Does Taking Probiotics Help With Bv

Garden Of Life Doctor Formulated Probiotics

Do You Need Probiotics for Down There?

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Formulated by America’s Brain-Health Expert, a board-certified Neurologist who is also an expert on the human microbiome. This unique formula provides high counts of beneficial probiotics made from diverse strains that are resistant to stomach acid and bile so as not only support womens systems but their immune response too!

How To Reduce And Lessen The Side Effects Of Taking Probiotics

Take the probiotics on a empty stomach during night time or before sleeping Taking probiotics can increase gas especially if taken with certain foods like beans, lentils, fructose, and lactulose.

Take digestive enzymes supplement When taking probiotics, you should also take digestive enzyme supplements so it can help reduce gas and bloating. This type of supplement will help the body digest and absorb the food in the gastrointestinal tract.

Reduce the dosage If you are experiencing side effects, you can consult your medical care provider to reduce the dosage in half and as the side effects lessen you can slowly increase the dosage accordingly as per your medical care providers advice.

Take the probiotics 30 minutes before eating your meals. It will help maximise the survivability of the live bacteria and the effectiveness of the probiotics as a treatment for your BV.

Increase fluid intake By staying hydrated, you can reduce the side effects of probiotics. Drink plenty of water while taking probiotics so you can prevent yourself from becoming dehydrated.

Your body will be able to adjust while taking probiotics. It will take at least a week or two before you can enjoy the health benefits it will give you and help you fight the symptoms of BV.

Why Do People Use Vaginal Probiotics

People may turn to vaginal probiotics because of two common problems:

Bacterial yeast infection. A fungus called candida normally lives in balance with other microorganisms in your vagina. But in a yeast infection, the candida grows so much that it overcomes healthy bacteria. You might notice itchiness and discharge that looks like cottage cheese.
Bacterial vaginosis . Here, certain harmful bacteria grow enough to outnumber healthy bacteria like lactobacillus. You might notice a fishy smell, especially after your period or after sex, along with a gray-greenish discharge. Scientists donât know why BV happens. Itâs the most common vaginal infection in women of childbearing age.

Others might use probiotics to maintain vaginal health, even when they have no obvious problems. But some doctors warn there could be dangers in introducing new bacteria and other microorganisms into your body.

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Should I Take Probiotics To Prevent Bacterial Vaginosis During Pregnancy

That is a loaded question that we get a lot! Lets dive into this subject, but before we do, please remember that we always recommend to consult with your doctor about supplements that you want to take during your pregnancy. Every woman is different and your babys health is the most important thing!

With that being said, lets dive into the research!

1) Google every probiotic strain that is listed in the ingredient list. Some companies use probiotic strains without any scientific evidence to support them and they are simply a filler to offer you a higher CFU count. The reason some companies do that is to save on the supplement cost, but trust us, you dont want a random probiotic strain in your supplement. A quick Google search will yield multiple benefits and articles about well-studied strains, and very limited data on other probiotic strains.

2) Look for a vegetarian formula. No sugar, preservatives , gluten or dairy should be included in a great probiotic formula to prevent bacterial vaginosis.

The bottom line if you are prone to recurring bacterial vaginosis, yeast infections, and UTIs, we highly recommend you ask your doctor if you can take probiotic supplements during your pregnancy as they can provide you with amazing benefits on preventing these infections and reducing the risks of preterm labor and low-weight babies.

How To Use Probiotics In Preventing And Treating Bv

Eating plain yogurt daily Women who consumed yogurt daily containing L. acidophillus for two months were able to see a reduction of BV symptoms and episodes.

Taking probiotics supplements Not all probiotics are the same. You must consult your medical care provider if a specific probiotic is safe for you to use. When choosing probiotics, it must contain 1 billion CFUs. It must also contain L. acidophillus to help prevent BV. The probiotics must also have the ingredients pectin, cellulose, or inulin. These types of ingredients serve as a food for the bacteria.

