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The 6 Best Vitamins & Supplements For Vaginal Health
Vaginal health is something most of us don't give a second thought until we really need to. However, given its important role in sexual pleasure, day-to-day comfort, and even gut function, it's worth taking a more proactive approach to the health of your vagina.
Taking a high-quality vitamin or supplement is one way to keep everything running smoothly down there. Here, we share what ingredients are best for promoting vaginal balance and reveal the year's best vitamins for vaginal health.*
The best vitamins for vaginal health
- Best probiotic: Thorne Women’s Daily Probiotic
- Best for pH Balance: Garden of Life Dr. Formulated Probiotics Women’s pH
- Best for yeast balance: AZO® Urinary & Vaginal Wellness Bundle
- Best for gut-vagina axis: mindbodygreen probiotic+
- Best with cranberry: O Positiv Urinary Tract Health Capsules
- Best with vitamin D: Uqora Complete Regimen
How vitamins can promote vaginal health
Your vaginal health encompasses not only your vagina but your urinary tract (bladder and urethra), too. Like your gut, these areas are teeming with bacteria, fungi, archaea, and eukaryotes1.
In a healthy vaginal microbiome, these microbes work together to maintain a balanced pH (around 4 to 4.5) that's not hospitable to harmful bacteria like E. coli and fungi like yeast.
It's when our microscopic good guys are outnumbered by bad guys that problems can occur. Periods of high stress, certain medications, and hormonal changes can all throw off your vaginal microbiome and leave it more susceptible to intruders.
Once you have an overgrowth of bad bacteria, you'll start to notice issues like unusual discharge, odors, and irritation.
There are a few stages of life when people are more susceptible to suboptimal vaginal balance. For instance, estrogen shifts during one's cycle can negatively affect the vaginal microbiome, as can hormonal changes during menopause.
Postmenopausal women may also find it harder to maintain vaginal health due to weakening muscles in the bladder and pelvic floor.
Vitamins and supplements can be helpful in restoring balance in this sensitive region.* Some of the ones with the most research behind them include:
- Probiotics: Certain types of bacterium, like Lactobacillus acidophilus, have been shown to help promote a balanced vaginal flora2 and vaginal pH3. Taking a probiotic that contains Lactobacillus acidophilus can tip the scales back to a healthy microbial balance in your nether regions. While there's a lot more research to be done on the best probiotics for vaginal health, Lactobacillus rhamnosus 4and Lactobacillus reuteri 5are a few others that naturally live in a healthy vagina and seem beneficial. These are the most common bacteria you'll find in probiotics geared toward vaginal health.*
- Cranberries: There's a reason cranberry juice is a drink of choice for urinary health. The compounds in cranberries can combat bad bacteria from sticking on the walls of the urinary tract6, making them easier to flush away.*
- Vitamin D: Vitamin D deficiency is associated with a whole host of challenges—including compromised vaginal health7. Getting levels back up with a vitamin D supplement has been shown to restore vaginal health in some studies, like this systematic review on menopausal women8.*
- D-mannose: A monosaccharide sugar, D-mannose has also been shown to help ease vaginal health issues9 (and potentially combat future challenges10) in clinical research. Like the compounds in cranberries, it seems to support bladder wall integrity and keep bad bacteria off of the lining of the urinary tract.* It's naturally found in fruits like apples and oranges, but supplements deliver it in higher amounts.
Of course, vitamins alone cannot guarantee vaginal health. Drinking plenty of water, eating an anti-inflammatory diet, practicing safe sex, and tending to vaginal hygiene are essential, too.
Taking steps to improve your overall immunity will also help keep this area in fighting shape.
How to choose
When shopping for a vitamin for vaginal health, you'll want to go with a product that contains clinically tested ingredients.
We've got you covered there: In the next section, you'll find six science-backed supplements that were hand-picked by mindbodygreen's vice president of scientific affairs, Ashley Jordan Ferira, Ph.D., RDN, for their positive impact on vaginal health.
To narrow down this list to one, think about your specific needs and lifestyle. Vaginal health supplements come in a wide array of delivery formats—from powders you drink after sex to capsules you take in the morning.
You'll want to choose a form that is easy to incorporate into your routine, since these products aren't a one-and-done deal. Most of them need to be taken daily for a few months before taking full effect.
As with any supplement, you'll also want to be choosy about who you buy from. Go with a company that is transparent about what is in their product (down to specific bacterial strains if it's a probiotic), doesn't use sketchy additives, and practices sustainable sourcing and packaging.
Summary
Our picks for the best vitamins for vaginal health
Best probiotic: Thorne Women's Daily Probiotic
Pros
- 1 capsule serving size
- No refrigeration needed
Cons
- Plastic bottle
Serving size:
1 capsule dailyResearched for:
Gut health & comfortVaginal healthType:
ProbioticThorne is a leader in the supplement and probiotic space, and their Women's Daily Probiotic contains 20 billion CFUs of bacteria that have been studied for gut and vaginal health, such as Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and of Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14, which have been shown to promote vaginal health when taken in tandem.
