These beneficial bacteria can help support gut health, digestion, and even emotional well being—just to name a few benefits. Not to mention, probiotics can have an impact on vaginal health, among so many other valuable benefits of probiotics for women. Chronic stress (which many women are familiar with) can throw the microbiome out of whack, and excess sugar and processed foods also has a negative effect. Bacterial infections, parasites, and yeast (not the good kind) can also wreak havoc. And as you might guess, antibiotics are another culprit. Although sometimes necessary, they do more than just wipe out “bad” bacteria—they disrupt the “good” bacteria1 in the microbiome as well (taking just one course of antibiotics can mess with your gut flora for up to 12 months or longer afterward). While everyone is susceptible to an imbalanced gut, there are reasons women, in particular, should be thinking about it. Women report higher levels of stress than men, are more likely to be prescribed antibiotics, and are more likely to suffer from gastrointestinal issues. On top of all that, the vagina is home to its own delicate microbiome that needs to be cared for. If any of these symptoms sound familiar, you may want to consider taking a probiotic. Here’s why: “Think of probiotics as your little helpers that restore order and help maintain harmony in your gut ecosystem,” says gut health expert Vincent Pedre, M.D. “They outnumber and antagonize unwelcome pathogens, including unfavorable bacteria, yeast, and parasites.” Probiotics can also help manage digestive issues like bloating. And, according to a large review, taking probiotics can reduce traveler’s diarrhea2. “Like the microbiome in our digestive system, sinuses, and skin, the vaginal microbiome is the first line of defense against infections,” explains family functional medicine doctor Elizabeth Boham, M.D., M.S., R.D. Certain probiotic strains can support the vaginal microbiome3, keeping the “bad” bacteria that cause these infections at bay. According to a review on the influence of probiotics on urogenital infections (like UTIs, BV, and yeast vaginitis), research has found an association between Lactobacilli (one common probiotic strain) presence in the vagina and women who have never had a UTI. While vaginal probiotics (probiotics designed to be inserted directly into the vagina) are available, studies have shown that oral probiotics can also support the vaginal microbiome. In one study, researchers found that overweight women who underwent a weight loss diet for 12 weeks while taking a certain strain of probiotics lost more weight4 than a group of overweight women who did the same weight loss diet for 12 weeks without taking a probiotic. The women who took the probiotic also continued to lose weight during the 12-week maintenance period afterward, while the other group’s weight remained stable. Interestingly, the researchers did not see the same weight changes in men. One of the potential ways probiotics can aid in weight management is by affecting the hormone leptin (which suppresses appetite). Leptin levels were higher in the group who took the probiotic. The nutritional support of probiotics could help manage5 problems like eczema, acne, allergic inflammation, and hypersensitivity, as well as promote wound healing and help fight skin damage. It may be especially important for women with eczema and allergies to take probiotics during pregnancy, based on WHO recommendation6, since it reduces the chance of passing the condition to their child. While the list of ingredients found on the back of a probiotic can seem confusing or overwhelming, a diverse probiotic will likely contain Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium bacteria (and various species within each of those strains, like Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium lactis). However, “different strains can be tied to different benefits,” functional dietitian Krista King, M.S., RDN, LDN, stresses, so it’s important to look for targeted strains that are well-researched for the issues you are hoping to address. Quality-wise, to make sure a probiotic contains what it says it does—and that those live bacteria actually make it from production to your intestines without dying off—look for professional brands that undergo third-party testing. And when it comes to quantity, look for a product in the billions of CFUs (or colony-forming units). Probiotics often range from 5 to 100 billion, and you should start on the lower end and increase as they’re tolerated (it’s also worth noting that the more gut damage, the more CFUs you might need in the appropriate setting). If you’re taking a probiotic for general health, try starting with 20 to 50 billion CFUs (ideally containing both Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains), one to two times a day on an empty stomach. For more on probiotics, check out our guide on deciding if they’re right for you.
