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2024's Top Probiotics for Women’s Health
Why you need a targeted women’s probiotic...and how to choose the best ones out there
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We’ve all been there — urinary tract infections, candida overgrowth, vaginal itching, excessive bloating, diarrhea, weight gain, and a host of other women’s issues that flare up when bad bacteria takes over.
Many of us turn to probiotics for help, but when they offer no relief, hope soon turns to desperation. You may even start thinking it’s your own fault — poor diet, lack of exercise, or just bad genes.
Nope, not your fault. The probiotics you’re taking just aren’t working. Quality probiotics use the proper probiotic strains shown to improve your digestive health.
Key Benefits of Women's Probiotics
Supports Vaginal Health
Improves Digestive Function
Helps Reduce Gas & Bloating
Nourishes Radiant Skin
Promotes Mental Clarity
Why Regular Probiotics Just Don't Work for Women...
The reason is simple. Clinical studies show that only specific probiotic strains survive the gut and make it to the vagina and urinary tract. And if they can’t get to those areas, they’re no help at all.
Why Women's Probiotics?
Women have specific challenges that regular probiotics just don't address, such as...
Vaginal Issues
A study by the Center for Disease Control & Prevention reveals that a surprising 75% of all women endure candida overgrowth, and almost half of those cases become chronic. So symptoms such as vaginal itching and burning, fatigue, brain fog, and joint discomfort unfortunately, become a way of life for many women.
Bloating, Constipation & Other Gut Issues
Women are also more prone to gastrointestinal conditions such as bloating, constipation, gas, diarrhea, and so on. These issues become even more pronounced during a woman’s cycle and in menopause when hormone levels dramatically fluctuate.
Stress-Related Problems
According to an eye-opening study by The American Psychological Association, women actually live with much higher stress levels than men, with symptoms that include: upset stomach, headaches, exhaustion, and feelings of overwhelm.
Probiotics formulated specifically for women is a surefire way to support the colon, vagina, urinary tract, and overall health.
In fact, the only strains that do survive the journey are usually found in the Lactobacillus family, such as L. rhamnosus and L. reuteri.
And good luck finding those strains on the market! Most companies don’t even offer a probiotic formula for women, let alone one that is of a high enough quality to be effective.
And the few that do, use the same, one-size-fits-all formula, with the only difference being the labels that claim to be 'for women'.
That said, there are a few high quality brands out there that do make a terrific women’s probiotic formula and your efforts in finding that rare unicorn will pay off in spades.
Remember, it all starts in the gut...
Surprisingly, your gut interacts with all the systems of the body, so the right women’s probiotic will include multiple unique strains that benefit not just the vagina and urinary tract but also the gut and all the systems throughout the body it affects.
What this means for you is that in addition to relief from vaginal discomfort and urinary tract issues, you’ll also notice reduced bloating, less gas, regular bowel movements, clearer skin, weight loss, and even better immune response, since more than 70% of our immune system lives in our gut.
Top 3 Probiotic Strains for Women:
The following 3 Lactobacillus probiotic strains directly target women’s areas to ensure better vaginal and urinary tract health.
L. acidiphilus
This powerful strain is one of the most widely studied probiotic strains for ensuring optimal vaginal health, anti-aging, and weight management. Studies show this strain also provides other benefits such as managing candida overgrowth, lactose intolerance, and other digestive issues.
L. rhamnosus
This unique probiotic strain boosts immunity and can prevent recurrent Urinary Tract Infections (UTI). It is also shown to relieve the symptoms of numerous digestive issues and even lead to mood boost, especially when combined with prebiotics.
L. reuteri
This revolutionary probiotic strain helps regulate hormones and indigestion by helping our good bacteria flush out the bad from our system. L. reuteri is especially effective in reducing candida overgrowth and UTIs.
What Supports A Healthy Yeast Balance?
Yeast imbalance affects 75% of women in the U.S. Thankfully, new studies find that Lactobacillus strains team up with your immune system to lock yeast out of the vagina. For best results, your supplement should contain at least 7 quality Lactobacillus strains.
Be Careful in Choosing...
Unfortunately, not all women's probiotics offer these results because many on the market are of an inferior quality or use weak and fragile strains that barely survive the journey to your kitchen cabinet, let alone where they need to go.
That's why it’s vitally important to choose the right product — and this quick guide will help get you there.
