What Are the Best Probiotics for Women?

Published March 14, 2024

All can benefit from a dose of good bacteria. Certain probiotics are especially beneficial for women. But as with most supplements, the best probiotics for women depend on your health needs and goals.

Probiotics, as we know, are a type of beneficial bacteria. We usually get it from food, but some naturally live within us. They’re called “good bacteria” because they help keep the balance in our gut microbiome and the harmful bacteria in check. This, in turn, enables us to avoid certain diseases.

If you want to start a daily probiotic regimen, you’re in the right place. In this post, we’ll walk you through the benefits of probiotics for women and how to pick the best probiotics for you.

Are Probiotics Good For Women’s Health?

Yes, probiotics are suitable for women’s or anyone’s health.

The health benefits of probiotics vary, especially among women. From skin health to vaginal health, there are women’s probiotics for a wide variety of health concerns.

Yet, most people don’t know that many probiotic strains are available. Each has a specific function. Some strains are ideal for cosmetic purposes, while others are useful to food manufacturers.

So, if you’re looking for a probiotic supplement, choose one with the strains suited to your needs. You cannot expect to eliminate acne if a probiotic supplement focuses on gut health.

The Best Probiotics For Women

With hundreds (or thousands) of probiotic brands in the market, it can be hard to pick a good one, especially since they all claim to be the best.

We’ve scoured the web for reviews and recommendations to help you pick the right probiotics. Here are the highest-rated probiotics for women:

1. Bionaze (10 Billion CFU)

Recommended for: Oral and Upper Respiratory Health

Bionaze is designed for individuals with chronic sinus, ear, nose, throat, and mouth issues. It contains two clinically studied strains, BLIS K12 and BL-04, offering 10 billion live active cultures. BLIS K12, derived from the gums of select healthy children, boosts the immune system and fights halitosis (bad breath). BL-04 helps maintain a healthy balance of good bacteria.

Discover how Bionaze can improve your oral and upper respiratory health here. 

2. Garden of Life Dr. Formulated Women’s pH (50 billion CFU)

Recommended for: Digestive Health, Vaginal Health, Immune Health

A probiotic blend formulated for women’s health, Garden of Life Women’s Probiotics contains 16 strains. But aside from addressing various women’s health issues, it’s also a shelf-stable probiotic. The 50 billion colony-forming units (CFU) will remain viable without refrigeration. So, they’ll still be effective even if you put them on your kitchen counter or gym bag.

Learn more about the benefits of Garden of Life Women’s pH here. Discover how its shelf stability ensures optimal effectiveness even without refrigeration.

3. Renew Life Ultimate Flora™ Adult 50+ (50 billion CFU)

Recommended for: Digestive Health

Renew Life Ultimate Flora Probiotic is recommended for digestive health. This supplement is designed to support digestive and immune health. It contains 50 billion cultures from 12 different strains in each serving. It’s one of the best probiotics for women, as recommended by experts. It can also provide benefits for urinary tract health. 

Explore more about its remarkable advantages here.

4. Physician’s Choice Women’s Probiotic (60 Billion CFU)

Recommended for: Digestive Health, Vaginal Health, Immune Health, Urinary Health

Physician’s Choice Probiotics for Women uses veggie capsules. This supplement not only supports digestive health, but also vaginal health. It also contains natural ingredients that help prevent urinary system infections in women. It comes in capsules to ensure adequate protection for the live cultures against sunlight and oxygen without refrigeration.

Learn more about the benefits of Physician’s Choice Probiotics for Women and how it can support your well-being here.

5. Culturelle Daily Probiotic (10 billion CFU)

Recommended for: Digestive Health

Culturelle Daily Probiotic is a recommended probiotic supplement. People love it for its beneficial effects on digestive health. It’s designed to help maintain a healthy gut flora balance, improve digestion, and boost the immune system. This probiotic has been recognized for its positive impact on women’s health, including support for urinary tract health. Culturelle Daily Probiotic is a trusted choice for women who want to optimize their well-being. With its carefully selected strains, it offers reliable support.

Discover how Culturelle Daily Probiotic can support your digestive health and well-being here.

6. Ritual Synbiotic+ (11 billion CFU)

Recommended for: Gut Health

Ritual Synbiotic+ is a cutting-edge three-in-one supplement featuring prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics. It’s designed to optimize gut health. It offers a whopping 11 billion colony-forming units (CFUs) per serving to ensure maximum effectiveness. It has a potent blend of beneficial bacteria.

This exceptional formulation has been crafted to withstand the challenging journey through the digestive system. It ensures that the beneficial bacteria reach their intended destination in the gut. Ritual Synbiotic+ promotes a healthy digestive system. It supports well-being by nourishing the gut microbiome.

Learn more about the benefits of Ritual Synbiotic+ here and how it can support your digestive health and overall well-being.

7. Olly Probiotic + Prebiotic Gummy (500 million CFU)

Recommended for: Digestive Health

Olly Probiotic + Prebiotic Gummies are a delicious and convenient way to support your digestive health. These peach-flavored gummies contain probiotics that help boost beneficial bacteria in your gut and nourish the existing ones. Taking these supplements daily can help maintain good gut health and overall well-being. 

Discover the power of Olly Probiotic + Prebiotic Gummies here.

8. Lovebug Yeast + Vaginal pH Support (50 billion CFU)

Recommended for: Women’s Health

Lovebug’s Yeast + Vaginal pH Support is a recommended probiotic supplement for women’s health. It’s designed to promote and maintain a healthy vaginal pH balance, making it the best vaginal probiotic worth trying out. Its unique formulation helps support optimal yeast levels and urinary tract health. Experts in the field have recognized this probiotic supplement as one of the best for women. 

