes before a meal, because stomach acidity is lower, which promotes their passage into the intestine. Taking probiotics at the same time each day is recommended for optimal effectiveness.
• Gels and creams: To easily incorporate probiotics into your daily routine, we recommend multi-purpose creams and gels. Vulvar moisturizers containing probiotics are an easy way to incorporate them into your daily routine, providing you with probiotic supplements while taking care of yourself and your vulvar comfort. The soothing intimate gel with probiotics has the advantage of being a probiotic gel, a vulvar moisturizer, and a lubricant all in one.

I want this anti-itch intimate gel >

• Diet: As we mentioned earlier in this article, fermented foods are a good natural source of probiotics. Add foods like skyr, miso, kimchi, kombucha, or sauerkraut to your diet to naturally supplement your body with probiotics. Studies are still unclear on the subject, but eating 2 to 3 servings of these foods daily could be very beneficial for your health.

Using Probiotics to Treat Bacterial Vaginosis

Probiotics cannot treat vaginosis if it is symptomatic; they can mainly help you rebuild your vaginal flora after treatment.

This is why you should start by consulting a doctor if you have bacterial or fungal vaginosis, or if it's recurring. Your primary care physician, midwife, and gynecologist can help you. Follow the treatment prescribed by these professionals. Generally, bacterial vaginosis is treated with antibiotics, while candidiasis is treated with antifungal medications, which you take for about seven days.

Treatments that eradicate the harmful organisms that cause vaginosis completely cleanse the vaginal flora—killing both good and bad bacteria. After treatment, vaginal probiotics help rebuild the vaginal flora . Typically, the dose of probiotics needed to rebuild the flora for this purpose ranges from 1 billion to 10 billion colony-forming units (CFU) per day, depending on your individual needs: follow the advice of your healthcare practitioner. The treatment dosage depends greatly on the type of probiotic you are using: dietary supplements, suppositories, or gels.

• Dietary supplement courses: A probiotic course typically lasts between 4 and 8 weeks. This allows time for the good bacteria to colonize the intestines and vagina and exert their beneficial effects. Follow the manufacturer's and your doctor's recommendations to maximize their use.
• Ovules: The duration of a course of probiotic ovules to rebuild vaginal flora generally varies between 5 and 10 days, depending on the specific product recommendations. Take one ovule per day, generally inserted in the evening before bed.
• Gels and Creams: To determine the duration of treatment and the number of applications per day to rebuild your vaginal flora using probiotic gels and creams, we recommend following the product's recommendations and those of your doctor. Generally, one application per day is sufficient, often in the evening before bed. Apply a small amount of gel to the external intimate area. For internal application, use the provided applicator if necessary.

Effectiveness of probiotics: what scientific studies say

For several years, scientific studies have been concurring in affirming the effectiveness of probiotics in maintaining the good health of vaginal flora. According to them, probiotics can be considered "safe and beneficial dietary supplements."

This is the case, for example, of this study, published in 2013: The role of lactobacilli and probiotics in maintaining vaginal health (study in English 🇬🇧). It concludes that “The administration of probiotics that colonize the vaginal tract may be important for maintaining normal urogenital health and also for preventing or treating infections. ”

But also from this more recent study, published in 2023:

Use of probiotic lactobacilli in the treatment of vaginal infections: In vitro and in vivo investigations

(article in 🇬🇧). His conclusion is similar:

“The main benefit of probiotic lactobacilli is the restoration of a healthy, natural microbiome in the vagina, transforming it from a dysbiotic and pathogenic ecosystem to a healthy, symbiotic microbiome.”

However, this second study introduces two limitations: there are significant differences between the women treated—not all observed the same effects—and no probiotic has yet been approved as a drug by the Food and Drug Administration (the administration that authorizes the marketing of drugs in the USA). According to her:

“These probiotics can therefore only be considered as safe and beneficial food supplements.”