We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here’s our process.

Medical News Today only shows you brands and products that we stand behind.

Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site. To establish that the product manufacturers addressed safety and efficacy standards, we:
  • Evaluate ingredients and composition: Do they have the potential to cause harm?
  • Fact-check all health claims: Do they align with the current body of scientific evidence?
  • Assess the brand: Does it operate with integrity and adhere to industry best practices?
We do the research so you can find trusted products for your health and wellness.
Was this helpful?

The vagina has a pH level of under 4.5, meaning it is mildly acidic. Higher pH levels allow bacteria and yeasts to thrive inside the vagina, and this can result in bacterial and yeast infections.

pH balance pills are products that contain the bacteria lactobacilli. These are “good” bacteria that help keep vaginal pH levels below 4.5, preventing vaginal infections.

This article discusses vaginal pH levels in more detail and the symptoms of a vaginal pH imbalance. We also explore products that a person may find helpful and offer advice on when to speak with a doctor.

A note about sex and gender

Sex and gender exist on spectrums. This article will use the terms “male,” “female,” or both to refer to sex assigned at birth. Click here to learn more.

Was this helpful?

Some factors to consider when looking for probiotics to balance vaginal pH levels include:

  • Reviews: People should choose a product with many positive reviews, with past buyers reporting that the supplements were effective. They can also check if a brand has registrations with Trustpilot and the Better Business Bureau.
  • Safety: Product labels should state whether the probiotic is safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
  • Use: People should check that the pills come with instructions outlining how and when to take them.
  • Price: Some probiotics can be expensive when adding shipping costs. People can check whether companies offer bundles or repeat deliveries to help save money.

At Medical News Today, we choose products according to the following criteria:

  • Reviews: Products have mostly positive customer reviews.
  • Food intolerances: Products are suitable for people with certain dietary restrictions, such as those who follow a gluten-free diet, have lactose intolerance, or wish to avoid soy.
  • Instructions: The product label or website provides instructions on how and when to take the product.

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.

Medical News Today follows a strict product selection and vetting process. Learn more here.

Was this helpful?

Best easy-to-swallow pH balance pills: AZO Complete Feminine Balance

  • Price: around $18
  • Count: 30 capsules
  • CFU count: 5 billion
  • Dose: one capsule per day
  • Strain: Lactobacillus crispatus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus gasseri, Lactobacillus jensenii

AZO Complete Feminine Balance is an unflavored probiotic that reportedly helps balance the vaginal pH within seven days. The capsules are free from gluten and do not contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

The product is also safe for pregnant people. Individuals can take one capsule per day.

Pros

  • many positive reviews on Amazon
  • several reviewers state the capsules are easy to swallow
  • some customers say people may notice improvements within a few days

Cons

  • not all customers noticed any difference after using the product
  • did not resolve odor in some individuals
Was this helpful?

Best organic pH balance pills: Garden of Life Dr. Formulated Probiotics

  • Price: around $40
  • Count: 30 vegetarian capsules
  • CFU count: 50 billion
  • Dose: one capsule per day, with or without food
  • Strain: 16 strains, including Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Bifidobacterium lactis, Bifidobacterium bifidum

Garden of Life Dr. Formulated Probiotics feature formulations to support the health of the vagina, digestive tract, and immune system. The supplement contains two species of lactobacilli for vaginal health: L. reuteri and L. fermentum.

The product is suitable for people following vegetarian diets and is free from both dairy and gluten. The product also has carbon-free and organic certifications.

Individuals can take one capsule daily, with or without meals.

Pros

  • may be beneficial for people who cannot take products containing soy
  • some reviewers say the pills helped relieve their constipation

Cons

  • the plastic bottle reportedly has a chemical smell
  • the capsules may have a strong smell
Was this helpful?

Best vegan pH balance pills: HUM Private Party

  • Price: around $24
  • Count: 30 vegan capsules
  • CFU count: 10 billion
  • Dose: one capsule per day with or without food
  • Strain: Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus reuteri

HUM Private Party vegan capsules claim to help support a healthy vaginal pH while promoting the health of the urinary tract. The capsules are free from artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, GMOs, and soy.

The manufacturers claim that a person can expect results within 4-6 weeks.

The label states that people can take one capsule daily, with or without meals.

Pros

  • many reviewers recommend this product for those with urinary tract infections
  • free from artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, GMOs, and soy

Cons

  • may take some time before people notice any improvements
  • some people reported experiencing yeast infections, acne, and weight gain after using this product
Was this helpful?

Best for unlimited consultations: Wisp Probiotic for BV, Yeast, and UTI

  • Price: $30
  • Count: 180 pills
  • CFU count: 200 billion
  • Dose: one tablet twice a day
  • Strain: Lactobacillus acidophilus

Wisp states that the microorganisms in this product can help restore and improve gut flora. The company suggests this may be particularly beneficial if a person takes antibiotics or antifungals.

The company states that most people will notice a difference around 3–6 weeks after taking this product.

While this probiotic is available as a one-off purchase, people can choose to subscribe and save. This subscription includes access to Wispcare, which provides unlimited sexual and reproductive health consultations and same-day prescriptions for primary care concerns.

Pros

  • the company compounds the product in its own pharmacies
  • offers free delivery
  • has a high CFU count
  • offers subscription savings

Cons

  • not suitable for vegans
  • the reviews on the product page are not specific to the product, making it difficult to learn from customer’s experiences
Was this helpful?

