Cutting Edge Science: New Strain Of Probiotics For Womens Ph Balance
We know by now that a vaginal microbiome chock full of lactobacillus bacteria results in a healthy vaginal ecosystem. However, new research is showing that a specific type of lactobacillus may be the key to maintaining optimal vaginal health. While a mix of various types of lactobacilli is necessary to promote a healthy vaginal microbiome, the strain Lactobacillus crispatus is especially interesting for its ability to produce two types of the beneficial lactic acid required for an acidic vaginal ecosystem, and its ability to strengthen vaginal mucus, which also helps defend against pathogens.
Probiotics For Digestive Health
Healthy gut bacteria feed on fiber and some other prebiotic foods, so experts recommend that people eat a diet rich in high-fiber foods such as fruits and vegetables.
To improve digestion, choose probiotics known to support gut health, such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria species. The L. rhamnosus GG strain, in particular, has many protective factors that may benefit gut health, for example, inhibiting the growth of some salmonella bacteria.
Taking a probiotic supplement will not always benefit a persons digestive health and should not replace a healthy lifestyle. People should ensure they are:
- eating a healthy diet
support vaginal and digestive health. This product contains 1 billion CFU of L.acidophilus, L. rhamnosus, and L. plantarum.
The company claims that Probiotic Pearls may protect against UTIs.
This probiotic contains softgel capsules. They are free from gluten and sugar, and do not contain artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. However, this product is not suitable for vegetarians.
Hum Private Party Daily Vaginal Probiotic For Womens Health Vegan Vaginal Health Supplements To Support Ph Balance & Uti Health
- Beauty Benefit: Maintains yeast balance, promotes a healthy vaginal pH and microbiome, and supports urinary tract health.
- When to expect results: Four to six weeks
- Key Ingredients: Cranberry PACs for urinary tract support, and vaginal probiotics Lactobacillus, Acidophilus, Lactobacillus Rhamnosus, and Lactobaciilus Reuteri.
- Contains: 30 vegan capsules, 30 days
- Free of artificial colors, flavors and preservatives.
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Vaginal Ph Imbalance Symptoms
Aside from taking a test, how do you tell whether the vagina’s acidity is out of wack? The only way to have a proper diagnosis is to go to the doctor. Here are a few signs that may indicate an imbalance:
Not all infections will produce these symptoms. Additionally, some amount of discharge is normal for many women and does not indicate underlying health issues. Changes in discharge color, amount or smell may indicate an imbalance. If you have any questions about your discharge, speak with a doctor.
Probiotics For Vaginal Health
You probably already know that probiotic supplements support your microbiome and immune system, but they arent only beneficial for your gut they can also positively impact the balance of microbes in your vagina .
How do probiotics for vaginal health work? Key roles that they friendly bacteria have include balancing vaginal flora and maintaining a healthy pH in the vagina, both of which fight development of infections.
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Consider Switching Up Your Contraception Method
If you have penis-in-vagina sex and you havent been using protection, condoms might help protect you from recurrent BV as well as unintended pregnancy and STIs. In fact, research suggests condoms could be just as beneficial for stopping BV recurrence as abstaining from sex altogether thanks to the protective barrier they create between you and your sex partner.
Switching up your choice of birth control to a method that contains estrogen may also be helpful, especially if youve noticed that your BV tends to recur when youre on your period. Because menstrual blood has a very high pH, it increases your overall vaginal pH and causes counts of lactobacilli to tank, says Dr. Hemmerling. For this reason, getting your period or experiencing heavier-than-usual periods could increase your risk of recurrent BV if your body struggles to recover healthy amounts of lactobacilli afterwards. In fact, having a copper IUD has been linked to recurrent BV, likely due to the common side effect of increased menstrual bleeding, per a 2020 study in Clinical Infectious Diseases.
Think this might be the case for you? Talk to a healthcare provider about hormonal birth control methods. A couple studies show opting for a type of BC that lightens your period or stops it completely might do the trick for recurrent BV.
*Name has been changed
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But For Women Another Type Of Balance Is Just As Important
Vaginal pH balance plays an important role in maintaining a healthy vagina and urinary tract, which in turn can impact the health of your whole body.
In chemistry, pH is a measurement of how acidic or alkaline a solution is, based on the number of hydrogen ionshence the term potential hydrogen, or pH. More acidic solutions will have a lower pH level, while mostly alkaline solutions will have a higher pH level. But what does any of this have to do with a healthy vagina?
Good question.
First, it is important to understand we are not just talking about solutions you may have studied in chemistry class. Different bodily fluids also have different pH levels, and maintaining the right balance is critical to keeping your organs and bodily systems functioning optimally. For women, that includes maintaining a normal vaginal pH level: generally between 3.8 and 4.5, with the exception being younger women and those who are post-menopausal.
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Vaginal Probiotics Supplements And Ph Balance Value
Vaginal probiotics supplementation can adjust your pH balance value. When something goes wrong with your body, your vagina reacts immediately. This is very disturbing. You may think the infection is the culprit, but thats not always true: Your vaginal pH is also important.
