Probiotic Vaginal
Updated Aug. 15th, 2019
The vagina is a mucous membrane in the female body with a delicate balance. The inside of the vagina is quite acidic, with a pH of around 3-4. There are a number of different species of bacteria that naturally colonize the vagina and help to protect it against infection. The amount and type of bacteria present are essential to the health of the vagina and the overall health of the woman.
Commensal Bacteria
The bacteria that colonize the vagina are similar to those that colonize the digestive tract. In fact, many of the bacteria present there originated in the digestive tract.
This is how oral supplementation of probiotics can promote proper colonization of the vagina. The most common species present in the vagina are Lactobacillus. For more information on Lactobacillus, please click here. Another common "good" bacteria present in the vagina are Bifidobacteria, particularly B. bifidus, and B. longus. For more information on Bifidobacteria, please click here.
Menstrual Effects
The flora present in the vagina changes slightly with the hormonal shifts that occur during the menstrual cycle. The act of menstruation also causes changes in the local bacterial species, and can cause a reduction in the number of beneficial vaginal flora. This can leave the woman vulnerable to infection by pathogenic organisms that cause vaginitis. Vaginitis is an infection of the vagina by organisms such as Gardnerella, and Trichomonas, which causes inflammation and can often cause foul-smelling discharge. The vaginal flora also protects against overgrowth of Candida, which causes yeast infections. For more information on Yeast Infections, please click here.
Anti-Infection
There are a number of probiotics that can be useful in protecting the vagina against infectious organisms. The most commonly used species are: B. bifidus, B. longus, L. acidophilus and L. rhamnosus. Supplementing with these strains has been shown to reduce the risk of getting a vaginal infection and has also been shown to speed healing should an infection occur.
How can I take Vaginal Probiotics?
Much like the probiotics targeted at the gastrointestinal tract, vaginal probiotics can be supplemented orally and they will naturally migrate to the vagina as well. This is a great way to combine improved digestion and improved vaginal health with one treatment. During acute times of infection, vaginal probiotics can be directly inserted into the vagina using a suppository. Some oral supplements can be used inside the vagina, but some will cause irritation if used as a suppository. There are vaginal probiotics that come in a form intended for insertion into the vagina and these can be used for acute treatment during infection to help relieve symptoms more quickly. Be sure to read the package carefully and ask your healthcare practitioner if you are unsure if you can use your supplement internally.
Wow, I remembered the vaginal microbiome being acidic but around 3-4 on the ph score is WOW! I study the microbiome and the small intestine pH only goes as low as 6! Same thing for the large intestine and, in fact, the pH is usually higher. So, a pH of only 3 makes for a very harsh environment, being thousands of times more acidic than that of the digestive tract. It gives me a whole lot more respect for microbes that are capable of surviving in both the human gut and the vagina. In fact, this is true for the bacteria I am studying now and I am interested in doing some acid tolerance tests!
Hello Rachel,
Thank you for sharing your takeaways from this article. Glad you enjoyed learning about women's pH and thank you for commenting about the pH of our gut as a comparison. Indeed, vaginal probiotics are a great way to allow healthy bacteria to flourish and keep bad bacteria at bay. As with the gut, it's important to not only keep the bacteria balance in check, but the pH balance as well. If you'd like to learn more about women's health, check out this article, https://www.nationalnutrition.ca/articles/health-concerns/womens-health/
Have a healthy day.