Best for shelf-stable pills: RenewLife Probiotics for Women

  • Price: around $17
  • Count: 30 vegetarian capsules
  • CFU count: 25 billion
  • Dose: one per day
  • Strain: Bifidobacterium lactis, Bifidobacterium lactis, Bifidobacterium infantis, Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus rhamnosus

RenewLife states these capsules support vaginal health, urinary health, digestive health, and the over-all health of the immune system.

Unlike many pH balance pills, this supplement is shelf-stable, which means refrigeration is not required.

The company claims that one RenewLife Probiotics for Women pill contains as many active cultures as 25 containers of probiotic yogurt.

Pros

  • gluten-, soy-, GMO-, and dairy-free
  • suitable for vegetarians

Cons

  • some customers state it is difficult to open the bottle
  • some reviewers say that the pills caused side effects such as bloating, gas, and loose stools
Was this helpful?

Best pH pills with vagina-specific culture strains: Uqora Promote Capsules

  • Price: $30
  • Count: 30 capsules
  • CFU count: 10 billion
  • Dose: one pill daily, with water
  • Strain: Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Lactobacillus Rhamnosus, Lactobacillus Reuteri

Uqora states that these capsules can help maintain vaginal health by promoting healthy vaginal bacteria. People can use this alone or alongside other Uqora products.

These capsules are vegan and antibiotic- and gluten-free.

The company offers a subscribe and save option, lowering the price to $25 per bottle.

Pros

  • vegan and antibiotic- and gluten-free
  • offers a subscribe and save option

Cons

  • some customers report noticing no difference after using this product
  • others say they developed acne and diarrhea after using these capsules
Was this helpful?

The table below shows how the selected products differ from each other:

PriceNumber of capsulesCFU countHow to take
AZOaround $18305 billionone capsule per day
Garden of Lifearound $403050 billionone capsule per day, with or without food
HUMaround $243010 billionone capsule per day with or without food
Wispfree delivery180200 billionone tablet twice a day
RenewLifearound $173025 billionone capsule per day
Uqoraaround $303010 billionone pill daily, with water

The bacteria lactobacilli live inside the vagina. They help keep vaginal pH levels under 4.5, which helps prevent bacterial and yeast infections.

According to a 2022 review, lactobacilli also produce lactic acid, which helps prevent the growth of other types of bacteria.

People with balanced pH levels may notice a clear to white vaginal discharge that may appear yellow when it dries on their underpants. During ovulation, the discharge increases and may have a stretchy texture.

The following factors may disrupt vaginal pH balance:

Learn more about vaginal pH balance.

Balanitis is the medical term for inflammation and irritation of the tip of the penis due to a bacterial or fungal infection. The condition can cause the following symptoms:

A 2022 review notes that balanitis is a common condition affecting 3–11% of males. Possible causes include:

Probiotics are health-promoting live bacteria and yeasts that are available in the form of dietary supplements.

Probiotics can help restore the natural balance of bacteria throughout the body. This could help rebalance vaginal pH levels and combat vaginal infections.

A 2019 meta-analysis notes that probiotics can prevent the bacteria associated with bacterial vaginosis (BV) from growing inside the vagina. However, further research is necessary to confirm this effect.

According to the American College Of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, BV or yeast infections can occur due to a bacterial imbalance within the vagina. This imbalance has associations with an increase in vaginal pH levels that causes the vagina to become less acidic.

Some symptoms that may indicate a vaginal infection include:

  • skin rash or redness
  • itching or burning sensation
  • unusual vaginal discharge
  • unpleasant odor

People should consult a doctor if they experience persistent or worsening vaginal symptoms despite taking a probiotic supplement or other over-the-counter treatment.

A doctor can also check the vaginal pH level and determine if an individual has an infection.

Some frequently asked questions about vaginal pH levels include:

How do I fix my pH balance?

Some natural remedies that can help rebalance the vaginal pH include:

  • Quitting smoking: A 2018 article notes that a person who smokes may have reduced levels of lactobacillus in their vagina. This can increase their chance of experiencing unpleasant odors or infections.
  • Avoiding douching: Douching refers to cleaning the inside of the vagina with water and other fluids, such as vinegar and baking soda. This can increase the growth of harmful bacteria. If a person already has an infection, douching can spread the infection to the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes.
  • Using condoms: Semen is alkaline, so if it enters the vagina, it may cause an increase in vaginal pH levels.

How do you know if your pH balance is off?

An imbalance in the vaginal pH can cause the following symptoms:

  • unusual vaginal discharge
  • unpleasant odor
  • itchiness
  • skin redness or rashes

Which vitamin is good for pH balance?

An older study from 2006 investigated the effects of topical vitamin C on vaginal pH levels in women with a high vaginal pH. They found that vitamin C can have a long lasting effect in lowering vaginal pH levels.

What throws off a person’s pH balance?

The following factors can disrupt vaginal pH levels:

  • douching
  • not changing tampons regularly
  • having sex without condoms
  • taking antibiotics

What are the side effects of taking pH pills?

According to a 2019 review, possible side effects of taking pH pills include:

  • abdominal pain
  • flatulence
  • dizziness
  • bloating
  • body odor

The vagina has a natural pH level of under 4.5, a slightly acidic environment that helps protect against bacterial and yeast infections.

A vaginal pH imbalance can occur due to douching, using vaginal wipes or deodorants, or having sex without a condom. Such imbalances can result in vaginal infections, which may cause several symptoms, including vaginal irritation, unusual vaginal discharge, and an unpleasant odor.

People who experience symptoms of a vaginal infection may consider taking probiotics to help rebalance vaginal pH levels. These products are available for purchase online. Anyone who experiences persistent or worsening symptoms should speak with their doctor for a definitive diagnosis and appropriate treatment.