Re-posted from the Ladibug substack
Vaginal probiotics have undeniably entered the social chat. Whether it’s marketed to treat a yeast infection, bacterial vaginosis (BV) or improve ‘healthy’ bacteria in our vaginal flora, its interest has increased significantly in the last 5 years (see below a chart from Google search trends).
But again with so many female health products, let’s unpack their use case and most importantly, whether there is evidence to suggest that you should be taking them.
What are vaginal probiotics?
Vaginal probiotics contain microorganisisms that come in oral pills or powders, as well as suppository capsules inserted into the vagina. Their goal is to introduce helpful bacteria—such as Lactobacillus species—to support a healthy balance and help protect against issues like yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis (BV), and urinary tract infections (UTIs).
What does the evidence say?
Overall, the evidence for probiotics is limited and varies depending on the type of infection. Early data suggests a product in development, Lactin-V, may help prevent bacterial vaginosis (BV). A 2024 study also found that probiotic supplementation was effective in preventing recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs). However, when it comes to yeast infections, the evidence is thin. Dr Jennifer Gunter wrote a great piece noting:
“We don't think the lactobacilli in the vaginal microbiome play a big role in preventing yeast infections, as women with recurrent vaginal yeast infections aren’t lacking lactobacilli”
So - since lactobacilli don’t appear to be involved with yeast infections, then there is no use case for the probiotics (which usually contains lactobacillus). She goes on to explain a bunch of other stuff but bottom line concluded “based on the data, probiotics, either oral or vaginal, will not prevent a yeast infection after antibiotics".
Another thing also worth noting is whether the probiotics actually make it to the vagina. Dr Debra Wickman, MD and OBGYN cautioned:
“Many oral types of probiotics are destroyed in the acidic stomach and never make it to the vagina. Many suppositories are created by heating in molds to form a bullet shape. During this process, the bacteria may be killed before being placed in the bagina”
Who might benefit from probiotics?
Dr Wickman suggests that vaginal probiotics might benefit people who suffer from autoimmune conditions that cause vulvovaginitis, those on long-term antibiotics or people who are postmenopausal. She notes “healthy flora have difficulty maintaining colony counts in the presence of inflammation…taking long courses of antibiotics can also kill off flora and may allow growth of harmful bacteria instead”
The evidence so far is limited, but at Ladibug we’re hopeful that more research will shed light on this. We’d love to see a probiotic proven to help prevent yeast infections for women everywhere!
Always talk with your healthcare provider first before taking any supplement.
Sources
https://asm.org/articles/2025/april/can-probiotics-transform-vaginal-microbiome
https://www.bannerhealth.com/healthcareblog/teach-me/can-probiotics-help-with-your-vaginal-health
https://www.health.harvard.edu/womens-health/should-i-use-vaginal-probiotics
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/should-you-use-probiotics-for-your-vagina-2019122718592
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38084984/