This mildly acidic environment helps protect against infection. So do the other substances they produce. These bacteria are an important part of a healthy vaginal ecosystem.

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Female doctor going over test results with patient

Why Vaginal Flora Is Important

A hallmark ofbacterial vaginosis(BV) is the disruption of this normal vaginal flora and a loss of lactobacilli. This can not only be unpleasant in and of itself. It can also leave a woman more susceptible to HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.

The bacteria associated with BV make a number of volatile amines. These chemicals are what cause thedistinctive odor associated with BV. This odor tends to be stronger after sex, particularly unprotected sex, because the amines become smellier at the higher pH associated with semen.

Causes and Risk Factors of Bacterial Vaginosis

Restoring Healthy Vaginal Flora

One of the difficulties intreating BVand related conditions, such as yeast infections, is figuring out how to restore the normal vaginal flora. Sometimes the bacterial populations return to normal proportions after treatment. Other times they don’t.

In order to help restore a lactobacillus-dominated flora, a number of researchers are looking at probiotic pills and suppositories. These treatments would contain lactobacillus species.

The hope is that those bacteria would grow and recolonize the vagina. To date, results have been somewhat positive, if preliminary. Still, if they’re borne out, probiotics may be a new way to improve vaginal health and restore healthy vaginal flora.

Douche Rinses in Vagina: What to Know

Frequently Asked QuestionsNo. While there’s some research showing that certain types of probiotics may help with bacterial vaginosis, there’s not enough to show that they’re totally effective. Probiotics showing the most promise are those containingLactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1.However, you should speak to your healthcare provider before trying it since it may create an imbalance in your gut bacteria when taken orally.Learn MoreBenefits of ProbioticsDiet plays an important part. Eat less sugar, which can raise pH and put you at risk for a yeast infection. Because garlic and apple cider vinegar have antibacterial and antifungal properties, they may help as well.Other tips: Avoid douching and wear underwear that is made of natural, breathable material like cotton.Learn MoreApple Cider Vinegar and Good HealthYou may have a greater risk of vaginal infection after menopause because of a drop in estrogen, which leads your vagina to become thinner and drier.This may make you more prone to infection.Learn MoreMenopause and Urinary Health

Frequently Asked Questions

No. While there’s some research showing that certain types of probiotics may help with bacterial vaginosis, there’s not enough to show that they’re totally effective. Probiotics showing the most promise are those containingLactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1.However, you should speak to your healthcare provider before trying it since it may create an imbalance in your gut bacteria when taken orally.Learn MoreBenefits of Probiotics

No. While there’s some research showing that certain types of probiotics may help with bacterial vaginosis, there’s not enough to show that they’re totally effective. Probiotics showing the most promise are those containingLactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1.However, you should speak to your healthcare provider before trying it since it may create an imbalance in your gut bacteria when taken orally.

Learn MoreBenefits of Probiotics

Diet plays an important part. Eat less sugar, which can raise pH and put you at risk for a yeast infection. Because garlic and apple cider vinegar have antibacterial and antifungal properties, they may help as well.Other tips: Avoid douching and wear underwear that is made of natural, breathable material like cotton.Learn MoreApple Cider Vinegar and Good Health

Diet plays an important part. Eat less sugar, which can raise pH and put you at risk for a yeast infection. Because garlic and apple cider vinegar have antibacterial and antifungal properties, they may help as well.Other tips: Avoid douching and wear underwear that is made of natural, breathable material like cotton.

Learn MoreApple Cider Vinegar and Good Health

You may have a greater risk of vaginal infection after menopause because of a drop in estrogen, which leads your vagina to become thinner and drier.This may make you more prone to infection.Learn MoreMenopause and Urinary Health

You may have a greater risk of vaginal infection after menopause because of a drop in estrogen, which leads your vagina to become thinner and drier.This may make you more prone to infection.