We tell you what to look for, what to avoid, and even give you our top picks of high quality women’s probiotics that are not just effective, but will give you the best bang for your buck.
Have a look at what we came up by scrolling down to the bottom...
Probiotics: What to Look For
High CFU Count
Our microbiome has over 100-trillion good and bad bacteria, so a high number of CFUs (Colony Forming Units) will have a greater impact on the number of good bacteria in your gut flora. Look for a formula with an absolute minimum of 40 billion high quality CFUs.
Multiple Strains
When it comes to probiotic strains, more is definitely better. Choose a formula with at least 11 vital strains and avoid those on the market with 2 or fewer.
Doctor Formulated or Endorsed
It takes years of specialized study not only to understand the complexity of all the probiotic strains and substrains available, but also how they interact with each other and all the body’s complex systems.
3 Hacks to Picking the Best Probiotics
Look for Formulas With Prebiotics
Think of prebiotics as the food your probiotics need to flourish in the gut. Current research is finding that Acacia seyal are the best prebiotics available on the market — look for them to ensure your probiotics have the greatest chances of colonizing in the gut.
Be Wary of Products Requiring Refrigeration
Many high quality probiotics are able to protect the bioavailability of its live cultures so they can be safely stored on the shelf. But those requiring refrigeration often run the risk of its live cultures dying before even reaching your mailbox. That’s because these highly volatile probiotics are vulnerable to even the slightest increases in temperature — meaning it’s possible that the probiotics you’ve paid so much money for are now dead on arrival.
Probiotics: What to Avoid
Generic Formulas
The reality is that most probiotic supplements on the market are nothing more than generic formulas sold under different labels. The FDA does not ensure quality or efficacy, so many of these products use inferior ingredients with fillers that are either useless or even harmful.
Relying on Amazon Reviews
Did you know that up to 60% of all Amazon product reviews are paid for by the companies selling them? While some reviews can be helpful, don’t count on them to tell you the whole truth, especially when it comes to supplements. Remember, this is something you’re putting directly into your body, so it’s important to do your research.
Choosing Price Over Quality
While it might be tempting to go with a lower priced supplement, keep in mind that you ‘get what you pay for.’ Nowhere is this more true than with probiotic supplements. High quality ingredients, effective dosages, and quality manufacturing processes don’t come cheap, so as a general rule of thumb, choose the best possible product you can afford.
Top 5 Probiotic Supplements Of 2024
We've compiled a list of what we've found to be the top five products in this category on the market today.
1. BiomeMD For WomenTM
Owned by the Smarter Reviews Group of Companies
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Total Ranking
9.8/10
A+
Overall Grade
PROS
- Contains 62 billion live cultures in each capsule
- 15 diverse strains
- Endorsed by an MD
- Each capsule is acid-resistant
- Contains prebiotic blends
- Only one capsule per day is needed
- Has no synthetic fillers or binders
- Each substrain is listed and has been clinically studied.
CONS
- Due to popularity, sometimes it's on backorder/sold out
The Bottom Line
Our Smarter Shoppers have voted 1MD Nutrition's BiomeMD™ For Women the best daily probiotic they tried. It is one of the most potent formulas on the market, due to its 62 billion live cultures,15 robust and clinically studied strains, including the three most critical strains from above. Additionally, this formulation includes advanced prebiotic blends, and no synthetic fillers or additives.
Many reported experiencing reduced bloating, improving mood, an easier time managing their weight, and increased energy after taking 1MD Nutrition's Complete Probiotics Platinum regularly.
This was the only product we could find that had been endorsed by an MD and listed each of its clinically studied substrains, including L. acidophilus, B. breve, L. reuteri, and L. bulgaricus. Our Smarter Shoppers absolutely loved this probiotic blend.
*Results are based on the Smarter Reviews Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. Please visit product websites for more information.
Learn More2. Pro-45
Owned by the Smarter Reviews Group of Companies
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Total Ranking
9.0/10
A-
Overall Grade
PROS
- Provides 45 billion live cultures
- 11 clinically proven strains
- No fillers or additives
- 365-day return policy
- NutraFlora Prebiotic Fiber included
- Dairy and gluten free, vegetable capsules
CONS
- Not endorsed by an MD
The Bottom Line
LiveWell Nutrition came in at a respectable #2 on our list, with a potent 45 billion CFUs and 11 strains..
