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The best probiotic for women may aid gut, vaginal, and overall health by supporting bacteria found naturally in the body. Here, we review 12 vetted options.
A probiotic is a live microorganism that may benefit a person when they consume it in proper amounts.
Probiotics live throughout the body and are especially prevalent in the digestive tract, where they may inhibit the growth of harmful microorganisms. Gut bacteria also have many other functions, including supplying essential nutrients.
Imbalances in bacteria happen for several reasons, including:
chronic illness
a side effect of taking antibiotics and other medications
diet
Probiotics mainly consist of bacteria, but some yeasts could also be probiotics.
Various foods, particularly fermented foods such as yogurt and miso, may contain probiotics.
Medical News Today follows a strict product selection and vetting process. Learn more here.
When choosing the best probiotics, we considered the following factors:
CFUs
Most probiotic manufacturers measure bacteria count according to colony-forming units (CFUs). A higher CFU number means the product contains more bacteria.
We include products with a high CFU stated clearly on the product.
Bacteria strains
Different probiotic bacteria do different things. For example, Bifidobacterium may help with gut health, while Lactobacillus may support vaginal health.
We have included probiotics with different strains, including multiple options with a blend of bacteria strains.
Use and dosage
We choose products that clearly state ideal use, including recommended dosage, when to take them, storage suggestions, and any contraindications.
We also choose brands that outline possible timelines for seeing health benefits.
Safety
Companies may advertise that they have designed the probiotics for a specific purpose, such as digestive or vaginal health. However, probiotics have not been determined as universally safe or effective.
We have vetted brands and chosen products that do not make unsubstantiated health claims or promises.
Please note that the writer of this article has not tried these products. All information presented is purely research-based and correct at the time of publication.
Taking probiotic supplements may offer a range of potential health benefits for women:
Probiotics for vaginal health
Various studies conclude that Lactobacillus supplements, delivered orally or vaginally, may help prevent the recurrence of vaginal infection by aiding to maintain a bacterial balance. These may assist in inhibiting the growth of bacteria associated with conditions such as bacterial vaginosis (BV).
Additionally, a 2022 controlled trial found that oral L. rhamnose was more effective than metronidazole at treating BV in the short- and long term.
Multiple studies have shown that some Lactobacillus strains may ease adult antibiotic-associated diarrhea, which may affect up to 30% of people who take medication.
Additionally, a 2019 review found that the L. rhamnosus GG strain has protective factors that may benefit gut health, such as inhibiting some salmonella bacteria’s growth.
Probiotics are sensitive to changes in temperature. Some may require refrigeration. Therefore, some may not be suitable for people who travel or do not have access to refrigeration.
The health benefits of probiotics are strain-specific, some containing a lot of live microorganisms. This may make it difficult for a person to determine whether research supports the health benefits that the manufacturers claim.
Experts recommend that people eat a balanced diet, rich in high fiber foods such as fruits and vegetables, as these measures may be more effective for a person’s overall digestive health than taking a probiotic.
A person taking probiotic supplements may experience the following side effects:
gastrointestinal symptoms, such as:
bloating
stomach cramps
diarrhea
gas
dermatological symptoms, such as rashes or acne
If these side effects are severe or last longer than 2 weeks, a person should contact a doctor. While taking probiotics is mostly safe, it can lead to a serious fungal or bacterial infection in rare cases.
Probiotics are generally considered safe, but they are not safe for everyone. Some may have a higher risk when taking probiotics. This includes:
people with a compromised immune system or who are sick
premature infants
people with allergies, especially food allergies, as some probiotics may contain ingredients allergens
pregnant people or people who are nursing
People should also use caution before taking probiotics for general health conditions. For example, the American Gastroenterological Association only recommends using probiotics to prevent C. difficile infection and manage pouchitis.
A person should consult with a healthcare professional before taking probiotics.
However, research on the benefits of probiotics is ongoing.
Before purchasing a probiotic, it is important to know that probiotic supplements are not necessary for everyone. An individual should not use probiotics as an alternative to seeking advice from a healthcare professional.
Before purchasing any products, people should contact a healthcare professional to discuss taking a probiotic.
The National Institutes of Health states there is no official recommendation for probiotic use. People should speak with a healthcare professional to choose the correct probiotic and dosage and to determine how long to use the product.
Fermented foods have additional microbial cultures. Yogurt has probiotics in it as part of the manufacturing process. People can purchase yogurts high in probiotics in almost every grocery store.
Other foods that contain probiotics may include cereals, juices, milk, and nutrition bars. However, probiotic content will differ between brands.
The No. 1 women’s probiotic will vary, depending on the health concerns of the women who will be taking it. The following factors indicate quality in probiotic products:
the product is manufactured under healthy conditions by a reliable company
product is not promoted with unrealistic benefit claims
the bacteria strains the product contains are clearly identified
product packaging clearly states a high CFU count, plus storage and dosage recommendations
Complete and accurate statistics on which probiotics doctors recommend most often are not available. While some doctors may recommend using probiotics to address diarrhea, for example, some may not.
In general, physicians recommend that if a person uses probiotics, they use products with clear information and instructions, made by reputable manufacturers.
However, probiotics may help address important aspects of women’s health, such as yeast infections, UTIs, BV, cervical cancer, digestive health, and immune system support. The following strains of probiotics may support these aspects of women’s health:
Lactobacillus
L. acidophilus
L. rhamnosus
What probiotics do gynecologists recommend?
Gynecologists may recommend people take a probiotic supplement that contains Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1, and Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14.
Studies show these probiotic strains effectively prevent UTIs, which can result from the presence of bacteria that cause UTIs.
What is the No. 1 probiotic?
The best probiotic will:
have a higher CFU count
be a well-researched strain to treat the person’s condition
The best probiotic for women contains the correct bacteria for a person’s specific needs.
As with any supplement, a person should talk with a doctor before taking a probiotic, especially if they are on medication or have underlying health issues.
While probiotics may help some people, they do not cure any illness. If symptoms persist, an individual should consult a doctor.
People interested in taking a probiotic supplement should discuss it with a healthcare professional. They can help decide if probiotics would be beneficial and which strains may be most effective for specific health needs.
Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.
Forster C S, et al. (2020). Perspectives from the Society for Pediatric Research: Probiotic use in urinary tract infections, atopic dermatitis, and antibiotic-associated diarrhea: an overview. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41390-020-01298-1
Kaźmierczak-Siedlecka K, et al. (2020). Saccharomyces boulardii Cncm i-745: A non-bacterial microorganism used as probiotic agent in supporting treatment of selected diseases. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC7415030/
Salminen S, et al. (2021). The International Scientific Association of Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) consensus statement on the definition and scope of postbiotics. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41575-021-00440-6