You may remember what pH is from chemistry class, its a measurement of how a substance is acidic or basic. From 1 to 7 is acidic pH value, 7 is neutral pH value, from 7 to 14 is basic pH value. Most acidic is 1 pH value and most basic is 14 pH value.
Typically, changes in estrogen levels, infections, and your vaginal microbiome lead to an unstable vaginal pH.
We know theres a lot to know when it comes to your sexual health, so weve compiled some important information about factors that can alter your vaginal pH balance and strategies to help rebalance the inside of the vagina when needed.
Best For Vaginal Health
Vaginal issues such as yeast infections and UTIs can be extremely uncomfortable and painful. The gut microbiome and the vaginal microbiome interact with one another. It is easy for potentially harmful bacteria such as E. Coli to travel from the gastro-intestinal tract to the vaginal tract due to their close anatomical proximity.
The same bacteria that can lead to digestive discomfort, such as E. Coli, are often responsible for UTIs. One common yeast infection is Candida, which can occur in the mouth, intestines, and vaginal tract. They are associated with vaginal itching and discharge. Taking a probiotic helps maintain a healthy gut flora, also positively impacting vaginal and urinary tract health.
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Yeast Infections And Bacterial Vaginosis
Women are often concerned about vaginal pH balance because they may be suffering from a yeast infection or bacterial vaginosis. Though these conditions have similar symptoms and are both classified as vaginitis, they are not the same.
Bacterial Vaginosis is caused by an overgrowth of anaerobic bacteria, and a lack of Lactobacilli. A yeast infection is fungal and due to an overgrowth of Candida.
What do yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis have in common? They share 3 characteristics:
Semen is alkaline by nature. Though always a good idea, physical birth control may help with vaginal pH balance by reducing contact with semen.
When Should You See Your Doctor
If you experience persistent itching, burning, or unusual discharge, you may have an unstable vaginal pH level. If this is your first time experiencing these symptoms, its best to see your gynecologist, doctor, or other trusted healthcare professional for further evaluation.
Even if you are familiar with the symptoms, if you start to feel worse or do not feel better after a few days, consult a medical professional.
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Best Practices To Balance Your Ph Levels
It’s not just about what you eat and the supplements you can take to make you pH levels better, but it’s also about having a good intimate hygiene.
- Cleansing
Your shower gel can have a big impact on your vaginal health as well. Make sure that youre not using anything that has artificial perfume or high levels of alcohol, as they will have an impact on your pH balance. Either use a specific gel or try and find a shower gel that would work for your intimate areas as well. Shower gels for sensitive skin are usually adapted.
- Fermented Products
If there’s a bit of irritation or stinging on your vulva, you can add a little bit of fermented yoghurt or kefir for a few minutes and that should help balance the pH levels and get rid of the discomforts.
- Your Diet impacts your pH levels
It’s also about what you eat, you need to eat the right foods that are going to help flush out any toxins. Start by drinking more water, this seems like the solution to everything but being dehydrated really affects your entire body. Also make sure you eat fermented foods as they are also probiotics and will also contribute to feeding the healthy bacteria in your gut.
- Hormones
There’s unfortunately nothing you can do about this one but our hormones are sometimes all over the place and that can sometimes impact our pH levels and create some discomforts.
Study Summary: Probiotic Use Lowered Recurrence Rate
Ya et al enrolled 120 Chinese women with a history of recurrent BV in a double-blind RCT. To be eligible, women had to be healthy, between the ages of 18 and 55, and free from BV . They also could not have had any antibiotic treatment within a week of study participation, and had to be willing to refrain from using other intravaginal products during the course of the study.
The researchers excluded women who were found to have other causes of vulvovaginitis or urogenital infection within 21 days of participation, were pregnant or lactating, ate yogurt or fermented milk on a daily basis, were allergic to study product ingredients, or were immunosuppressed.
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Probiotics For Vaginal Healths And Phrases Differ From Each Other
It depends on what you want to achieve when selecting a probiotics for vaginal health type. The small size of probiotics for vaginal healths makes them versatile. It is possible to carry small items in pockets. My pocket did not fit it, despite its size.
With wide margins, you can roll down a page easily. Poor-quality probiotics for vaginal healths have no place in search engine optimization.
The Cycle Of Vaginal Infection And Ph Imbalance
Bacterial vaginosis, UTIs, and yeast infections are all treated with either anti-fungal or antibiotic courses. Vaginal infections account for millions of doctors visits a year for many women. For women who are prone to these types of infections, it can turn into a vicious cycle, wherein a woman gets diagnosed with one of these infections and receives medication which kills off all bacteria in the vagina , which then leaves her vaginal ecosystem out of balance ripe for another infection. This cycle can leave many women feeling defunct and like they have to figure out how to fix the problem themselves, often making things worse. While some nutritionists may recommend diets lower in sugar to inhibit the overgrowth of yeast and bacteria, the science is showing that it may be a good idea to look for supplements for vaginal health with a healthy probiotic strain as a way to support the growth of good bacteria and the maintenance of an acidic vaginal environment.