Use oral and vaginal probiotics It is better to use both oral and vaginal probiotics simultaneously so it will be more effective in preventing BV. Vaginal probiotics usually contain lactobacillus and acidophilus which comes in a gelatin or cellulose capsule.

When taking antibiotic medication for BV, you must also use vaginal probiotics that contain both L. rhamnosus and L. reuteri every night before sleeping. The treatment is more effective in preventing BV than just taking antibiotics alone. Using probiotics while taking antibiotics help in curing and preventing the return of the infection. When you are taking probiotics, always check if it contains both L. rhamnosus and L. reuteri.

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Is Probiotics An Effective Means Of Treatment

It is not that simple to introduce the probiotics as it might sound. The strains of the bacteria reintroduced in the vagina should be able to survive the entire path of the digestive tract and then migrate and colonize the vagina. After the numerous experimentation and research over the years, it has been found that the Lactobacillus genus is the predominant species of bacteria found in the healthy vagina. So most of the trials and treatment have revolved around these species of bacteria.

What To Look For In A Probiotic For Bv

Vaginal health is important because it affects how you feel and look. When you feel good about yourself, youre more likely to feel confident and happy.

Your confidence and happiness will also rub off onto others around you. When you dont feel well, you might find yourself feeling down or even depressed.

BV, otherwise known as Bacterial Vaginosis, is a very common infection in women who are at childbearing age. BV can impact 1 in 3 women.

Although, a lot of women havent heard of BV before. We have put together this short little guide, so you can further understand what BV is and what you should look out for when buying probiotics.

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Q: What Causes Bacterial Vaginosis

A: The short answer is that we dont know.

However, BV seems to be associated with sex, though not as clearly as with a true sexually transmitted disease. Some women report having many episodes of BV when they are sexually active with one partner, but not with another partner. Others report getting BV over and over again during times when they arent having sex at all.

How Does The Vaginal Ecosystem Get Out Of Whack

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Think of the vaginal microbiome as a rainforest: a unique ecosystem teeming with microscopic life including bacteria, viruses and yeast. For many premenopausal women, the dominant microbes are certain species of a bacterial group called Lactobacillus. Other members of this group live in the gut and ferment dairy products like yogurt and cheese.

But the Lactobacillus in the vagina are special. Theyve likely adapted over thousands of years to digest sugars shed by vaginal cells and spew out lactic acid, creating a mildly acidic environment that is inhospitable to bacterial invaders. This helps form a crucial barrier between you and not-you, protecting your reproductive tract from infection and disease.

Lots of things can disrupt vaginal Lactobacilli, including antibiotics, menstruation, douching, certain sexually transmitted infections and semen. When Lactobacilli numbers fall, other bacteria or yeast normally present in the vagina can overgrow, causing various types of imbalance.

One of the most common states of imbalance is bacterial vaginosis an ecosystem shift away from Lactobacillus and toward a diversity of other bugs that thrive in low-oxygen environments. Its telltale signs include itchiness around the vulva, a thin gray-white discharge and a fishy odor. B.V. can also make you more susceptible to S.T.I.s like chlamydia, gonorrhea and H.I.V., and has been associated with preterm birth.

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How Long Will It Take Probiotics To Start Working

The answer to this question depends on the person and the condition being treated. Some people may see results within a few days or weeks. However, for others, it may take months of taking probiotics before they notice any changes. It is important to continue taking them as directed and to be patient.

When choosing a probiotic supplement, it is important to look for one that contains live and active cultures. It is also important to choose a product that has been tested for purity and safety. Probiotics for vaginal health should be taken as directed on the package.

Can Probiotics Help To Treat Or Prevent Yeast Infections

The story here is very similar to BV. Yeast infections are caused by uncontrolled growth of a vaginal fungus because good bacteria can no longer counterbalance the fungus. This can happen when these bacteria are reduced in number by antibiotics or out-of-control diabetes. So, the probiotic treatment logic is the same as with BV: introduce more good bacteria to your vagina.

