Probiotics & Vaginal Health

What are probiotics?

Probiotics are the  good bacteria which when consumed  live in the required amount  (˃ 105 colony forming units/ml) confer a health benefit to the host. In the present times,  the consumption of probiotics has become quite popular amongst the health conscious people. They  bolster immunity.  Fermented foods such as kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha, yoghurt etc.   are a  natural source of probiotics. Various probiotic drinks, chocolates, gums, ice creams etc. are available easily in the super markets. Their benefits for the gut are well documented. Probiotics are  available in several forms. These range from  pills/capsules to drinks and powders  and in many cases they are being promoted as a means of improving the  vaginal health.

Health benefits of probiotics?

The consumption of probiotics has been advocated for various health  benefits but their use for vaginal health isn’t talked about much. The research related to the benefits of probiotics for vaginal health is now gaining momentum. The  vagina of a human female is  inhabited by a variety  of microbes from a pool of more than  fifty species. In healthy women, Lactobacilli are the most common  bacteria in the healthy female vagina. Owing to  some underlying issues or even reasons undefined the  vaginal microflora  can alter and lead to infections. The commonly reported urogenital infection amongst  the females especially in the reproductive age  is the bacterial vaginosis (BV).  In this condition, the number of lactobacilli in the vagina are reduced  owing to the presence of pathogenic microbes.  Antibiotics are used to treat  bacterial vaginosis.  The bacterial vaginosis is commonly recurring and  restoring the  normal vaginal flora becomes challenging. The formation of yeast biofilms can be inhibited by the species of Lactobacilli and can also help in fighting the disease causing pathogens.

The  beneficial microbes

Lactobacillus acidophilus is one such strain which can assist in combating bacterial  vaginosis. Such probiotic bacteria help in managing the vaginal conditions occurring owing to the pH imbalance of vagina, lack of hygiene, sexually transmitted infections etc. The probiotics also aid in reducing the vaginal odour. Even yeast infections can be tackled by the use of probiotics. This is attributed to the fact that the probiotics help in restoring the normal pH of vagina.

The  Vaginal probiotics

Vaginal probiotic supplements are getting popular. Such supplements include  both probiotic pills and suppository capsules which are  inserted into the vagina with the help of an applicator. Probiotic vaginal washes are also becoming a common sought after  product available over the counter.  They help in gentle cleaning of the vagina maintaining the vaginal pH. The administration of probiotics for urogenital health are known to be well tolerated and are safe. One of the biggest advantages of probiotics for vaginal health is that women can self administer the probiotics. Though it is preferable that   the adequate dose, the type of probiotic, the duration, the administration route   with or without an antibiotic be determined. Some reports even document that probiotic consumption improves fertility as well. Even skin problems are known to clear up by regular consumption of probiotics. The probiotic intervention can definitely help a lot of women  have a healthy and happy  vagina by keeping the urinary tract infections at bay.

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Dr.Loveleen  Sarao works as a researcher in Ludhiana.  She has an expertise in Food  Microbiology. She is a mother to a beautiful seven  year old girl. Writing is her passion and she has also authored a TextBook of Microbiology besides several international articles. Connect with her at 

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