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Top Vaginal Supplements For Bacterial Vaginosis & Dryness (2024 Review)

As women, we’ve been taught that our “lady parts” problems are taboo, and we should keep it all to ourselves.

As a result, many ignore these concerns until they become problematic. Thankfully, with increasing attention on women’s health, effective solutions are now available, providing much-needed relief.

Below, you can find some of the best solutions currently on the market.

Your Options

Vaginal probiotics are live bacteria supplements that help restore the balance of good bacteria in the vaginal microbiome.

This helps inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria and yeast, preventing infections such as bacterial vaginosis (BV) and yeast infections

They can also help reduce odor and discharge associated with imbalances in the vaginal microbiome.

Drawbacks: While probiotics can be beneficial for many individuals, they may not be effective for everyone, and results can vary depending on the specific strains and formulations used.

Prebiotics can be powerful allies for achieving optimal vaginal health.

Found in certain vegetables, these fibers act as food for the good bacteria (probiotics) naturally present in your vagina, helping them thrive and maintain a healthy balance. This can lead to:

  • Reduced Discomfort and Irritation: A thriving population of good bacteria helps prevent the overgrowth of harmful microbes, which can cause itching, burning, and other unpleasant symptoms.
  • Enhanced Defense Against Infections: Strong good bacteria act as a natural barrier against harmful pathogens that may cause infections.
  • Potential Hormonal Support: Some research suggests prebiotics may indirectly support hormone balance, potentially impacting vaginal health during life stages like menstruation and menopause. (Note: More research is needed in this area)

Drawbacks: While prebiotics offer a natural approach to vaginal health, incorporating them into your routine may take some time to see results. Consistency is key!

Vaginal moisturizers come in cream, gel, or suppository form, and are formulated to add moisture back to the vagina by rehydrating vaginal tissue and protecting it from drying out. 

They’re great for relieving vaginal dryness, discomfort during intimacy, and itching associated with dryness.

Drawbacks: Needs constant reapplication throughout the day, especially if water-based. Some women might experience minor irritation from certain ingredients.

Lubricants provide a slippery layer of lube that reduces friction and enhances comfort and ease during intimate encounters.

They come in various forms like water-based, silicone-based, and oil-based.

Drawbacks: Only offers temporary lubrication, doesn’t provide any inherent benefits for vaginal health. Plus, some lubricants may contain ingredients that can disrupt the natural pH balance of the vagina or cause irritation.

Popular & Effective Ingredients For Vaginal Health

Lactobacillus is a genus of good bacteria that can be found in both your gut and your intimate area.

In a regular, healthy vagina, Lactobacillus should be the dominant type of bacteria in the vaginal microbiome.

There are many different Lactobacillus species, each with its own benefits.

One specific strain that’s studied vigorously to enhance vaginal health is Lactobacillus Reuteri (L.Reuteri).

This specific strain has been studied to rebalance vaginal flora, preventing and treating recurrent UTIs and BV. 1

This naturally occurring molecule is a humectant, a substance which attracts and helps retain moisture.

You may find it in skin-care products as a hydrating agent, however, it can work it’s magic on your intimate health as well.

Its moisturizing properties keeps the vaginal walls hydrated, which helps to relieve vaginal dryness, a common discomfort. Studies show it helps slow down vaginal atrophy as well. 2

Almost as important as probiotics, FOS is a prebiotic that acts like fertilizer for the good bacteria naturally present in your vagina.

By feeding these good guys, FOS helps them flourish and keeps them strong and healthy.

A strong army of good bacteria is your body’s first line of defense against harmful yeast bacteria that may cause infections.

Constant supplementation of FOS can help keep this beneficial brigade well-nourished, potentially reducing your risk of vaginal infections like UTIs, yeast and BV. 3

 

Vitamin E plays an important role in both your intimate health and hormonal stability, especially when it comes to estrogen.

It also works as a antioxidant, which helps your body prevent free radical damage to your cells, including the skin cells in your vagina.

Studies have shown that through vitamin E supplementation, postmenopausal women have experienced an improvement in symptoms of vaginal discomfort. 4

You’ve most probably seen this buzzword used for lots of skin-care products, and for good reason.

Collagen is a major building block in our body and is an essential component of healthy skin.

Yes, that includes your intimate area as well. Did you know that your vaginal walls are made out of type I and III collagen?

