9 of the Best Probiotics for Women in 2022: A Dietitian’s Picks

A quick look at the best probiotics for women

• Best overall probiotic: Garden of Life Dr. Formulated Probiotics for Women
• Best once-daily probiotic: Culturelle Women’s Healthy Balance
• Best probiotic for digestive health: Viva Naturals Probiotics for Women
• Best probiotic for vaginal health: HUM Nutrition Private Party
• Best probiotic for immune health: Klean Athlete Klean Probiotic
• Best shelf-stable probiotic: NatureWise Women’s Care Probiotics
• Best refrigerated probiotic: Renew Life Women’s Probiotic Ultimate Flora
• Best vegan-friendly probiotic: Ora Organic Lady Bugs
• Best probiotic gummies: OLLY Probiotic + Prebiotic

How to choose a probiotic

There are a few key factors to keep in mind when shopping for a probiotic supplement:

• Intended use. Probiotics are designed to address many health concerns. For example, some are specifically formulated to support digestive health, immune function, or reproductive health.
• CFU count. The number of colony-forming units (CFU) in a probiotic supplement refers to the amount of live bacteria it contains. Most supplements provide 1–10 billion CFU per serving, though this can vary.
• Storage needs. Most probiotics are shelf-stable and can be stored at room temperature, while others require refrigeration because they are more sensitive to heat and moisture.
• Third-party testing. Selecting a probiotic that has been tested by an independent lab or certified by a third-party organization can help verify its safety, quality, and strength.
• Dietary restrictions. Some products may be certified gluten-free or vegan, which is a key consideration for those with strict dietary needs.

Remember that no two microbiomes are the same and probiotics may affect people differently. For this reason, it could take some trial and error to find a supplement that works for you.

A healthcare professional can offer personalized recommendations based on your needs to help you find a product that’s right for you.

How we chose

The probiotic supplements featured in this article were selected based on the following criteria:

• Probiotic strains. We included products that contain probiotic strains that can be beneficial specifically for women.
• Ingredient quality. All products are made with high quality ingredients and are free from fillers, preservatives, and artificial ingredients.
• Third-party testing. Many of the products included are tested by an independent lab to verify safety, purity, and potency.
• Vetting. Each product and brand has been vetted to ensure that it meets Healinggeeks’s medical and business standards.

Healinggeeks’s picks of the best probiotics for women’s health

Best overall

Garden of Life Dr. Formulated Probiotics for Women

• Price: $$$
• Type: vegetarian capsules

Formulated specifically to support women’s health, this probiotic from Garden of Life features 16 strains of probiotics and 50 billion CFU per serving,

In particular, it contains strains like Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus brevis, and Lactobacillus acidophilus, which may be beneficial for the treatment and prevention of infections like bacterial vaginosis (4, 5).

It’s also shelf-stable and certified gluten-free by NSF International. According to Garden of Life, the supplement is tested by an independent lab to ensure safety as well, though the company doesn’t disclose details on the specific lab or organization.

However, keep in mind that this product also contains a blend of prebiotic fiber. This may not be suitable for everyone, as prebiotics may worsen digestive symptoms in some people, such as those with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), though the research is mixed (6).

Best once-daily probiotic

Culturelle Women’s Healthy Balance

• Price: $$
• Type: vegetarian capsules

The multi-strain probiotic blend in Culturelle Women’s Health Balance works naturally with a woman’s body to support vaginal, digestive, and immune health.

It also helps to maintain an optimal balance of good bacteria in the body, thanks to the inclusion of the Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG strain (7).

The convenient once-daily capsules are also gelatin-free, vegan-friendly, and made without gluten, sugar, dairy, or soy.

What’s more, Culturelle is certified by NSF International, a third-party organization that tests supplements for strength, safety, and quality.

20% off with code “guthealth”.

Best probiotic for digestive health

Viva Naturals Probiotics for Women

• Price: $$
• Type: capsules

Packing 20 strains of probiotics into a single dose, along with prebiotics and cranberry concentrate, this supplement from Viva Naturals is intended to promote the health of your gut microbiome.

In particular, it provides Lactobacillus casei, which may help reduce the severity of diarrhea and decrease markers of intestinal inflammation in children (11).

It also contains several other probiotic strains that could be beneficial for the treatment of IBS, including Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus acidophilus (12).

Plus, this product is shelf-stable and has been tested by an independent lab to ensure accuracy. It’s also gluten-free, vegetarian, and non-GMO.

Best probiotic for vaginal health

HUM Nutrition Private Party

• Price: $$
• Type: vegetarian capsules

With three strains of probiotics and cranberry extract, HUM Nutrition Private Party is ideal for promoting pH balance and supporting the health of your vaginal microbiome.

Its star ingredient, Lactobacillus acidophilus, has been well studied for its ability to protect against vaginal pathogens to prevent issues like chronic vaginitis (13).

It also contains Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus reuteri, which may help reduce the growth of harmful fungi and bacteria in the vagina, according to some test-tube and animal studies (14, 15).

