26 Jun Does Probiotics Play a Role in Women’s Health?
Probiotics have been known to be beneficial when it comes to gut health, but can they be used to benefit women’s health too?
Health experts have been looking at the possibility of using probiotics to improve vaginal health. It was noted that at least one strain of probiotic, L. Acidophilus, could be used in boosting vaginal health by preventing and treating vaginal imbalance issues such as bacterial vaginosis.
Although it looks promising, the results are still inconclusive.
Probiotics For Vaginal Health?
Vaginal probiotics are promoted to improve the microorganisms inside your vagina. Some women usually seek the help of probiotics to ease the discomfort they experience because of yeast infection and bacterial vaginosis, which are the most common vaginal infections.
A Harvard Health expert, Dr. Caroline Mitchell, said that in theory, some women can benefit from probiotics.
However, Mitchell, who is also an assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biology at Harvard, added it needs more proof for the official recommendation of probiotics in preventing and treating vaginal infections.
As of now, antibiotics or antifungals are the proven and recommended treatments for vaginal infections.
Caring for Your Vaginal Health
You can keep your vagina healthy without the need for any supplements. The first step to that is being sexually responsible and using protections such as condoms to avoid any sexually transmitted disease.
Vaccinations for HPV (human papillomavirus) also help you reduce your risk of cervical cancer and hepatitis B.
You should also remove alcohol consumption and smoking from your lifestyle as they can impair sexual function and sexual arousal.
SOURCE: