Women have used yogurt as a probiotic for treating yeast infections for centuries. Although scientists did not find any proof of its efficacy for a long time, the current data suggest that probiotics may be more beneficial than they were assumed to be.

Many different studies support the claim that yogurt is effective in treating yeast infections. One 2012 study involving 129 women found that using honey and yogurt to treat a yeast infection was just as efficacious as using antifungal drugs. The home remedy was great at getting rid of symptoms while the drugs were superior in removing the microorganisms responsible for the infection.

A 2015 study found that the efficacy of antifungal medications can be increased by supplementing with probiotics, decreasing the chances of getting recurrent infections. The results show that the preventive use of probiotics may reduce the frequency of yeast infections.

Because of the small sample sizes, more testing is needed for conclusive results. However, it is apparent that using probiotics for yeast infections does no harm and, when used adjuvant to antifungal medication, may be very helpful for women suffering from frequent fungal infections.

How to use vaginal probiotics

There are various forms of vaginal probiotics, such as capsules and suppositories. Vaginal suppositories are filled with probiotics that prevent fungal overgrowth and resultant yeast infection. Try finding products such as Pro-Fem which is one the highest quality vaginal probiotics with 25+ years of clinical research and contain lactobacilli. Even if you prefer oral probiotics, you will have many different options available. It will take between one and four weeks of using probiotics for your vagina to become healthy again.

Can vaginal probiotics cure yeast infections?

The fungus called Candida is present in the vagina and is responsible for yeast infections. It has several different forms, all capable of causing yeast infections. The most common strain of Candida that causes yeast infections is Candida albicans.

Although the idea of having fungus in the body may be daunting, it is a perfectly normal phenomenon. Your body is colonized by many different microorganisms. “Good” microbes keep your vagina in a healthy condition. Candida is a part of the normal flora, but its overgrowth can cause yeast infections. The healthy bacteria of the body are together called probiotics. Lactobacilli are an important example of such bacteria because they keep the growth of Candida and other bacteria in check.

Research shows that vaginal probiotics have good efficacy against yeast infections in women.

Can using probiotics be dangerous?

Since probiotics are already present in the body, there are very few risks associated with their use. Adding to the normal flora has no harmful consequences except minor effects such as gas and bloating in otherwise healthy individuals. However, if you have a weak immune system (from medication or an underlying health condition), talk to your physician before using probiotics.