Discover why it’s a game-changer for women’s health here.

How to Choose the Right Women Probiotics for You

The above list is just suggestions of probiotic brands that benefit women. But, if none of those brands work for you, here are our tips on choosing the right probiotics.

1. Pick The Right Strain

As mentioned, thousands of probiotic strains are out there – each with its benefits. So, choosing the right strain is essential to get the most out of your supplement.

However, you must first identify your health goals and needs before choosing a strain. If you’re bloated or have frequent diarrhea, choose a clinically proven strain to address digestion issues. If you have a mild case of bacterial vaginosis, you need a strain that helps boost your immune system. It also restores balance to your vaginal flora.

So, how do you know which strain is right for you? We’ve listed below some of the most recommended strains for women’s health. But of course, the most effective trick is to do your research. Many available studies on the web will give you an idea of what a particular strain is good for. Better yet, ask your doctor.

2. Look At The CFU

CFU stands for colony-forming units. It refers to the number of viable probiotics in a sample. For a probiotic to be considered viable, it must reach your gut alive. The more live probiotics that reach your gut, the faster the colonization process will be. In short, the higher the CFU count, the more potent a supplement is.

3. Consider The Delivery System

Aside from the strain and CFU count, the probiotic’s delivery system will also affect a supplement’s effectiveness. The delivery system in probiotics refers to how the probiotic bacteria are delivered to the gut.

Most probiotic supplements are in capsules. Others are available in tablets or lozenges. But if the capsule or tablet isn’t designed to protect the live bacteria culture within them, only very few of them will reach your gut alive. Many supplements today have enteric coatings and are shelf stable, so choosing a good one will be easy.

The Best Probiotic Strains for Women

If you have no idea which strains you should look for, these are the best probiotic strains for women’s health as per studies:

1. Lactobacillus rhamnosus

The strain has been widely studied and is particularly associated with digestive health. It’s well-suited to survive in the acidic environment of your gut and adheres to your intestinal walls. This helps them reduce gut permeability, thus preventing inflammatory bowel syndrome (IBS).

Several studies have also found this strain to have promising effects on mental health. Evidence demonstrates that it helps reduce anxiety and depression. A randomized 2001 study also orally administered L. rhamnosus to forty-two women for 28 days. Results confirm its potential efficacy in restoring and maintaining a normal vaginal flora.

2. Lactobacillus fermentum

As its name suggests, this probiotic strain causes fermentation and is widely used in food manufacturing. It’s also abundant in cheese products. Like L. rhamnosus, this strain is also effective in maintaining a normal vaginal flora.

Several studies have also found it has anti-aging properties by slowing the oxidation process. It releases your body’s glutathione, which facilitates the recovery of inflamed tissues. Oxidation is a normal bodily process but may cause premature aging and may even lead to cancer. L. fermentum helps you avoid that and maintain a youthful look.

3. Lactobacillus reuteri

If you’re suffering from frequent bouts of inflammatory bowel syndrome (IBS), this probiotic strain is for you. Most strains help prevent the occurrence of IBS to a certain degree, but L. reuteri tops them all. It balances your gut’s tryptophan levels, thus preventing most of the damage caused by IBS.

Recent studies also found that L. reuteri is capable of restoring the normal vaginal flora in postmenopausal women. It can withstand a wide range of vaginal PH environments allowing it to colonize harmful bacteria effectively. This helps prevent urogenital diseases and bacterial vaginosis in women. This makes it one of the best probiotics for vaginal health for a more PH-balanced vagina.

4. Lactobacillus acidophilus

For women, weight struggle is a common dilemma. If you’re looking for natural ways to combat obesity, this probiotic strain should be on your list.

It’s mainly found in your intestines and produces lactase, which converts sugar into lactic acid. It helps reduce blood sugar and cholesterol levels. This allows manageable weight management.

A good amount of evidence also suggests that it can help manage and prevent vaginal infections. The lactic acid it produces prevents the growth of harmful bacteria in your vagina. Several studies found that taking it as a supplement is more effective than sourcing it from your foods.

5. Lactobacillus plantarum

L. plantarum is a common probiotic strain and one of the most studied. It’s abundant in most fermented foods as well as in human saliva. Mainly used for improving gut health, recent studies also found that it helps with weight loss. It’s also great for regulating immune responses, making it great for those struggling with acne.

In a 2017 study, researchers found that freeze-dried L. plantarum enhances iron absorption in young women.

New evidence also suggests that it helps women with recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis. It attaches to the vaginal epithelial cells, thus reducing the adhesion of Candida albicans. This process also improves the lactobacilli population in the vaginal area. A more balanced vaginal microbiota also leads to an improved vaginal pH value.

6. Lactobacillus brevis

Commonly found in milk products, L. brevis is used for making wine and beer. However, research shows it also has promising health benefits for women.

A randomized controlled trial in Iran subjected 81 women to L. brevis treatment for 118 days. These women were suffering from recurring genital herpes infections. No clinically significant events were recorded at the end of the trial. But, researchers concluded that the strain can be crucial in suppressing it.

7. Lactobacillus salivarius

A recent study in Spain speculated on the efficacy of L. salivarius in treating GBS infection in pregnant women. Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a bacterial infection in the vaginal and rectal areas of pregnant women. It can be transmitted to the baby during delivery. Infants with GBS may suffer from unstable heart and blood pressure, sepsis, pneumonia, and kidney problems.

The experiment lasted 38 weeks and concluded with promising results. 72% of the volunteers were tested negative for GBS after the trial. This leads the researchers to believe the L. salivarius strain might be vital in eradicating GBS in pregnant women.