This probiotic comes in an easy serving size (one capsule daily) and does not need to be refrigerated. While proprietary blends aren't typically ideal, the strains in this formula are at meaningful doses backed by science.*
Best for pH Balance: Garden of Life Dr. Formulated Probiotics Women's pH
Pros
- Contains pre- and postbiotics
- B Corp certified company
- No refrigeration needed
Cons
- Probiotic blends are proprietary
Serving size:
1 capsule dailyResearched for:
Vaginal healthVaginal pHUrinary tract healthType:
ProbioticThis probiotic blend contains 15 strains of bacteria, including L. acidophilus La-14 and L. rhamnosus HN001™—both of which show promise for supporting a healthy pH and bacterial balance in the vagina. Plus, each single-serving, shelf-stable capsule contains a unique pre- and post-biotic blend to feed and support the growth of healthy bacteria.*
Bonus: Garden of Life is a B Corp certified company, signaling a commitment to reducing the environmental impact of its business practices. Like Thorne's probiotic, this one contains a proprietary ingredient blend so you don't know exactly how much of each bacterial strain you're getting.
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Best for yeast balance: AZO® Urinary & Vaginal Wellness Bundle
Pros
- Contains clinically relevant doses of D-Mannose
Cons
- 5 capsule serving size
- Long list of "other" ingredients
Serving size:
5 capsules dailyResearched for:
Vaginal healthVaginal pHUrinary tract healthType:
ProbioticThe AZO® Urinary & Vaginal Wellness Bundle contains two vaginal health heavy hitters: First, you have a blend of probiotics that promote healthy bacteria and yeast balance. Then, you have D-Mannose to help cleanse the urinary tract of potential irritants. The D-Mannose is present in clinically relevant doses (2000 mg) that are hard to fit inside one capsule, so the daily serving size is quite large: Four capsules, plus one for the probiotics. Though cumbersome, this is a great bundle for anyone looking for quick results in the vaginal health department.*
Best for gut-vagina axis: mindbodygreen probiotic+
Pros
- Helps aid digestion and ease bloat*
- Supports healthy weight*
- Sustainable packaging
Cons
- Not specific to vaginal health
Serving size:
1 capsule dailyResearched for:
Weight managementRegularityGut health & comfortType:
Probioticmindbodygreen's probiotic+ contains four probiotic strain that have been clinically studied for gut health: B. lactis Bi-07 eases bloating and promotes comfort, B. lactis B420 helps with healthy weight management, B. lactis HN019 supports digestion and regularity (while reducing gas), and L. acidophilus NCFM encourages healthy bowel movements. And news flash: The vagina and gut microbiomes are connected and feed off each other, making this a powerful formula for anyone looking to support both at the same time.*
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Best with cranberry: O Positiv Urinary Tract Health Capsules
Pros
- Unique botanical blend for urinary tract health*
- Vitamin C helps with healthy bacteria balance*
Cons
- Takes 2+ months to take full effect
Serving size:
2 capsules dailyResearched for:
Vaginal healthVaginal pHUrinary tract healthType:
VitaminThis unique blend of vitamins and plant compounds works to line the urinary tract to optimize urinary tract health and comfort. It features proanthocyanidins, the active compounds in cranberries that combat bad bacteria, as well as D-mannose sugars to further reinforce urinary tract lining. It's topped off with 100 milligrams of vitamin C (111% of your daily value) to acidify urine, foster a healthy pH that won't breed bad bacteria, and support immune function and response. Expect to take two capsules once daily for two months before feeling the full effects.*
Best with vitamin D: Uqora Complete Regimen
Pros
- Contains vitamin D3
Cons
- 3-part regimen may be hard to keep up with
Serving size:
3 capsules daily + drink mix as neededResearched for:
Vaginal healthVaginal pHUrinary tract healthType:
ComboUqora's Complete Regimen takes a three-pronged approach to vaginal health. First, the two Defend capsules support bladder wall integrity and clear away harmful bacteria with the help of D Mannose, vitamin D3, and powerful botanicals like turmeric and green tea leaf extract. Then, the one Promote capsule comes in to feed the vaginal microbiome with good bacteria. The Flush drink mix—a vitamin and mineral drink that helps flush and clear the urinary tract—forms the last part of the trio. Defend and Promote should be taken daily, while Flush should be sipped every three days, and after sex, for best results.