The research record on this is mixed, as studies tend to be small in size and typically women take probiotics while also taking conventional antifungal medication. Its not clear how much of the healing process was contributed by the probiotics. Moreover, the same problems that apply to BV treatment also apply to yeast infections, i.e., getting the right species of lactobacillus.

However, since there arent any side effects, you can give it a try. Avoid oral probiotics and use vaginal applications instead as they should be more effective.

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Data Capture And Analysis

Product characteristics were electronically captured in a spread sheet. Statistical analysis was conducted using STATATM version 12 . Descriptive measures were used to summarize the data. The shelf life of products was estimated by calculating the time difference between time of survey and expiry date of the product.

Is There Any Evidence To Prove That Probiotics Treat Bv

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Well, there is some scientific evidence which supports that probiotics in yogurt, capsules, and vaginal suppositories could cure BV and treat the imbalance of good and bad bacteria in the vagina.

In 1996, a study was conducted on a small group of women for BV prevention. During the study, half of the women who consumed probiotic yogurt that contained lactobacillus acidophilus had a better number of lactobacillus bacteria in their vaginas when compared to the women who didnt consume.

As a result, the women who had the probiotics yogurt were also actually less prone to have bacterial vaginosis when compared to the women who didnt. Clearly, the end results of the study imply that the probiotics had some sort of positive effect on women who had vaginal imbalances.

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In a similar study, half of the women in the group who had BV had taken antibiotics for a week, while the other half of the women had taken antibiotics with probiotics for a month. The cure rate in the women who had taken antibiotics along with probiotics was significantly higher than the women who had not.

Also, there are other studies which have proven that taking daily one probiotic suppository for BV is effective not only in treating but also in preventing BV in the future.

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Why Take Probiotics For Vaginal Health

There are a few reasons why women should take probiotics for vaginal health:

· To prevent and treat vaginal infections, like bacterial vaginosis and yeast infections.

· To balance the good and bad bacteria in your vagina.

· To reduce the symptoms of vaginal infections and other vaginal issues.

· To maintain good vaginal health.

Treating Vaginitis With Probiotics In Nonpregnant Females: A Systematic Review And Metaanalysis

Affiliations: Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Institute of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Tatung University, Taipei 10452, Taiwan, R.O.C., School of Medicine for International Students, College of Medicine, IShou University, Kaohsiung 82445, Taiwan, R.O.C.

Pages: 3749-3765

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Abstract

Introduction

Probiotics are defined as live microorganisms whenadministered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit to thehost . Over the past 2 decades,accumulating evidence has indicated that the intestinal andurogenital microflora has a central role in maintaining the healthof human beings . In addition,the use of beneficial bacteria to improve dysbiosis by replacingpathogenic bacteria or augmenting normal microflora has beengradually accepted and proven useful in conditions includingnecrotizing enterocolitis and antibiotic-resistant infections. The intestinal, vaginal andurethral microflora have an important role in maintaining healthand preventing gynecologic infections in females, and the use ofprobiotics has been extended to the treatment of refractory casesof female urogenital infections .

Materials and methods

Literature search strategy andinclusion criteria

Data extraction

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Can I Take Probiotics To Get Pregnant

For many women who experience regular bouts of BV, they also experience trouble getting pregnant. Infertility rates continue to increase, largely because of vaginal health problems that go untreated. Many infertility specialists suggest women take care of their other health problems before trying to get pregnant probiotics can help there as well. They will regulate weight, help thyroid functions, and even solve some inhospitable vagina problems that some women face.

For more information about probiotics from BiOptimizers, CLICK HERE.

Other Steps To A Healthy Vagina

Do Probiotics Work? It Depends on What You Want to Happen

If you frequently develop bacterial vaginosis or yeast infections, its still important to visit a doctor for help with treatments even if you choose to take a probiotic.

