Women's vaginal health

Three Easy Steps to a Healthy Vagina

Did you know that the vagina has its own unique community of good bacteria?

Vaginal flora has the power to influence women's health in a profound way. It's been shown to influence fertility¹ and protect against infections.²⁻³ This article shares three steps to help you nurture vaginal health. Click here to skip to these 3 steps or keep reading to learn more

How Do I Know If My Bacteria Is Out of Balance?

A healthy vagina usually has clear or white discharge. It shouldn’t cause pain, burning, or itching. These symptoms can indicate bacterial imbalances, or an infection. If you notice these, we recommend reaching out to a healthcare practitioner. Without enough protective bacteria, the vaginal tract may become more vulnerable to infections. Here are some examples of when your bacteria levels could use more support.

  • If you experience urinary tract infections, or thrush, several times a year
  • Noticing changes in vaginal symptoms after taking antibiotics
  • Getting flare-ups after drinking alcohol, or after wearing wet swimmers for too long
  • Changing oestrogen levels with perimenopause
  • Products you've used in the past, such as lubricants causing irritation
  • You feel more dryness or issues with vaginal discomfort

Even if things seem “normal,” your vaginal microbiome might still need support. The rest of this articles covers everything you need to know to help support healthy vaginal flora.

Step 1. Learn About the Importance of Lactobacilli

A healthy vagina has high levels of lactobacilli. These are a specific family of probiotic species that help maintain microbial balance within intimate areas.¹ Lactobacilli help maintain a slightly acidic pH balance, which helps protect the vaginal tract from microbes.

These bacteria produce hydrogen peroxide and lactic acid, which keep the vaginal pH at an optimal 3.8 to 4.5. 

Lactobacilli also produce antimicrobial compounds, which help defend against infection. Together, these by-products work to prevent harmful bacteria from growing before they can cause problems.⁴,⁵ When lactobacilli levels drop, however, this protective barrier weakens—raising the risk of issues like UTIs and thrush.²,⁶ That’s why it’s so important to minimise disruptions to the female microbiome and maintain a healthy balance of lactobacilli. 

Step 2. Consider Disruptive Factors that Impact Vaginal Health

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The vaginal microbiome can be affected by several factors. Most commonly, individuals can experience disruptions in response to the following factors: antibiotic use, hormonal changes and external factors.

Antibiotic use

While antibiotics are effective at eliminating harmful bacteria, they can also disrupt the balance of beneficial lactobacilli in the vagina.⁷ This disruption may alter the protective pH environment, increasing the risk of infection.

As with any medication, antibiotics should be taken only as prescribed by your general practitioner, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider. However, it is possible to reduce their impact on vaginal lactobacilli. Certain probiotics not only help maintain healthy lactobacilli levels but can also support the management of vaginal conditions that require antibiotic treatment—leading to better overall outcomes.

For example, probiotic strains, Lactobacillus rhamnosus (GR-1™) and Lactobacillus reuteri (RC-14™) have been shown to provide added benefits when used alongside medical treatments for UTIs and thrush.⁸,⁹

Higher Oestrogen Levels

Rising oestrogen levels can influence the vaginal flora by increasing natural sugar levels in vaginal secretions.³,⁴ This creates a nutrient-rich environment that can be exploited by certain microbes. For some individuals, this spike in sugar availability may trigger uncomfortable thrush symptoms—especially when lactobacilli levels are low. 

This can happen during pregnancy, or from using oestrogen-containing medications (such as the oral contraceptive pill), or whenever oestrogen levels naturally rise, usually around 2 weeks after your period.

Lower Oestrogen Levels

Low oestrogen levels also influence the vaginal microbiome. During menopause, natural hormonal changes can disturb healthy pH and contribute to the onset of vaginal infections.¹⁰ GR-1™ and RC-14™ probiotics can certainly support post-menopausal women, shown to reduce UTIs.⁷ While low lactobacilli levels are linked to conditions that can worsen after menopause, such as lichen sclerosis.¹¹

Exposure to External Factors

Exposure factors can also sway the balance of vaginal flora. For example, male ejaculate can neutralise vaginal pH for several hours after sex.¹² In addition, certain intimate products, such as lubricants, sex toys and feminine-hygiene products can also disrupt the vaginal microbiome.¹³ 

Although these factors are usually temporary, they can still disrupt the vaginal flora. While the microbiome is generally resilient, a combination of these events can sometimes lower lactobacilli levels. Fortunately, there are ways to support and restore these important probiotic species to help rebalance the microbiome.

Step 3. Boost Vaginal Lactobacilli to Restore Balance

Specific probiotics that help support vaginal lactobacilli levels. Taken orally, these can assist in restoring balance to bacteria within the vaginal microbiome. Namely, GR-1™ and RC-14™, have been shown to restore vaginal lactobacilli levels.¹⁴⁻¹⁸ When combined with liquorice root extract (GutGard® liquorice), can help soothe mucosal inflammation and reduce the growth of urogenital pathogens.

