Probiotics for BV Infection – Treatment and Prevention

Taking Probiotics for bacterial vaginosis (BV) has been shown to reduce symptoms and prevent reoccurrence of this condition.

BV symptoms include an abnormal discharge that may have a fishy odor. BV infections can also migrate to other parts of the urogenital tract.

BV is a condition that occurs when there is an imbalance in the ratio of bacteria present in the vaginal microflora. In women with BV, there are too few lactobacilli probiotic bacteria and too many “bad” pathogenic bacteria.

The probiotic strain Lactobacillus is used to treat BV and other bacterial genitourinary infections. It works by restoring a healthy microflora balance to the urogenital tract and preventing the spread of pathogenic bacteria.

There are a number of different probiotic products available to address BV symptoms. This includes vaginal suppositories, probiotic tampons and other products applied directly to the affected area. In some cases, oral supplements are used as a preventative measure.

Probiotics

Digestive Supplement

Gut Health

Digestion

Immune Function

How It Works:

• Supports a healthy immune system & microflora
• Promotes digestion & nutrient absoprtion
• Combats pathogenic bacteria; Improves metabolism

Dosage:

Between 1 - 10 Billion CFUs per day

Safety:

Rated Likely Safe

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What Causes Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)?

The most common bacteria species that cause BV are Gardnerella vaginalis, Mobiluncus, Bacteroides or Mycoplasma.

This condition can be caused by hormonal changes, having multiple sexual partners, using contraceptives such as IUD’s and hygiene practices. Impaired immune health and bacterial imbalances are also known causes.

In most cases, antibiotics are used to treat BV. However, treatment with antibiotics has a high rate of BV reoccurrence within 3 months and pathogens are becoming antibiotic resistant.

Antibiotics also kill both the good and the harmful bacteria present in the urogenital tract. For this reason, probiotics are used to supplement an antibiotic treatment regimen or instead of antibiotics.

Taking Probiotics for BV

Results from multiple clinical trials show that probiotic supplements can be effective in the treatment of BV or in preventing its recurrence.

A clinical trial published in BJOG showed that 1-2 vaginal tablets of Gynoflor daily improved cure rates compared to a placebo after six days. This product contains 10 million colony forming units of Lactobacillus acidophilus per tablet, as well as 0.3 mg estriol.

The results of this study showed that this probiotic supplement significantly restored a healthy balance to the vaginal flora in women with BV. There was a greater population of live lactobacilli bacteria following the use of this product.

Another clinical trial used EcoVag Vaginal Capsules containing Lactobacillus gasseri and Lactobacillus rhamnosus. This product conations 100 million to 1 billion colony forming units of each strain per capsule.

Users of this product were instructed to administer it for 10 consecutive days during the menstrual cycle, for a total of three months. In study participants given the probiotic, there was a lower rate of re-infection when compared to the placebo group.

A recent study published in Microbial Ecology in Health and Disease in August 2015 examined the changes in the vaginal microbiota following anti-microbial and probiotic treatment.

This study showed the vaginal microbiota of women with BV did not having a prominent amount of lactobacilli as in healthy women.

The treatment used contained tinidazole with Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14 and L. rhamnosus GR-1. The results of the study showed with the probiotic combination treatment there was an increase in friendly bacterium Lactobacillus iners and Lactobacillus crispatus.

The study recommended a probiotic combination for treating BV.

Probiotic Products for BV

Oral probiotics may be effective for reducing the likelihood of bacterial vaginosis from reoccurring.

Probiotic capsules that contain the strains Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and Lactobacillus fermentum RC-14 are considered most effective when taken orally for BV.

Live probiotics can also be found in certain food sources, such as yogurt. Clinical studies have shown eating yogurt enriched with lactobacillus acidophilus daily lessens the likelihood of recurring episodes of BV.

Kefir (fermented milk) has sufficient amounts of Lactobacillus acidophilus probiotic culture to combat the bacterium that cause BV to grow. Mixing a cup of kefir with cranberry juice to make a smoothie drink helps to clear up the BV infection.

Other probiotic products used for BV include tampons and suppositories. The Ellen® probiotic tampon is commercially available and contains the lactic acid culture, Lactonaturel®.

Florafemme is a probiotic vaginal suppository for treating BV. It contains 57 billion CFUs of 11 probiotic strains.

These strains are: Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus salivarius, Lactobacillus brevis, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Bifidobacterium longum, and Bifidobacterium lactis.

Safety of Probiotics for BV

Probiotics are considered safe for oral use when taken by individuals who are not immunocompromised. Mild, temporary intestinal gas may be a symptom when taking Lactobacillus.

Those who are lactose intolerant should avoid milk based probiotics.

Probiotics should not be taken by those with immune impaired conditions or on immune suppressant medication such as organ donor patients.

The friendly bacterium cultures are not appropriate for immune impaired individuals as they could become a source of infection.

Lactobacillus bacteremia and sepsis cases have occurred in critically ill patients. No reported cases of this phenomenon have been reported in healthy immune system users.

Those with short bowel syndrome and those using catheters should also avoid probiotic use. Probiotics should be avoided during pregnancy and while breast feeding unless directed otherwise by a medical professional.

Probiotics do interact with antibiotics used to treat BV and should be taken at least two hours apart from each other. However, using probiotics after a course of antibiotics for bacterial vaginosis may improve symptoms and reduce the likelihood of reoccurrence.

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