Complete Guide To The Best Probiotic Supplements For Women

A national survey found that about 2% of US adults (roughly 4 million people) had used probiotics or prebiotics in the past month in 2012. That use quadrupled between 2007 and 2012.

With so much recent publicity around probiotics, you may know they are linked to digestive health. Did you know that there are many different strains, and that each one may have different effects?

A benefit shown for one strain doesn’t carry over to others, so it’s worth checking which strains a product contains.

So, what’s the best probiotic for women?

Research suggests some probiotics may help with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms. Women are also often marketed probiotics for urinary and vaginal health, but that evidence is weaker.

With so many on the market, I’ve reviewed the best probiotic supplements for women. Keep in mind that the FDA does not approve dietary supplements before they are sold, and probiotics are not a treatment for any disease.

Why Do women Need Probiotics?

In addition to probiotics being great for children, they also have some very great uses specific to the female body. Many brands claim to make some of the top probiotic supplements, but what really makes them great for women?

Constipation and bloating are common complaints. One strain studied for these symptoms is ‘Lactobacillus Plantarum’.

A 2018 review found probiotics may help overall IBS symptoms and abdominal pain, but it couldn’t say which strains or doses work best. Some people also hope that probiotics help drastically with vaginal health.

A healthy vagina is naturally acidic, and lactobacilli help keep it that way. Whether taking probiotics by mouth prevents UTIs or bacterial vaginosis is not proven.

5 Best Probiotic Supplements For Women

Image	Model	# of Capsules	Probiotic Strains	Buy Now
Garden of life	Garden of Life	30	16	Click Here To See Latest Price
Renew Life	Renew Life	60	10	Click Here To See Latest Price
Vitamin Bounty	Vitamin Bounty	60	6	Click Here To See Latest Price
Naturewise	Nature Wise	40	8	Click Here To See Latest Price
Natural riches	Natural Riches	60	10	Click Here To See Latest Price

Natural Probiotic Support For Women

Some yogurts and frozen yogurts contain live cultures, but others are heated after fermentation, which kills the bacteria.

You will need to carefully read the labels to find that it contains “live and active cultures.”

The most popular fermented food is probably yogurt. Not all yogurts contain the cultures you need though.

Fermented foods are an easy way to add live microbes to your diet. Foods like sauerkraut, kefir, kimchi, and pickles all go through the fermentation process and grow healthy bacteria that’s good for our gut.

However, if supplements aren’t your thing, there are plenty of other natural solutions in the form of food.

Probiotic supplements are really ideal for women who aren’t getting enough in their diet. That actually includes many of us!

Healthy Foods & Drinks

Why not try some other fermented foods? Many are already familiar with sauerkraut, or pickled cabbage.

Another food you can try is kimchi. Kimchi is a dish of fermented vegetables like cabbage, radishes, and scallions.

It has a red pepper or salted shrimp taste to it. It can be a tasty part of a healthy diet.

There are a couple of fermented drinks you can try too.

Kefir is a fermented dairy drink. Some people with lactose intolerance find they tolerate it better than milk.

Another choice is kombucha, a fermented drink made from black tea and a culture of bacteria and yeast called a SCOBY.

Home-brewed kombucha can become contaminated, so commercially made, refrigerated kombucha is the safer choice.

Probiotics And Urinary And Vaginal Health

An estimated 75% of women will have at least one vaginal yeast infection. It’s a horrible, uncomfortable infection that seems to hit at the worst moments.

Many women’s probiotics contain L. reuteri and L. rhamnosus strains, which have been studied for vaginal health.

The results are mixed. CDC treatment guidelines say there is no substantial evidence that probiotics treat yeast infections.

Don’t put yogurt in the vagina. A yeast infection, bacterial vaginosis and some STIs can look alike, so see a clinician for diagnosis and the right treatment.

UTIs usually happen when bacteria from the bowel reach the urethra and bladder. Wiping from front to back and urinating after sex may lower the risk.

A 2015 review of nine studies found no evidence that probiotics prevent UTIs.

If you keep getting UTIs, bacterial vaginosis or yeast infections, talk to your doctor. These infections need proper treatment, and a probiotic is not a substitute.

Women Who Would Particularly Benefit From Probiotics

While probiotics are great for everybody, some people might need an extra boost more than others.

Healthy guts lead to healthy bodies, but there are many women out there who suffer with gastrointestinal issues.

These issues bring discomfort, bloating, and constipation, gas, and more.

In some of these cases, probiotics may help ease symptoms, though results vary by strain and person.

Probiotics are good bacteria that your gut needs to maintain a functioning digestive system.

They are thought to help keep the gut’s community of microbes in balance.

When it’s off-balance and bad bacteria is overtaking good bacteria, it’s known as dysbiosis. You can feel the effect of this through bloating, cramps, gas, and more.

Probiotics may reduce diarrhea linked to antibiotics. Evidence for traveler’s diarrhea is mixed.

If you have ongoing gut symptoms, see a doctor first. Bloating, cramps and changes in bowel habits can have many causes that need a proper diagnosis.

Safety

Probiotics appear safe for most healthy people. People with a weakened immune system or a serious illness should talk to a doctor first, because serious infections have been reported in vulnerable groups.