Pro45 offers vegetarian delayed release capsules and pure ingredients. We confirmed that there are no unhealthy fillers or additives. We also checked its 365-day return policy and were impressed by how easy and straightforward it was. Our Smarter Shoppers gave this product high marks in the categories of customer service, returns, and overall effectiveness.
Unfortunately, it's not endorsed by an MD, but easy to order through their Amazon store. Though the reviews were stellar and ingredients are pure, the lack of medical endorsement led this product to come in a close second place on our top picks.*
*Results are based on the Smarter Reviews Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. Please visit product websites for more information.
Learn More3. Extra Care Probiotic 50 Billion
Total Ranking
8.6/10
B+
Overall Grade
PROS
- Provides 50 billion organisms per serving
- Dairy and gluten-free, vegetable capsules
CONS
- Reports of less capsules in bottle than on label
- No money-back guarantee
- Refrigeration recommended for best quality and efficacy
The Bottom Line
Some Smarter Shoppers stated that the storage guidelines of this product was inconvenient.* Although the product contains over 50 billion live cultures, many believed the product lost its potency due to poor refrigeration by delivery.*
This supplement does not include L. reuteri, which is critical for helping to prevent the overgrowth of candida in women.
*Results are based on the Smarter Reviews Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. Please visit product websites for more information.
Learn More4. Culturelle Digestive Health Probiotic Capsules
Total Ranking
7.3/10
C
Overall Grade
PROS
- Can be found in retail stores
- Dairy and gluten-free, vegetable capsules
CONS
- Contains unhealthy synthetic fillers
- Only offers 10 billion CFUs per serving
- Contains unhealthy, synthetic fillers
- Only contains one probiotic strain, Lactobacillus GG
The Bottom Line
This product only offers one probiotic strain, Lactobacillus GG, and NONE of the four strains we've identified as being critical to health.
In addition, this product only contains 10 billion live cultures. Smarter Shoppers noticed fairly short expiration dates. This product contains undesirable fillers and added colors such as gelatin, sucrose, maltodextrin, magnesium stearate, and titanium dioxide.*
*Results are based on the Smarter Reviews Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. Please visit product websites for more information.
Learn More5. TruBiotics Daily
Probiotic Supplement
Total Ranking
7.1/10
C-
Overall Grade
PROS
- Can be found in retail stores
- Is a very well-known brand name*
- Comes in two package sizes: 30 and 45
CONS
- Only offers 1.5 billion live cultures per capsule
- Only includes 2 strains
- Includes fillers such as magnesium stearate and titanium dioxide
- Does not contain prebiotics
The Bottom Line
TruBiotics is a very popular brand since they produce the easy-to-use, One-A-Day vitamins.* However, 1.5 billion live cultures per serving is concerning as a limited provided quantity, and nowhere near the most live cultures we've seen offered among the best brands of probiotic products.* The additives of magnesium stearate and titanium dioxide are also unwanted fillers that do more harm than good.*
*Results are based on the Smarter Reviews Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. Please visit product websites for more information.
Learn MoreDisclaimer:
Smarter Reviews is owned and operated by the same company that owns certain products featured on this website, including the products ranked number one.
In addition, we receive compensation from certain companies whose products are featured on this website when you purchase a product using the links on this website.
Go back to pageOur Main Sources
Sources used for research purposes. Smarter-Reviews.com are not officially affiliated with these sites.
What You Will Learn:
Estimated Read Time 5 Minutes
Benefits of a Quality Women's Probiotic
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CITATIONS
- “How Alcohol Affects The Gut Microbiome.” Dr. Edward Group. 08/09/2016. The Global Healing Center.http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/how-alcohol-affects-the-gut-microbiome/
- “17 Ways to Protect Your Microbiome and Keep Your Belly Blissful. Dr. Frank Lipman. 04/20/2015. The Be Well Blog. https://www.bewell.com/blog/17-ways-to-protect-your-microbiome/
- “How Pollution Affects the Gut Microbiome. Dr. Edward Group. 07/12/2015. The Global Healing Center. http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/how-pollution-affects-the-gut-microbiome/
- “Lifestyle Habits That Damage Gut Bacteria.” Dr. David Williams. http://www.drdavidwilliams.com/lifestyle-habits-that-damage-gut-bacteria/
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