Learn MoreMenopause and Urinary Health

6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Miller EA, Beasley DE, Dunn RR, Archie EA.Lactobacilli dominance and vaginal pH: why is the human vaginal microbiome unique?.Front Microbiol. 2016;7:1936. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2016.01936Lobo, RA, Gershenson, DM, Lentz, GM, Valea, FA.Comprehensive Gynecology. New York, NY: Elsevier Health Sciences; 2016.Heczko PB, Tomusiak A, Adamski P, et al.Supplementation of standard antibiotic therapy with oral probiotics for bacterial vaginosis and aerobic vaginitis: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.BMC Womens Health. 2015;15:115. doi:10.1186/s12905-015-0246-6Harvard Health Publishing.Should you use probiotics for your vagina?Rizg WY, Hosny KM, Elgebaly SS, et al.Preparation and optimization of garlic oil/apple cider vinegar nanoemulsion loaded with minoxidil to treat alopecia.Pharmaceutics. 2021;13(12):2150. doi:10.3390%2Fpharmaceutics13122150Dalal P, Agarwal M.Postmenopausal syndrome.Indian J Psychiatry. 2015;57(6):222. doi:10.4103/0019-5545.161483Additional ReadingDe Alberti D, Russo R, Terruzzi F, Nobile V, Ouwehand AC.Lactobacilli vaginal colonisation after oral consumption of Respecta(®) complex: a randomised controlled pilot study.Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2015 Oct;292(4):861-7. doi:10.1007/s00404-015-3711-4Murina F, Graziottin A, Vicariotto F, De Seta F.Can Lactobacillus fermentum LF10 and Lactobacillus acidophilus LA02 in a slow-release vaginal product be useful for prevention of recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis?: A clinical study.J Clin Gastroenterology. 2014 Nov-Dec;48 Suppl 1:S102-5. doi:10.1097/MCG.0000000000000225Recine N, Palma E, Domenici L, et al.Restoring vaginal microbiota: biological control of bacterial vaginosis. A prospective case-control study using Lactobacillus rhamnosus BMX 54 as adjuvant treatment against bacterial vaginosis.Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2016;293(1):101-107. doi:10.1007/s00404-015-3810-2Vodstrcil LA, Walker SM, Hocking JS, Law M, Forcey DS, Fehler G, Bilardi JE, Chen MY, Fethers KA, Fairley CK, Bradshaw CS.Incident bacterial vaginosis (BV) in women who have sex with women is associated with behaviors that suggest sexual transmission of BV.Clin Infect Dis. 2015 Apr 1;60(7):1042-53. doi:10.1093/cid/ciu1130

6 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Miller EA, Beasley DE, Dunn RR, Archie EA.Lactobacilli dominance and vaginal pH: why is the human vaginal microbiome unique?.Front Microbiol. 2016;7:1936. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2016.01936Lobo, RA, Gershenson, DM, Lentz, GM, Valea, FA.Comprehensive Gynecology. New York, NY: Elsevier Health Sciences; 2016.Heczko PB, Tomusiak A, Adamski P, et al.Supplementation of standard antibiotic therapy with oral probiotics for bacterial vaginosis and aerobic vaginitis: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.BMC Womens Health. 2015;15:115. doi:10.1186/s12905-015-0246-6Harvard Health Publishing.Should you use probiotics for your vagina?Rizg WY, Hosny KM, Elgebaly SS, et al.Preparation and optimization of garlic oil/apple cider vinegar nanoemulsion loaded with minoxidil to treat alopecia.Pharmaceutics. 2021;13(12):2150. doi:10.3390%2Fpharmaceutics13122150Dalal P, Agarwal M.Postmenopausal syndrome.Indian J Psychiatry. 2015;57(6):222. doi:10.4103/0019-5545.161483Additional ReadingDe Alberti D, Russo R, Terruzzi F, Nobile V, Ouwehand AC.Lactobacilli vaginal colonisation after oral consumption of Respecta(®) complex: a randomised controlled pilot study.Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2015 Oct;292(4):861-7. doi:10.1007/s00404-015-3711-4Murina F, Graziottin A, Vicariotto F, De Seta F.Can Lactobacillus fermentum LF10 and Lactobacillus acidophilus LA02 in a slow-release vaginal product be useful for prevention of recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis?: A clinical study.J Clin Gastroenterology. 2014 Nov-Dec;48 Suppl 1:S102-5. doi:10.1097/MCG.0000000000000225Recine N, Palma E, Domenici L, et al.Restoring vaginal microbiota: biological control of bacterial vaginosis. A prospective case-control study using Lactobacillus rhamnosus BMX 54 as adjuvant treatment against bacterial vaginosis.Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2016;293(1):101-107. doi:10.1007/s00404-015-3810-2Vodstrcil LA, Walker SM, Hocking JS, Law M, Forcey DS, Fehler G, Bilardi JE, Chen MY, Fethers KA, Fairley CK, Bradshaw CS.Incident bacterial vaginosis (BV) in women who have sex with women is associated with behaviors that suggest sexual transmission of BV.Clin Infect Dis. 2015 Apr 1;60(7):1042-53. doi:10.1093/cid/ciu1130

