What do vaginal probiotics do?
Ask the doctor
I’ve heard probiotics can improve gut health, but what do vaginal probiotics do?Available as oral pills and powders, as well as suppositories meant to be inserted into the vagina, vaginal probiotics are often advertised as making women feel “cleaner” or healthier. Some ads even claim these products can prevent or treat yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis, or urinary tract infections. But while it’s possible that probiotics might help maintain a stable vaginal microbiome, and perhaps boost our defense against infections, there’s no strong evidence proving they actually do this. It’s also important to note that the FDA doesn’t regulate probiotics sold as dietary supplements, so there’s no guarantee that a product contains what it says it does.
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