7 best probiotics for vaginal health, approved by GLAMOUR editors
After the birth of my second baby, things just didn't feel quite right ‘down there’. Long story short, it wasn't until I tried the best probiotics for vaginal health that they did.
I had been too embarrassed and exhausted by two children to go to the doctor about it, so I just put up with feeling uncomfortable for weeks, hoping it would resolve itself. That's not the recommended approach, by the way. You should definitely seek advice if you're feeling uncomfortable. I didn't – and when things didn't resolve, I decided I'd seek the advice of a nutritionist.
The nutritionist suggested I try a vaginal probiotic to rebalance my microbiome — something that can be disrupted by everything from hormones, to sanitary products, sex and antibiotics. While feeling slightly sceptical, I took her advice and I was pleasantly surprised to find that by the time I’d finished the small bottle, I felt back to normal.
But according to new research by PrecisionBiotics, I’m not alone — 76% of women said they would rather suffer in silence than talk about vaginal health. The good news is that while we (largely) remain a nation of prudes, more women are becoming aware of the vaginal microbiome and how probiotics can help to keep it happy.
But what exactly are vaginal probiotics and are they suitable for all women? “Probiotics are supplements which contain replacement ‘good bacteria’ to help the vaginal microbiome repopulate when there is an imbalance in the bacterial numbers and pH,” says Sandrine Olmi, a Registered nutritional therapist and health coach.
“They are not, however, a replacement for medical treatment of established infection and it is essential that you see a doctor in the case that you are concerned about any changes including a change in your discharge (smell, colour, consistency), vulval or vaginal itching, pelvic pain, or unexpected bleeding.”
Considering adding a vaginal probiotic into your routine? As with all supplements, not all are created equal. With that in mind, read on to find out which ones we believe are worthy of your consideration, all approved by GLAMOUR's shopping editors.
Disclaimer: Keep in mind that this article isn't a substitute for professional medical advice, and our recommendations won't replace a healthy lifestyle and balanced diet.
Meet the experts:
| Sandrine Olmi | Registered nutritional therapist and health coach. |
| Dr Rebecca Gorgievska | Here We Flo’s gynae in residence and a resident NHS doctor. |
| Rhiannon Bray | Consultant obstetrician & gynaecologist and Onoma Health advisory board member. |
What are probiotics for vaginal health and how do they work?
“Under normal conditions, the vagina has many different bacteria which colonise it and play an essential role in maintaining vaginal health,” explains Dr Rebecca Gorgievska, Here We Flo’s gynae in residence. “Unlike with infections, these bacteria are what we like to call ‘good bacteria,’ we want them to be there, we like them.”
This natural bacterial colonisation of the vagina, she says, is called the vaginal microbiome, and it is essential to overall vaginal health including immune defence from other infections and health of the vaginal tissue. “When there is a loss of these ‘good bacteria’ or an imbalance in them, the chances of a problematic vaginal infection developing increases. The most common infections which can occur in cases of a disrupted microbiome are Candida (commonly known as thrush) and Bacterial Vaginosis (BV).”
Common infections don’t have a monopoly on bladder pain and urgency.
How we test probiotics for vaginal health:
As vaginal probiotics for women should not be taken when you have no symptoms of an imbalance with your microbiome, our trials have been a little stop and start. Essentially, our volunteers — GLAMOUR editors with vulvas who were between the ages of 26 and 45 at the time of testing — only called on them when required. While taking their capsules, gummies or drinkable powder, they were asked to consider the following:
- Ease of use — Where the capsules easy to swallow? Where the gummies too sweet to take early in the day?
- Efficacy and evidence — How long did it take them to notice a difference, if any?
- Value for money — Would they be happy to commit to the weekly, monthly or bi-monthly spend?
For those we haven't personally reviewed (yet), we paid close attention to the list of ingredients, online reviews, and consulted with industry experts on whether they'd recommend them.
Ahead, the best 7 probiotics for vaginal health in 2025, reviewed by GLAMOUR editors:
Tested by: Cat Hufton
Type: Capsule.
Number of days’ supply: 30.
Vegan: Yes.
Dosage: 1 capsule, once a day.Nutritionist formulated in Australia, this daily vaginal probiotic contains four different strains of bacteria including 1.35 billion Lactobacillus gasseri and 11.35 billion Lactobacillus plantarum. This equates to a whopping 15 billion CFU (colony forming units) that have been carefully selected to support vaginal flora and vaginal health. For good measure, there’s also 20g of cranberries within each capsule to support urinary tract health. We also love that it’s shelf-stable, so you don’t need to keep it refrigerated. Buy them as a one-off or sign up for regular deliveries that will also save you up to 25%.
Pros:
- Each hard capsule contains 15 billion CFU (colony-forming units), as well as four strains of (useful) bacteria.
- Shelf stable, meaning no need to refrigerate.
- Contains 20g of cranberry supports urinary tract health.
Cons:
- A monthly supply will set you back £30 to £40 — a financial commitment not suitable for all.
Save when you shop the best probiotics for vaginal health with these JSHealth discount codes.
Tested by: Cat Hufton
Type: Powder.
Number of days’ supply: 30.
Vegan: Yes.
Dosage: 2.5 teaspoons a day with water, or 3 times a day during a flare-up.While this isn’t a probiotic per se, it is an absolute lifesaver if you suffer from recurrent UTIs or cystitis. Not only does it help to clear up a flare-up when taken three times a day, but it can also be used to prevent future recurrences by stopping UTI-forming bacteria. All of the ingredients within it are natural and vegan, such as D-Mannose, a naturally occurring sugar that’s proven to aid urinary tract health and magnesium that helps fight inflammation and aids hydration in the body. It comes as a powder which you mix with water and drink (great news to anyone that hates capsules and tablets), and you can choose from an unflavoured or flavoured version depending on your preference.
Pros:
- Antibiotic-free.
- Fast-acting and ideal for counteracting a UTI flare-up.
- Targets the root cause of vaginal discomfort, rather than just the symptoms.
Cons:
- Not so grab-and-go.
Save when you shop the best probiotics for vaginal health with these Amazon discount codes.
Tested by: Cat Hufton
Type: Chewable gummy.
Number of days’ supply: 30.
Vegan: Yes.
Dosage: Two gummies per day, with or without food.If you hate taking capsules or supplement powders in drinks, a gummy is the best solution. Easy to take and digest, these strawberry-flavoured daily gummies from Novomins contain 4 billion live bacteria and three clinically proven types of bacteria: Lactobacillus paracasei, reuteri, and rhamnosus. These help to support your intimate floral and vaginal microbiome while also supporting your urinary tract health with added cranberry extract and gut health. You’ll also find added calcium to contribute to the function of digestive enzymes, energy metabolism, and muscle function.
Pros:
- Convenient and easy to take.
- Budget-friendly.
- Also supports urinary function and digestion.
Cons:
- Contains the lowest CFU levels in our shortlist.
PrecisionBiotics Daily Women's Flora
Tested by: Cat Hufton
Type: Capsule.
Number of days’ supply: 30.
Vegan: Yes.
Dosage: One capsule per day.This well-priced daily vaginal probiotic features the scientifically researched ASTARTE and LA-5 a blend of lactobacilli - a unique combination of four lactobacilli bacterial strains that are commonly found in a healthy vaginal microbiome. Added ingredients also include biotin which contributes to the maintenance of normal mucous membranes and good vaginal health and flora. Our only complaint is that each capsule contains 5.5 billion CFU of lactobacilli, which is lower than other options on this list, while not being hugely different in price.
Pros:
- Dairy, gluten and soy-free.
- Also aids your digestive health.
- Helps regulate pH levels, as well as a healthy balance of yeast.
Cons:
- Contains lower CFU levels than others.
Tested by: Cat Hufton
Type: Capsule.
Number of days’ supply: 30.
Vegan: Yes.
Dosage: 1 capsule, once a day, preferably in the morning with food.If you’re prone to dryness, Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) or thrush, this probiotic capsule from Ultimate V can help to keep things down there calmer and healthier by rebalancing the microbiome. These daily capsules contain four different strains of vaginal Lactobacillus species which are clinically proven to restore comfort to your vagina in five to seven days. The brand also provides self-diagnostic pH tests so you can diagnose a vaginal infection at home which we think is especially useful if this is something you experience often. FYI, a normal, protective vaginal pH is between 3.8 and 4.5.
Pros:
- Shelf stable, no need to refrigerate.
- Contains four different types of vaginal Lactobacillus species — including special strains that have been proven to reach the vagina alive and help balance the vaginal microbiome.
Cons:
- The specific levels of CFU within each capsule aren't specified.
Save when you shop the best probiotics for vaginal health with these Superdrug discount codes.
Lemme Purr Vaginal Health Probiotic Capsules
Tested by: Cat Hufton
Type: Capsule.
Number of days’ supply: 30.
Vegan: Yes.