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Miller EA, Beasley DE, Dunn RR, Archie EA.Lactobacilli dominance and vaginal pH: why is the human vaginal microbiome unique?.Front Microbiol. 2016;7:1936. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2016.01936Lobo, RA, Gershenson, DM, Lentz, GM, Valea, FA.Comprehensive Gynecology. New York, NY: Elsevier Health Sciences; 2016.Heczko PB, Tomusiak A, Adamski P, et al.Supplementation of standard antibiotic therapy with oral probiotics for bacterial vaginosis and aerobic vaginitis: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.BMC Womens Health. 2015;15:115. doi:10.1186/s12905-015-0246-6Harvard Health Publishing.Should you use probiotics for your vagina?Rizg WY, Hosny KM, Elgebaly SS, et al.Preparation and optimization of garlic oil/apple cider vinegar nanoemulsion loaded with minoxidil to treat alopecia.Pharmaceutics. 2021;13(12):2150. doi:10.3390%2Fpharmaceutics13122150Dalal P, Agarwal M.Postmenopausal syndrome.Indian J Psychiatry. 2015;57(6):222. doi:10.4103/0019-5545.161483

Miller EA, Beasley DE, Dunn RR, Archie EA.Lactobacilli dominance and vaginal pH: why is the human vaginal microbiome unique?.Front Microbiol. 2016;7:1936. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2016.01936

Lobo, RA, Gershenson, DM, Lentz, GM, Valea, FA.Comprehensive Gynecology. New York, NY: Elsevier Health Sciences; 2016.

Heczko PB, Tomusiak A, Adamski P, et al.Supplementation of standard antibiotic therapy with oral probiotics for bacterial vaginosis and aerobic vaginitis: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.BMC Womens Health. 2015;15:115. doi:10.1186/s12905-015-0246-6

Harvard Health Publishing.Should you use probiotics for your vagina?

Rizg WY, Hosny KM, Elgebaly SS, et al.Preparation and optimization of garlic oil/apple cider vinegar nanoemulsion loaded with minoxidil to treat alopecia.Pharmaceutics. 2021;13(12):2150. doi:10.3390%2Fpharmaceutics13122150

Dalal P, Agarwal M.Postmenopausal syndrome.Indian J Psychiatry. 2015;57(6):222. doi:10.4103/0019-5545.161483

De Alberti D, Russo R, Terruzzi F, Nobile V, Ouwehand AC.Lactobacilli vaginal colonisation after oral consumption of Respecta(®) complex: a randomised controlled pilot study.Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2015 Oct;292(4):861-7. doi:10.1007/s00404-015-3711-4Murina F, Graziottin A, Vicariotto F, De Seta F.Can Lactobacillus fermentum LF10 and Lactobacillus acidophilus LA02 in a slow-release vaginal product be useful for prevention of recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis?: A clinical study.J Clin Gastroenterology. 2014 Nov-Dec;48 Suppl 1:S102-5. doi:10.1097/MCG.0000000000000225Recine N, Palma E, Domenici L, et al.Restoring vaginal microbiota: biological control of bacterial vaginosis. A prospective case-control study using Lactobacillus rhamnosus BMX 54 as adjuvant treatment against bacterial vaginosis.Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2016;293(1):101-107. doi:10.1007/s00404-015-3810-2Vodstrcil LA, Walker SM, Hocking JS, Law M, Forcey DS, Fehler G, Bilardi JE, Chen MY, Fethers KA, Fairley CK, Bradshaw CS.Incident bacterial vaginosis (BV) in women who have sex with women is associated with behaviors that suggest sexual transmission of BV.Clin Infect Dis. 2015 Apr 1;60(7):1042-53. doi:10.1093/cid/ciu1130

De Alberti D, Russo R, Terruzzi F, Nobile V, Ouwehand AC.Lactobacilli vaginal colonisation after oral consumption of Respecta(®) complex: a randomised controlled pilot study.Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2015 Oct;292(4):861-7. doi:10.1007/s00404-015-3711-4

Murina F, Graziottin A, Vicariotto F, De Seta F.Can Lactobacillus fermentum LF10 and Lactobacillus acidophilus LA02 in a slow-release vaginal product be useful for prevention of recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis?: A clinical study.J Clin Gastroenterology. 2014 Nov-Dec;48 Suppl 1:S102-5. doi:10.1097/MCG.0000000000000225

Recine N, Palma E, Domenici L, et al.Restoring vaginal microbiota: biological control of bacterial vaginosis. A prospective case-control study using Lactobacillus rhamnosus BMX 54 as adjuvant treatment against bacterial vaginosis.Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2016;293(1):101-107. doi:10.1007/s00404-015-3810-2

Vodstrcil LA, Walker SM, Hocking JS, Law M, Forcey DS, Fehler G, Bilardi JE, Chen MY, Fethers KA, Fairley CK, Bradshaw CS.Incident bacterial vaginosis (BV) in women who have sex with women is associated with behaviors that suggest sexual transmission of BV.Clin Infect Dis. 2015 Apr 1;60(7):1042-53. doi:10.1093/cid/ciu1130

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