UltraFlora Women's Probiotic contains the triple action therapy of GR-1™ and RC-14™ combined with GutGard® liquorice. This combination is design to help restore the female microbiome and support vaginal health.

BONUS: If you’re looking for a probiotic supplement to cover multiple health needs, look no further than UltraFlora Complete Women’s Probiotic. This combination helps support healthy vaginal pH, emotional wellbeing and response to stress, as well as digestive immune and urinary tract health. With 24-hour support and a comprehensive approach, UltraFlora Complete is your go-to daily probiotic for whole-body wellness.

Looking for additional women’s health support? Read our article on the 5 best supplements for women’s health or explore our range of quality women’s health supplements.

References:

  1. Vitale SG, Ferrari F, Ciebiera M, et al. The role of genital tract microbiome in fertility: a systematic review. Int J Mol Sci. 2021;23(1):180. doi:10.3390/ijms23010180
  2. Zangl I, Pap IJ, Aspöck C, Schüller C. The role of Lactobacillus species in the control of Candida via biotrophic interactions. Microb Cell. 2019;7(1):1-14. doi:10.15698/mic2020.01.702
  3. Cohen, K, Powderly, W, Opal, S, et al. Infectious Diseases. 4th edn. Brighton (UK):Elsevier; 2017
  4. Korenek P, Britt R, Hawkins C. Differentiation of the vaginoses-bacterial vaginosis, lactobacillosis, and cytolytic vaginosis. Int J Adv Nurs Pract. 2003;6(1):1-10.
  5. Donders GG, Bellen G, Grinceviciene S, Ruban K, Vieira-Baptista P. Aerobic vaginitis: no longer a stranger. Res Microbiol. 2017 Nov – Dec;168(9-10):845-858. doi: 10.1016/j.resmic.2017.04.004
  6. Harmanli O, GY C, Nyirjesy P, Chatwani A, JP G. Urinary tract infections in women with bacterial vaginosis. Obstetrics Gynecol. 2000;95(5):710-712. doi:10.1097/00006250-200005000-00015
  7. Clinical Key. Elsevier; 2020. Bacterial vaginosis. Updated April 23, 2020. Accessed June 18, 2024. https://www.clinicalkey.com.au
  8. Beerepoot MAJ, ter Riet G, Nys S et al. Lactobacilli vs antibiotics to prevent urinary tract infections: A randomized, double-blind, noninferiority trial in postmenopausal women. Arch Intern Med. 2012;172(9):704-712. doi:10.1001/archinternmed.2012.777
  9. Martinez RC, Franceschini SA, Patta MC, et al. Improved treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis with fluconazole plus probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14. Lett Appl Microbiol. 2009;48(3):269-274. doi:10.1111/j.1472-765X.2008.02477.x
  10. Kalia N, Singh J, Kaur M. Microbiota in vaginal health and pathogenesis of recurrent vulvovaginal infections: a critical review. Ann Clin Microbiol Antimicrob. 2020;19(1):5. doi:10.1186/s12941-020-0347-4
  11. Taylor OA, Birse KD, Hill D'J, et al. The relationship between the vaginal and vulvar microbiomes and lichen sclerosus symptoms in post-menopausal women. Sci Rep. 2024;14(1):27094. Published 2024 Nov 7. doi:10.1038/s41598-024-78372-9
  12. Leppäluoto PA. Bacterial vaginosis: what is physiological in vaginal bacteriology? An update and opinion. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scandi. 2011 Dec;90(12):1302-6. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0412.2011.01279.x
  13. Marrazzo JM, Thomas KK, Agnew K, Ringwood K. Prevalence and risks for bacterial vaginosis in women who have sex with women. STD. 2010 May;37(5):335-339.
  14. Reid G, Charbonneau D, Erb J, et al. Oral use of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR‐1 and L. fermentum RC‐14 significantly alters vaginal flora: randomized, placebo‐controlled trial in 64 healthy women. Fems Immunol Medical Microbiol. 2003;35(2):131-134. doi:10.1016/s0928-8244(02)00465-0
  15. Vujic G, Knez AJ, Stefanovic VD, Vrbanovic VK. Efficacy of orally applied probiotic capsules for bacterial vaginosis and other vaginal infections: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Eur J Obstet Gyn R B. 2013;168(1):75-79. doi:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2012.12.031
  16. Anukam K, Osazuwa E, Ahonkhai I, et al. Augmentation of antimicrobial metronidazole therapy of bacterial vaginosis with oral probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14: randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial. Microbes Infect. 2006;8(6):1450-1454. doi:10.1016/j.micinf.2006.01.003
  17. Reid G, Bruce AW. Urogenital infections in women: can probiotics help? Postgrad Med J. 2003;79(934):428. doi:10.1136/pmj.79.934.428
  18. Younes JA, Lievens E, Hummelen R, Westen R van der, Reid G, Petrova MI. Women and their microbes: the unexpected friendship. Trends Microbiol. 2018;26(1):16-32. doi:10.1016/j.tim.2017.07.008
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