Dosage: Two capsules per day, with water.This vaginal probiotic from Kourtney Kardashian’s supplement brand, Lemme is not to be sniffed at. I tested these out over a week and not only do they look very appealing in their cute lavender purple bottle, but they have a CFU count of 6 (not the highest but definitely not the lowest out of our favourites) and four researched probiotic strains found in the vaginal tract: Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Lactobacillus Rhamnosus, Bacillus Coagulans and Lactobacillus Reuteri. This not only benefits vaginal health (and targets the root cause of odour) but also aids your urinary, digestive and immune health, to boot. The daily dosage, however, is two capsules a day, which may be off-putting to some.
Pros:
- Convenient and easy to take.
- Infused with pineapple extract and Vitamin C.
- Supports healthy vaginal pH levels, microbiome and urinary tract health.
- Gynaecologist recommended.
- Targets the root cause of unusual vaginal odour — for reference, if you notice it's more potent, damp or more fishy-smelling than usual.
Cons:
- A price option that's often sold out due to its viral TikTok status.
Smart Strains Vaginal Microbiome
Tested by: Cat Hufton
Type: Capsule.
Number of days’ supply: 30.
Vegan: No.
Dosage: 2 capsules when taken alongside an antifungal or antibiotic and once a day for ongoing maintenance.When it comes to backing up their claims with tons of clinical research, Smart Strains goes above and beyond. This daily probiotic capsule helps to maintain good intimate health with two strains of bacteria: Lactobacillus acidophilus La-14 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus HNOOl. These are both scientifically proven to colonise the vagina and decrease candida growth alongside Lactoferrin - an ingredient sourced from milk - that’s scientifically proven to increase Lactobacillus growth and decrease Gardnerella Vaginalis in the vagina. Each capsule provides you with five billion live bacteria while being free from yeast, gluten, sweeteners, emulsifiers and preservatives. You can take it alongside an antibiotic or antifungal treatment when suffering from BV or thrush, or once a day for general maintenance.
Pros:
- Suitable for consumption during pregnancy and menopause. Proven to reduce candida growth.
- Exact formulation has seen positive results in robust scientific trials.
- Formulated by a leading scientist — Dr Megan Rossi, also known as The Gut Health Doctor — with an award-winning phD in probiotics.
Cons:
- Contains allergens such as milk.
Save when you shop the best probiotics for vaginal health with these Boots discount codes.
What are the benefits of probiotics for vaginal health?
Gorgievska explains that the majority of the ‘good’ bacteria found in probiotics for vaginal helath are from the Lactobacillus family: “Vaginal probiotics are supplements which contain high levels of these wanted bacteria — particularly Lactobacilli.
"The aim of taking these probiotics is to recolonise the vagina with the bacteria we want to be there, and therefore reduce the chance of infection or help with recovery from established infection after necessary treatment is completed.”
Consultant obstetrician & gynaecologist and Onoma Health advisory board member, Rhiannon Bray adds: “These beneficial bacteria compete with harmful bacteria, preventing them from sticking to vaginal and urinary surfaces and traveling into the urinary tract. They may also strengthen the vaginal and urinary tract tissue barriers by stimulating the local immune system to produce anti-inflammatory protective molecules.”
Answers about vitamins A to Z(inc).
What to look for when choosing a probiotic for vaginal health?
“Research shows that Lactobacillus species strains are beneficial for vaginal health, so you would need to find a probiotic supplement that contains these strains,” details Olmi. “Lactobacillus species have been shown to help support a normal pH in the vaginal environment through lactic acid production.
"Certain strains such as Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and Lactobacillus crispatus have also been shown to reach the vagina alive and colonise there, positively affecting the environment.” As such, strains with these abilities are considered to be the best probiotics for vaginal health.
“Choose probiotics with strains like 'Lactobacillus (crispatus/ rhamnosus/ reuteri) which are clinically studied for vaginal health,” recommends Bray. “Look for products with at least 1 billion CFUs (colony-forming units), minimal additives, evidence of viability through shelf life and third-party testing for quality.”
When and how should you take vaginal probiotics?
“Consistency is key — take them at the same time daily, preferably with food, to enhance gastric survival and absorption,” suggests Bray. “They can be taken orally or vaginally, both are effective. If you need to take antibiotics, then take the probiotic two to three hours apart.”
“A key point to remember is that if it isn’t broken, don’t try to fix it,” warns Gorgievska. “The vagina usually does an excellent job on her own of maintaining the microbiome and associated acidic pH, so let her be and let her do her natural thing”. Essentially, there is no need to add supplements without an indication.
In terms of how to take vaginal probiotics, we suggest reading the advice on the back of your chosen pack. “They usually come in a capsule form to be taken once a day with water, with or without food,” adds Olmi. “They can also be taken on the same day as antibiotics; just not at the same time.”
The garden flower can do a world of good for your gut.