In addition to taking some of the best probiotics for vaginal health, other ways you can support the health of your vagina include:

Avoiding douching, which can remove healthy bacteria from the vagina that are needed to control growth of other microorganisms.

Using natural, unscented soaps on your vagina as opposed to those that are fragranced and contain irritating chemicals.
Wearing cotton underwear, rather than synthetic fabrics, which allow for more air flow.
Using organic cotton tampons/pads that are unscented.

Bathing daily and gently washing with warm water and mild soap.
Avoiding having too much sexual partners/unprotected sex.
Never inserting unprescribed treatments into your vagina, including garlic, yogurt, or oregano or tea tree oil.

Eating a healthy diet that supports your immune system and gut, such as one that includes probiotic fermented foods, leafy greens, berries, herbs and other veggies, and thats low in sugar and processed foods

So Are Vaginal Probiotics The Solution To Yeast Infections And Bv

They might be in the future. But the pills and suppositories available today have not yet been proven to work.

Based on what experts know, vaginal probiotics must satisfy two criteria to be effective: They should contain a vaginal strain, like Lactobacillus crispatus, that has been shown to protect against infection and they should be inserted directly into the vagina.

How Many Probiotics Do I Need

It is advised to take probiotics that contain at least 1 billion colony forming units . These assist in establishing and further growing the amount of healthy bacterias in your body. Any decent probiotic will have between 1-10 billion CFUs, but the particular dose will depend on the unique probiotic and how it was manufactured.

Natural probiotics are also an excellent source if you would prefer to forego supplements. However, this option will make it significantly more difficult to get enough CFUs, as supplements are specially designed to administer a large, concentrated dose of the best probiotics for your body.

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Bacterial Vaginosis Home Remedies

Some sources might suggest you to use home remedies for bacterial vaginosis. These may include rinsing the outer sex organs with vinegar or boric acid, or applying essential oils. Do not use home remedies to treat bacterial vaginosis. They dont work and can result in burns, damage to your genital organs, and infections.

How To Prepare For A Doctors Appointment

Everything You Need to Know About Probiotics and Vaginal Health

People may wish to prepare a list of their symptoms, any medications, over-the-counter treatments or supplements they are taking, and consider a note-taking device for their appointment.

It may also be helpful if a person takes a list of questions they wish to ask the healthcare professional. Example questions include:

What treatment options are there for BV?
How effective are the treatment options?

Are there any specific instructions for taking medication for BV?
What should I do if I have recurrent BV?
Is there a way to prevent BV?

Are there any OTC treatments or lifestyle changes that may help reduce symptoms?

Below are answers to common questions about BV medications.

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Sorting Facts About Probiotics From Fiction

Vaginal probiotics are touted as a way to introduce live microorganisms into your vagina to improve health. Its true that your vagina, like your digestive tract, is teeming with beneficial bacteria and other microorganisms. When it comes to vaginal health, some common gynecological conditions are thought to be caused by an imbalance of bacteria inside the vagina. More often than not, when women seek out probiotics, theyre doing it in an attempt to ease discomfort caused by two of them: bacterial vaginosis and yeast infection, says Dr. Mitchell.

Bacterial vaginosis is the most common vaginal infection in women of childbearing age. Theres still a lot that experts dont understand about the condition, but it is associated with an overgrowth of harmful microorganisms , which outnumber healthier types of vaginal bacteria, including a common organism called Lactobacillus.

Vaginal yeast infection also stems from an imbalance in the vagina. But in this condition, the problem is a fungus called Candida, which overcomes healthy bacteria. Candida can exist normally in the vagina without any problem, but may cause trouble if it outnumbers other microorganisms.

For now, the only proven treatments for bacterial vaginosis and yeast infection are antibiotic or antifungal treatments, says Dr. Mitchell.