Should I use vaginal probiotics?
Ask the doctors
Q. I've heard probiotics can improve gut health, but what do vaginal probiotics do? Should I use them?
A. No matter what part of the body they're used for, probiotics are live microorganisms that, ideally, offer health benefits. Vaginal probiotics containing these microorganisms come in oral pills and powders, as well as suppository capsules meant to be inserted into the vagina.
Advertisements would have us believe that vaginal probiotics — just like douches — will somehow make us feel "cleaner" or healthier. Some ads even claim these products can prevent or treat conditions such as yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis, or urinary tract infections.
The reality is, the vagina typically does a fine job of regulating its own diverse mix of naturally occurring bacteria and other organisms. Vaginal probiotics, therefore, just aren't necessary. If you notice any strange vaginal symptoms, don't run to the drugstore for probiotics — instead, talk to your doctor.
Image: © Grace Cary/Getty Images
About the Authors
Toni Golen, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing; Contributor
Hope Ricciotti, MD, Editor at Large, Harvard Women's Health Watch
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