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Which Probiotics Are Best For Bv
Given that BV is an imbalance of bacteria in the vagina, it would make sense that increasing levels of friendly bacteria by using probiotic supplements could be beneficial. But which are the best BV probiotics?
Scientists are well aware that different probiotics do different things. The strains to help with BV need to be able to survive transit through the entire length of the digestive tract, then migrate to, and colonise, the vagina.
There is extensive research looking into the efficacy of vaginal probiotics. It is understood that the Lactobacillus genus is the predominant genus of bacteria found in a healthy vagina. So, most studies on probiotics for vaginal health centre around the Lactobacillus species. In this section we look at the following Lactobacillus strains which have been researched for the support of BV:
Garden Of Life Once Daily Womens Probiotic
Garden of Life Once Daily Womens Probiotic is another probiotic with multiple bacterial strains for diversity. This specific probiotic contains 16 probiotic strains as well as some added prebiotics. According to the products description, it supports digestive function, immune function, and womens health. Unfortunately, there are no clinical studies showing the efficacy of the products specific formulation.
This probiotic is also shelf-stable, which makes use convenient.
Type: CapsuleDose/day: 1 capsule per dayDietary considerations: Gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, non-GMOClinical studies using the final formulation: NoMultispecies/ multistrain: Yes
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What Is A Normal Vaginal Ph
A normal vaginal pH level is between 3.8 and 4.5, which is moderately acidic. However, what constitutes a normal pH level can vary slightly based on your stage of life.
For example, during your reproductive years , your vaginal pH should be below or equal to 4.5. But before menstruation and after menopause, a healthy pH tends to be higher than 4.5.
So why does vaginal pH matter? An acidic vaginal environment is protective. It creates a barrier that prevents unhealthy bacteria and yeast from multiplying too quickly and causing infection.
A high vaginal pH level above 4.5 provides the perfect environment for unhealthy bacteria to grow. Having a high vaginal pH puts you at risk for these infections:
Bacterial vaginosis is a bacterial overgrowth condition that causes a fishy odor, along with an unusual gray, white, or yellow vaginal discharge. It can also result in vaginal itchiness and burning during urination.
BV isnt necessarily harmful in itself, but women who have this condition are at for more serious infections, like human papillomavirus , herpes simplex virus, and HIV.
Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted disease caused by the parasite Trichomonas vaginalis. In the United States, it affects an estimated 3.7 million people.
Trich usually doesnt cause symptoms in the majority of those infected, but it can increase your risk for other, more serious STDs, like HIV.
Any of the following situations can change your vaginal pH level:
Introduction: Probiotics For Vaginal Health
The modern-day woman has a lot of things to juggle. Between taking names at work and balancing friendships, family, and romantic relationships, the last thing we need to be worried about is our vaginal health. What you may not know is that while youre balancing your outer life, there is a lot going on inside your body in order to make sure that you stay healthy. We try our best to eat well, exercise, sleep, and supplement. But sometimes, no matter what we do, we feel it we start getting itchy, irritated, or simply unbalanced down there. Common vaginal conditions like bacterial vaginosis , yeast infections, urinary tract infections , or trichomoniasis can really disrupt our everyday lives, not to mention make us feel just straight up not sexy at all. But what can a vaginal probiotic do for us? Well, for one thing, it can work with the healthy bacteria we already have inside our vaginas to ensure that they stay strong enough to fight off any bad bacteria that might try to take their place. Just like its important for us to take a probiotic for our gut to keep our gut healthy, its also important for us to take a probiotic for womens health. Feminine health probiotics not only help the healthy bacteria thrive, but also keep our vaginal pH balanced in order to create the optimal environment for healthy bacteria to thrive. Consider this article a primer for everything youve ever wondered about probiotics for womens pH balance.
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Choosing The Right Probiotic For Women
When choosing the right probiotic for women, its important to consider what specifically you are hoping to accomplish.
Different probiotic strains perform different tasks in the body. For example, a probiotic that supports immune function or vaginal health will contain a different combination of strains than a probiotic for mood and stress support.
Some factors you should consider when choosing a probiotic include:
Targeted formulation: Different probiotic strains perform different functions in the body. For an effective probiotic formulation, its important that the strains are mindfully combined and then tested with specific health outcomes in mind.
Multistrain, multispecies: a combination of several strains is often more beneficial than adding just one strain to your gut. However, there is a fine line. Combining too many different strains can also compromise the efficacy, especially if there are strains that compete with each other.
Clinical studies with the product itself: Clinical studies are the gold standard for supplements. A clinical study will demonstrate that the product works in the desired effect. It is important to have clinical studies with the final product, rather than just a specific strain in the formula studied in isolation, as strains may act differently on their own vs. when mixed with other strains.
These factors are also some of the criteria we used while putting together this list.
