Support Vaginal Health with Probiotics

The gut microbiome contains bacteria that are critical for overall health.

For women, the presence of healthy bacteria is just as critical for gynecological health.

An unhealthy mix of bacteria (dysbiosis) increases a woman’s risk of bacterial vaginosis and yeast infections (“vaginal candidiasis”).¹

Vaginal candidiasis globally impacts over 138 million women every year.²

Scientists have identified two strains of Lactobacillus bacteria that, taken orally, can help maintain vaginal health.

One strain helps improve the composition of the vaginal microbiome³ and reduces symptoms in women prone to recurrent yeast infections.^3,4

A second bacterial strain adds support for immune health and can ease gastro-intestinal symptoms that often accompany menstruation.^5-7

Together, these two probiotics can help support a woman’s unique health needs.

The Vaginal Microbiome

Many people are familiar with using probiotics to improve their gut microbiome. Probiotics, taken orally, can also be used to balance the vaginal microbiome for improved gynecological health.

Bacteria of the Lactobacillus genus are the most abundant types in a healthy vaginal microbiome.⁸ One of their jobs is to produce lactic acid, which protects vaginal health by reducing pathogens and blocking the spread of harmful organisms.^1,8,9

If levels of Lactobacillus decline, unhealthy yeast like Candida albicans and harmful bacteria like Gardnerella vaginalis can grow unchecked. This can lead to vaginal
dysbiosis,⁹ when unhealthy pathogens outnumber healthy microflora.

This imbalance can result in bacterial vaginosis, an infection that may cause unusual vaginal discharge, strong odor, itching, and burning during urination.¹⁰
It can also increase the risk of sexually transmitted diseases and fertility problems.^1,9,10

An overgrowth of C. albicans, in particular, results in vaginal yeast infections, which often cause symptoms including pain during urination or sex, swelling and
redness, abnormal vaginal discharge, and itchiness.

It is estimated that over 138 million women annually suffer from recurrent yeast infections.² And as many as 29% of women ages 14 to 49 have bacterial vaginosis.¹

Supporting healthy vaginal microbiomes could help protect against these types of infections.^4,9

Restore Healthy Vaginal Flora

Researchers have developed a strain of probiotics specifically designed to restore healthy bacterial flora in the vaginal microbiome and promote vaginal health.

In a preclinical study, the strain, Lactobacillus plantarum P17630, has shown the ability to adhere to the vaginal wall and inhibit the adhesion of Candida yeast in a competitive manner.¹¹

It has also been studied clinically in multiple settings for women’s health, displaying its ability to adhere to vaginal cells and maintain vaginal health.^12,13

This can allow healthy, protective strains of bacteria to flourish.¹³

In a small clinical trial, participants received L. plantarum P17630 orally for 60 days. After 30 days  L. plantarum P17630 successfully colonized the vagina of 80% of the participants and led to an improvement in the vaginal microbiome; the colonization was observed even after 15 days of a washout period.³

A separate study of women with recurrent yeast infections demonstrated that taking L. plantarum P17630 orally for three treatment cycles—each consisting of 15 days of supplementation followed by a 15-day washout period—resulted in improvements in vaginal flora. Significant improvement was observed after the first cycle, and after 90 days, a remarkable 95% improvement in healthy vaginal flora levels was achieved. This improvement was also associated with a reduction in clinical symptoms such as redness, swelling, and discharge.⁴

Compared to a placebo, it significantly decreased the severity of two main symptoms of yeast infections, vaginal redness and swelling.

Gastrointestinal Support

Gut health is another major concern for women.

Up to 73% of women experience at least one gastrointestinal symptom, such as abdominal pain or diarrhea, before or during menstruation.¹⁴ Women also have higher rates of irritable bowel syndrome than men.¹⁵

In preclinical studies, another Lactobacillus species, L. helveticus, has been shown to inhibit growth of pathogens such as Listeria,¹⁶ Candida,¹⁷ and E. coli,⁷ in the gastrointestinal tract and vagina, and to enhance immune function¹⁸ and reduce inflammation.¹⁹ These pathogens have the potential to cause a variety of gastrointestinal and flu-like symptoms.

In a clinical study, L. helveticus L10 significantly improved gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea, crampy abdominal pains, constipation, and flatulence in two weeks.²⁰

Enhanced Immune Response

Another benefit that has been demonstrated with L. helveticus supplementation is that it has significantly improved immune function in studies with ordinary human subjects and in fatigued athletes. Intense training can impair immune function, which can increase the risk of upper respiratory tract infections.

In one study, the strain L. helveticus L10 was given to healthy and fatigued athletes. Fatigued athletes had signs of recurrence of viral infections (sore throats, and impaired performance) and reduced interferon gamma (an immune regulatory protein from T cells).²¹

After one month, L. helveticus administration resulted in a stunning 311% increase in helper T cells in the fatigued athletes as compared to the beginning of the study.²¹ These are critical immune cells that help defend against viruses, bacteria, and even cancer.

In a separate placebo-controlled study of elite athletes, taking L. helveticus L10 daily for 14 weeks during winter reduced the duration of upper respiratory tract infections by 3.4 days and decreased the severity of symptoms.⁵

In another trial in elite athletes, 14 weeks of supplementation with L. helveticus L10 helped preserve immunoglobulin A (IgA), an antibody that helps
protect the body from infections.⁶

This indicates that L. helveticus L10 enhances the immune response, which helps support respiratory health^5,6 and fight gut infections.²¹

A combination of L. helveticus L10 and L. plantarum P17630 can support women’s vaginal, gastrointestinal, and immune health.

Summary

Women frequently suffer from vaginal dysbiosis, an imbalance of bacteria that increases the risk of yeast infections, bacterial infections, and sexually transmitted diseases.

Taken orally, the probiotic strain Lactobacillus plantarum P17630 can improve the composition of the vaginal microbiome and reduce symptoms like redness and swelling in women prone to yeast infections.

A second Lactobacillus strain, L. helveticus L10, has been shown to boost immune function and gut health by inhibiting harmful bacterial overgrowth, promoting protective antibodies, and fighting inflammation.

Together, these strains of healthy bacteria provide comprehensive support for a woman’s health needs.

If you have any questions on the scientific content of this article, please call a Life Extension Wellness Specialist at 1-866-864-3027.

References

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