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Comparing the best vitamins for vaginal health
Product | Price | Serving size | Type |
---|---|---|---|
Thorne Women’s Daily Probiotic | $35 | 1 capsule daily | Probiotic |
Garden of Life Dr. Formulated Probiotics Women’s pH | $36 | 1 capsule daily | Probiotic |
AZO® Urinary & Vaginal Wellness Bundle | $54 | 5 capsules daily | Probiotic |
mindbodygreen probiotic+ | $69 | 1 capsule daily | Probiotic |
O Positiv Urinary Health Capsules | $32 | 2 capsules daily | Vitamin |
Uqora Complete Regimen | $52 | 3 capsules daily | Combo |
How we picked the best vitamins for vaginal health
Here's a peek at the main criteria we used when compiling our list of the best vitamins for vaginal health:
Designed for vaginal health
These formulas boast probiotics, vitamins, botanicals, and bioactives targeted for various facets of urogenital tract and vaginal health, from pH and yeast balance, to immunity and more.*
Contain effective ingredients
From clinically researched probiotic strains to cranberry, D-mannose, vitamin D, and more–we curated formulas that include high-quality ingredients and efficacious doses of those actives.
Quality testing
We feature dietary supplement products from reputable brands that prioritize quality testing to ensure the purity and potency of the raw materials and final product you choose to invest in.
Sustainability
From ingredient sourcing to packaging decisions, we prefer products created with sustainability in mind. We highlight eco-friendly containers that protect the ingredients, like amber glass.
Why this matters for your longevity
"The vagina is essentially a snapshot of what's happening inside the body [and] in the gut," Wendie Trubow, M.D., MBA, a functional medicine gynecologist, previously told mindbodygreen. Since the vagina and the gut are linked, a lack of balance in the vagina can harm gut health (and vice versa), sending a cascade of negative effects throughout the body.
On the other side of the coin, practices that keep your vagina healthy—like eating a variety of plants, managing stress, practicing healthy vaginal hygiene, etc.—can pay dividends for overall health and longevity.
You'll know your vaginal health is in a good place when you start to forget about it, Trubow says. Think of it like an elbow: "Most people don't think about their elbows. That's how your vagina should be," she notes. "You don't notice it; it just does its job."
Factors that can disrupt the vaginal microbiome
The vaginal microbiome is a complex ecosystem of microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, and fungi) that naturally inhabit the vagina.
It can be vulnerable to disruption via menstruation, as well as any external intrusions, like penises, fingers, tampons or menstrual cups, IUDs, or sex toys, and can lead to potentially negative impacts on vaginal health.
Here are some factors that can negatively impact your vaginal microbiome:
- Sexual activity: Unprotected sex or frequent changes in sexual partners11 can introduce new bacteria to the vagina, potentially leading to infections or imbalances.
- Antibiotic use: Taking antibiotics12 can kill both harmful and beneficial bacteria in the vagina, disrupting the microbial balance and potentially causing overgrowth of harmful pathogens.
- Smoking: Smoking has been linked to changes in the vaginal microbiome and an increased risk of certain infections13.
- Stress: Too much stress14 can weaken the immune system, making it more difficult for the body to maintain a healthy vaginal microbiome.
- Hormonal changes: Fluctuations in hormone levels, such as those occurring during pregnancy, menopause15, or certain forms of contraception16, can affect the composition of the vaginal microbiome.
- Douching: Vaginal douching17 can wash away beneficial bacteria and alter the pH balance of the vagina, making it more susceptible to infections.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I make my pH balance better?
Taking a probiotic, limiting pro-inflammatory foods, avoiding douching, and practicing safe sex are a few ways to promote a healthy, balanced vaginal pH.* Functional medicine doctor Elizabeth Boham, M.D., M.S., R.D. also recommends only taking antibiotics when needed, as they kill off healthful Lactobacillus species in your vaginal area along with unwanted bacteria. "This results in a higher pH and increased risk for overgrowth of yeast and unhealthful bacteria in your vaginal area," Boham writes on mindbodygreen.
Do cranberry pills help with pH balance?
The research on using cranberry juice to help balance vaginal pH is mixed. While it may reduce bad bacteria's ability to stick around in the urinary tract, that doesn't always translate to changes in vaginal pH. Taking a probiotic, avoiding pro-inflammatory foods, avoiding douching, and practicing safe sex are more surefire ways to promote a healthy vaginal microbiome and pH.*
What are the best vitamins for yeast balance?
Our top pick for keeping yeast in balance is AZO® Urinary & Vaginal Wellness Bundle, which contains D-mannose to help cleanse the urinary tract and probiotics to support vaginal flora balance.*
The takeaway
Maintaining vaginal health is all about keeping good bacteria in and bad bacteria out. Taking the right supplement can help you do so—and the vitamins and probiotics on this list will go a long way in keeping you comfortable and confident.
Meet The Experts
17 Sources
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6920072/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9366906/
- https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2021.631972/full
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28580872/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5917019/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34473789/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7569126/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6952708/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32972899/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36808931/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25879811/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4539900/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4161850/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8799897/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6382698/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8560639/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8629978/
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