Best Daily Probiotic For Women

If you want a women’s formula, look for one that lists its strains, including L. reuteri and L. rhamnosus, and its CFU count.

Garden of Life Probiotics for Women has just that and more.

The label lists L. reuteri, L. rhamnosus and L. fermentum, along with L. acidophilus and bifidobacteria.

The maker lists 16 strains and 50 billion CFUs per capsule. Formulas change, so check the current label.

You only need to take one capsule a day.

They are gluten-free, soy-free, and safe for vegetarians. The maker says the capsules are designed to survive stomach acid.

Garden Of Life Probiotic Supplement For Women

This probiotic supplement has 50 billion CFU’s and includes strains like L. reuteri and L. fermentum which is ideal for vaginal health. It has 16 strains in total.

It’s one of the most complete women’s formulas I found.

This supplement has also been designed for being stored on a shelf rather than in the refrigerator.

It comes in a specially lined bottled to ensure there is no diminishing potency before the expiration date.

However, this doesn’t mean it can be exposed to high temperatures, so keep it in a cool, dry place!

Check The Best Price Here

Best Daily Probiotic For Pregnant Women

Pink Stork – Pro Prenatal Probiotic

Pregnancy can bring its own horrible symptoms, especially in the first trimester.

This can include bloating, excess gas, heartburn, and the dreaded morning sickness (which we know can be at any time – not just mornings!)

Some women want to try a probiotic during pregnancy. Talk to your obstetrician or midwife before starting any supplement while pregnant.

Pink Stork is formulated specifically with pregnant women in mind.

It promotes good bacteria within the gut with 8 billion CFUs.

The primary strands found in this probiotic are L. acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum.

There’s no good evidence that probiotics prevent morning sickness or yeast infections in pregnancy.

The maker describes it as non-GMO, sugar-free, gluten-free and preservative-free. If you and your clinician decide a probiotic is right for you, it’s one option made for pregnancy.

Check The Best Price Here

Best Probiotics For Women Over 50

As we get older, changes in our body mean we need to change the way we take care of ourselves.

Our needs may be greater in order to keep a healthy, functioning system, especially in the gut.

Renew Life makes a formula marketed for adults over 50.

It contains bifidobacteria and lactobacilli, the most widely studied probiotic groups.

The presence of bifidobacteria can naturally decrease with age, and Renew Life has three different strains of it to keep it plentiful in the gut.

Claims that probiotics boost mood, energy or immunity in older adults are not well proven.

The Adult 50+ version is listed at 30 billion CFUs. The Extra Care product below is a different formula, so check which one you are buying.

Renew Life Ultimate Flora Extra Care Probiotic

One particularly beneficial strain of probiotics for women is Lactobacillus rhamnosus, and Renew Life has a capsule that contains not only that, but also nine other strains, including the more well-known L.casei (often found in yogurts).

It is listed at 50 billion CFUs per capsule. A higher CFU count doesn’t automatically mean a better result.

The maker says the capsules are dairy-free and gluten-free.

Check The Best Price Here

Other Probiotics For Women

Vitamin Bounty – Women’s Pro-Daily

Vitamin Bounty’s probiotics supplement for women is listed at 10 billion CFUs, lower than the previous two.

For most uses, researchers don’t yet know the right dose, so a 10 billion CFU probiotic daily supplement is a reasonable middle ground.

Vitamin Bounty contain Prebiotic FOS, which is actually a food source for the probiotics, helping them to thrive.

Not only that, but their patented delayed-release capsule is designed to help protect the probiotic from stomach acid.

It also has added minerals and plant extracts. Check the label for anything that may interact with your medicines.

Check The Best Price Here

NatureWise Women’s Probiotic With Cranberry & D-Mannose

NatureWise’s time release probiotics for women also contain cranberry, which has been studied for preventing repeat UTIs with mixed results.

D-mannose is a sugar also studied for urinary tract health. Neither ingredient treats an active UTI.

NatureWise’s probiotic supplement is listed at six billion CFUs. The maker says its time-release capsule protects more of the bacteria from stomach acid.

With the added cranberry and D-mannose, it suits women who want a combined formula.

Check The Best Price Here

Natural Riches Probiotics For Women

This probiotic supplement for women is marketed for digestive, urinary and vaginal health.

The maker’s wider claims, such as help with Crohn’s Disease, colon polyps or allergies, are not proven. Anyone with Crohn’s disease should follow their gastroenterologist’s advice.

Like a few others, Natural Riches has added prebiotics to help aid in the growth of the healthy bacteria.

The label lists 15 billion CFUs per dose.

Check The Best Price Here

We’re learning more and more about probiotics all the time, with interest first peaking in the mid-90’s.

Research is still catching up with the marketing, and for most conditions scientists don’t yet know which strains or doses help.

These are some of the best probiotic supplements for women on the market. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before starting one, especially if you are pregnant, have a health condition or take other medicines.

Sources

• Probiotics: Usefulness and Safety, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH)
• Probiotics: What You Need To Know, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH)
• Vulvovaginal Candidiasis: STI Treatment Guidelines, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention