Best pH Balance Pills and Probiotics – Healthline

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Vaginal health is important. Regardless of what age youre at, you want to make sure that youre taking proper care of your down there area. One way to do that? pH balance pills.

If youve never heard of these capsules before, keep reading to find out what they are, if you should take them, and our top picks for the best ones.

pH balance pills can help balance vaginal pH levels. When your vaginal pH level is off, you may notice an unusual odor, itchiness, and general discomfort, along with yeast or bacterial vaginosis infections. Taking pH balance pills can help maintain good levels of healthy and unhealthy bacteria.

pH balance pills typically contain probiotics. These are living microorganisms that, when ingested, can provide certain health benefits. Probiotics have been found to help with:

Different probiotics affect different parts of the body. Specifically, Lactobacillus acidophilus has been found to help prevent and treat vaginal imbalance issues.

However, more research is needed to conclude how effective probiotics are in changing vaginal pH balance.

pH is a measurement of how acidic or alkaline (basic) something is. The scale runs from 0 to 14. The pH balance of your vagina can help determine whether or not its healthy. A healthy vaginal pH level is between 3.8 and 4.5. However, a healthy pH level will vary based on your age.

During your reproductive years from ages 15 to 49, your vaginal pH will typically be at or below 4.5. Before menstruation and after menopause, a healthy pH will be higher than 4.5.

An acidic vagina means that its more protective. It creates a barrier that prevents unhealthy bacteria and yeast from multiplying too quickly and causing infection.

Having a vaginal pH level thats above 4.5 puts you at risk of several infections, like:

An unbalanced pH level can be caused by:

While probiotics have been found to improve gut health, experts are still researching how effective they are for vaginal pH.

Probiotics have been found to help with a myriad of health concerns, from bloating to irritable bowel syndrome. Probiotic supplements, in particular, contain multiple strains of bacteria species. The recommended daily dosage ranges from 1 billion to 10 billion colony forming units (CFUs).

According to Harvard Medical School, vagina owners may benefit from prebiotics if they have BV or a yeast infection, thanks to the introduction of lactobacilli. But there isnt a ton of concrete data that supports this. Studies have found that yeast and lactobacilli can coexist in the vagina, and lactobacilli can kill yeast.

The only proven treatments for BV and yeast infections are antibiotic and antifungal treatments.

Should you still choose to try out pH balance pills, its a good idea to talk with your doctor before introducing any supplements into your diet. They can look at your medical history and help you decide whether or not its a good idea.

Start off with a lower dose of CFUs and work your way up once your body adjusts to the supplements. Also, according to a 2011 study, the best time to take a probiotic is with a meal or 30 minutes before eating. It may take a few weeks to see a difference.

To choose the best pH balance pills to feature in our list, we took some factors into account:

Price: $

This probiotic from Renew Life claims to support urinary, dietary, and immune health, along with helping maintain healthy vaginal pH and yeast levels. It achieves this by containing 25 billion live cultures and 12 probiotic strains, including:

The capsules are vegetarian and dont contain dairy, gluten, soy, or genetically modified organisms (GMOs). According to the directions, take one each day, with or without food.

These probiotics currently have a 4.6-star rating from over 23,000 Amazon buyers.

Price: $$

These capsules are designed to support vaginal and urinary tract health. Some key ingredients include:

In a study they conducted, the company states that 96 percent of users experienced improved vaginal health within 30 days.

These supplements are verified by independent labs for potency and are non-GMO. They are also free from gluten and artificial sweeteners and colors.

For best results, HUM recommends taking one capsule per day, with or without food.

Price: $$

Wisp Reproductive Probiotics are specifically formulated to help maintain a healthy vaginal pH. When you take them twice daily (the recommended dose), Wisp claims that the supplements can help prevent vaginal infections like BV, urinary tract infections (UTIs), and yeast infections.

The probiotic contains ingredients like L. acidophilus. According to the company, the probiotics should begin working within 3 to 6 weeks.

Wisp products arent available in local pharmacies, so youll have to order them online if you want to try them out. Although they dont accept insurance, you can use your flexible spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA) card if you have one. Additionally, if you decide to opt for a subscription, Wisp will cover your first month and charge you $10 per month thereafter.

Price: $$

If you stick to a plant-based diet, the Uqora Promote probiotic is vegan and free from gluten and antibiotics. It contains three strains of bacteria:

All three of these bacteria live naturally in a healthy vagina and release acids to help maintain healthy bacteria. These probiotics aim to balance the vaginal microbiome by providing these good bacteria.

For best results, Uqora suggests you take one supplement every day with water.

Price: $$

Love Wellness describes this option as a probiotic that maintains urinary tract health while balancing vaginal yeast and bacteria. It contains eight strains, including:

The supplements are gluten-free and aim to:

Take one capsule twice per day for best results.

Price: $$

This probiotic contains multi-strain female-focused ingredients. The two strains of lactobacilli are L. acidophilus and L. rhamnosus. Meanwhile, the supplements themselves are free from flavors, colors, or sweeteners from artificial sources.

OLLY recommends taking one capsule each day.

No, pH balance pills are definitely not a necessity for vagina owners. However, if you frequently experience UTIs, yeast infections, general discomfort, itching, or odor, you may want to try them out to see if they help.

Some of the best ways to maintain a healthy vaginal pH are:

Visit your OB-GYN for yearly check-ups. Also, its a good idea to schedule an appointment if you have:

pH balance pills can be beneficial for maintaining a healthy vaginal pH level. They arent an absolute must-have for vagina havers, but they may be helpful if you frequently experience yeast infections, UTIs, or bacterial vaginosis.

If you have concerns about introducing a supplement into your diet, talk with your doctor about your vaginal health prior to doing so.

Melissa Lee is a market wellness editor at Healthline. Shes based in Pittsburgh, PA. When shes not trying out new skin care or researching wellness product trends, she can be found buying books to add to her TBR pile. Follow her on Instagram.

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Best pH Balance Pills and Probiotics - Healthline