Not only that, but it’s also gluten-free, vegan, and tested by an independent lab to verify its potency.

Best probiotic for immune health

Klean Athlete Klean Probiotic

• Price: $
• Type: vegetarian capsules

Klean Probiotic is a high quality supplement that features eight strains of probiotics and prebiotics to support digestive health.

It may also improve immune function and reduce inflammation, thanks to the addition of strains like Bifidobacterium longum and Lactobacillus rhamnosus, though more research is needed (7, 16).

This product is also gluten-free, vegetarian, and non-GMO.

What’s more, it’s also NSF Certified for Sport, meaning that it’s been tested to ensure it’s free of substances that are banned for competitive athletes.

Best shelf-stable probiotic

NatureWise Women’s Care Probiotics

• Price: $$
• Type: vegetarian caplets

This supplement features eight strains that may benefit women’s health, including Lactobacillus reuteri, which limited research suggests may help reduce bone loss in older women (17).

NatureWise Women’s Care Probiotics is a natural, non-GMO supplement that’s also vegetarian and free of gluten and artificial additives, fillers, or binders.

The caplets ensure that live, active cultures are safely delivered to the intestinal tract for vaginal, urinary, digestive, and immune health.

According to NatureWise, all products are tested by an independent lab and manufactured in certified facilities that adhere to the CGMPs established by the FDA.

Best refrigerated probiotic

Renew Life Women’s Probiotic Ultimate Flora

• Price: $
• Type: vegetarian capsules

This probiotic blend provides 12 strains chosen specifically to reflect the natural diversity in the gut and restore digestive harmony.

It also contains probiotic strains, including Lactobacillus reuteri and Lactobacillus rhamnosus, that may help enhance the health of the vaginal microbiome (18).

Ideally, this product should be refrigerated to maximize its shelf life. It can also be stored in a cool, dry place at 77°F (25°C) or below.

Though this product is not third-party tested, Renew Life notes that its supplements are produced in facilities that adhere to CGMPs.

Best vegan-friendly probiotic

Ora Organic Lady Bugs

• Price: $$
• Type: vegetarian capsules

With six unique strains of probiotics and a blend of prebiotics, this supplement from Ora is intended to support digestive health and maintain a healthy vagina.

Several of the probiotic strains it contains, including Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus plantarum, have even been shown to reduce inflammation in human and animal studies (19, 20, 21).

Like all Ora supplements, Lady Bugs is vegan and free of dairy, gluten, soy, and genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

This product is third-party tested, and Ora provides a certificate of analysis (COA) for each product, which shows detailed testing results.

Best probiotic gummies

OLLY Probiotic + Prebiotic

• Price: $
• Type: gummies

For an easy and effective way to bump up your intake of probiotics, these gummies from OLLY are definitely worth a try.

They contain a blend of prebiotics, along with Bacillus coagulans, a probiotic strain that has been shown to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life for people with IBS (22, 23).

They’re also naturally flavored, gluten-free, and certified by NSF International.

However, keep in mind that they contain gelatin, so they aren’t a good choice for vegetarians, vegans, and those who prefer to limit their consumption of animal products.

Product comparison

Here’s a closer look at how these products compare.

When to see a healthcare professional

It’s best to talk with a trusted healthcare professional before taking probiotics, especially if you have any underlying health conditions or are taking other medications.

Your doctor or other healthcare professional can help you find a product that’s right for you, based on your specific needs and goals.

Additionally, though probiotics can be beneficial for several conditions, they shouldn’t be used as a substitute or replacement for medical treatment.

Finally, keep in mind that probiotics may cause digestive side effects like diarrhea, stomach cramps, gas, and nausea, especially when you first start taking them (24).

If these symptoms are severe or don’t improve after several days, you should discontinue use and consult a healthcare professional.

Frequently asked questions

What are probiotics good for?

Probiotics can help enhance the health of your gut microbiome, which plays a key role in immune function and digestive health (25).

Probiotics may also support reproductive health by balancing the vaginal microbiome, which could be beneficial for conditions like bacterial vaginosis (26).

What is the best probiotic for a woman to take?

The best probiotic to take depends on your specific needs and goals.

While some women may prefer supplements that focus on improving vaginal health or supporting pH balance, others may prefer a probiotic with specific strains that can promote digestive health or boost immunity.

What are the signs you need probiotics?

Most people don’t need a probiotic supplement. However, if you don’t regularly consume probiotic-containing foods — such as kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, or miso — taking a supplement may be beneficial.

Taking probiotics may also help restore your gut bacteria after you’ve taken antibiotics and could prevent diarrhea associated with antibiotic use (27).

Additionally, probiotics could be useful for the treatment of conditions like IBS, ulcerative colitis, and other digestive issues (28).

The bottom line

There are a number of reasons to take probiotics, from managing your digestive and vaginal health to boosting your immunity.

While you can do this by consuming certain types of foods, some women may need, or prefer, to take a probiotic supplement.

The products listed above are a great starting point for introducing probiotics into your daily routine.

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