By supplementing your diet with the right type of collagen, you can foster increased collagen production that could contribute to stronger and more elastic vaginal walls. 5

5 Important Things To Look Out For When Buying Supplements

Clinical trials help substantiate the efficacy of ingredients through proper tests. Look for a supplement with clinically-tested ingredients for real benefits, and avoid those based on anecdotal evidence. Even better if there are multiple studies backing the product.

Real-life experiences from other women can be valuable insights. While scientific evidence is important, hearing from real women who’ve experienced positive results with a particular supplement can be incredibly reassuring. Read reviews on the brand’s website or trusted online retailers to see what others are saying.

Do take a close look at the supplement’s ingredient labels and consider any potential interactions with other medications or supplements you may be taking. If you’re unsure about anything, we recommend consulting with your doctor before you purchase and consume the supplement.

This is a non-negotiable! Reputable brands who stand behind their product will have their supplements tested by independent labs to ensure quality, purity, potency, and freedom from contaminants. This is to allow consumers to purchase with a peace of mind.

A risk-free guarantee lets you try supplements without fear of losing your money. If you try the product and don’t experience results, simply contact the manufacturer for a refund. A 60 or 90 day guarantee is the minimum a manufacturer should have as a show of confidence in their products.

 

Also, avoid companies that make you jump through hoops. One common strategy that companies use is “bottle return” – they require you to pay for return shipping and return the empty bottles before they process your refund.

Top 5 Vaginal Supplements For Infections & Dryness

Why we like Radiancy

Radiancy is labeled as a vaginal probiotic & collagen formula for lasting feminine balance. Its probiotic & collagen blend of ingredients presents a unique, yet comprehensive approach to vaginal health — which we absolutely love. 

The probiotic trio (L.Reuteri, B.Coagulans, L.Bulgaricus) they’ve chosen for their ingredient blend are all probiotic strains studied to help improve vaginal health 6, 7, 8,  providing benefits like: 

  • Lesser infections (Yeast/BV)
  • A balanced vaginal microbiome
  • Healthy vaginal pH
  • Reduce vaginal discomfort like dryness & itch

Radiancy also contains premium ingredients that’ll help with skin care and repair, both inside and out. Featuring ceramides that prevent the skin from drying out, hyaluronic acid that increases and locks in the moisture, and a collagen complex (Type I, II, III, IV, V) that helps improve elasticity.

That’s not all, Radiancy also included anti-aging ingredients like sakura extract, vitamin C and vitamin E. These ingredients are high in antioxidants, which helps fight skin-aging & vaginal atrophy.

This combination of probiotics, hydrating skin-care & anti-aging ingredients casts a wide net of support for vaginal health, making it the most comprehensive supplement on this list.

It’s also keto & paleo friendly, which allows it to be easily integrated into modern diets. The ingredients are non-GMO, non-hormonal & stimulant-free, making it safe for long-term consumption.

Pros

Cons

Why we like HerFlora

Want to see the benefits of Radiancy sooner? Then HerFlora Intimate Bundle is just what you need. 

This probiotic + prebiotic bundle combines the intimate health bolstering probiotics of Radiancy with ‘super fiber’ prebiotics in Previtalize.

When taken together, the probiotics in Radiancy feed on these ‘super fibers’ to multiply faster and survive longer in the gut. This means women experience faster visible results such as minimized infections, odor and discomfort.

These ‘super fibers’ include fructooligosaccharides (FOS)galactooligosaccharides (GOS)inulin & burdock root, prebiotic fibers which provides a list of benefits like:

  • enhancing good gut bacteria
  • boosting nutrient absorption
  • minimizing bloating
  • curbing cravings

Overall, HerFlora is the best-value-for-money bundle on this list right now, 2nd to Radiancy only because of it’s price point.

Other than that, we believe it’s the perfect bundle to combat vaginal infections, odor and discomfort.

Pros

Cons

URO is a probiotic supplement, marketed to help improve vaginal health, with clinically-studied ingredients to support healthy odor, pH, and yeast balance.

Each serving of URO (2 capsules) features 50 mg of their V-Positiv Probiotic Blend (L.acidophilus, L.rhamnosus, L.reuteri, L.fermentum) and 400 mg of XOS (xylooligosaccharides) prebiotic.

We love that they’ve included prebiotics along their probiotic blend to provide a source of energy for the probiotics to feed on. However, we feel that the ingredient blend lacks holistic ingredients that either helps with hormonal balance, or helps repair and moisturize the vaginal skin.

We’d also like it better if they didn’t include fillers (maltodextrin, coloring).

But all in all, URO Vaginal Probiotics is a great choice for a probiotic supplement to help manage your vaginal health.

Pros

Cons

AZO is a probiotic supplement, marketed to keep the natural balance of the vaginal microbiome in check.

Each serving (1 capsule) of AZO Complete Feminine Balance contains their Intelliflora™ blend of probiotics (L.crispatus, L.rhamnosus, L.gasseri, L. jensenii). Since they’ve not included the actual weight of the blend, we cannot determine just how much of it is contained within the capsule.

Now, the ingredients might seem a little one-dimensional, but the probiotic blend does contain probiotic strains capable of supporting vaginal health. It even contains FOS (fructooligosaccharides) prebiotic, though they failed to include it in their main ingredient label.

However, we’re not too excited about the fillers (magnesium stearate, titanium dioxide, artificial coloring), especially when it contains titanium dioxide, a banned ingredient in the EU.

Pros

Cons

RePHresh Pro B is a feminine probiotic supplement, marketed to balance yeast and bacteria to maintain vaginal health.

Each serving (1 capsule) of RePHresh Pro B contains less than 1 gram of their proprietary blend (L.reuteri, L.rhamnosus, glucose anhydrate, magnesium stearate, potato starch).

We place RePHresh Pro B at their placement because of their ingredient blend. We do love that the 2 probiotic strains they’ve included are backed by studies for their benefits for vaginal health.

However, we are not in love with the amount of additives and fillers included in their blend. It contains glucose anhydrate, which is derived from sugar, along with magnesium stearate and potato starch.

This makes it not very suitable for diabetics as the glucose and potato starch may spike blood sugar levels.

The fillers also contain gelatin, making it not suitable for vegans. It also contains titanium dioxide, a banned food coloring in the EU. The label also states that it contains milk, making it unsuitable for the women who have milk allergies.

Pros

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OR

Roundup: Which Supplements Should You Pick?

Servings Per Bottle

Return Policy

Helps With Vaginal Atrophy?

Contains Skin Repair & Hydration Ingredients?

Free of Fillers & Additives?

Radiancy

30

90-day

HerFlora Intimate Bundle

30

90-day

URO Vaginal Probiotics

30

60-day

AZO Complete Feminine Balance

30

30-day (With Product)

RePHresh Pro-B

30

No mentions

Frequently Asked Questions

Changes in estrogen levels throughout life, such as during puberty, pregnancy, perimenopause, and menopause, can all impact vaginal health.

Estrogen helps maintain the thickness and acidity of the vaginal lining, which creates a hospitable environment for good bacteria.

When estrogen dips, the lining thins and becomes less acidic, making it harder for probiotics to thrive.

Pathogens and yeast also become more likely to take advantage of this, causing more vaginal infections.

Your vaginal microbiome is a microscopic ecosystem teeming with trillions of bacteria.

Just like the gut microbiome, the vaginal microbiome is made up of both good and bad bacteria. The good bacteria, also known as probiotics, play a crucial role in keeping your intimate area healthy. The bad bacteria, like candida yeast, is responsible for all the infections (yeast, BV) you get.

Probiotics are live bacteria that offer various health benefits.

Normally associated with gut health, probiotics are just as important for vaginal health. Here’s how probiotics can support your intimate well-being:

Restoring balance: Probiotic supplements can help replenish good bacteria after they’ve been depleted by hormonal imbalance, antibiotics and other factors.

Maintaining healthy pH: By promoting the growth of good bacteria that produce lactic acid, probiotics can help maintain a healthy acidic environment in the vagina that deters bad bacteria overgrowth.

Alleviating symptoms: Several probiotic strains (LReuteri, B.Coagulans, L.Bulgaricus) have shown promise in preventing and alleviating symptoms like dryness, itching, and recurrent yeast infections and BV.

Nancy Grace
Researcher and Science Writer
Nancy specializes in science journalism and factual information in the fields of health, medicine, and nutrition. She spends hours each week pouring through 100s of medical journals and research studies to increase accessibility to the depths of information by the everyday person.

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