Probiotics are known for being able to help prevent and manage gut health symptoms. But with so many products on the market and with so many strains to choose from, you may not know which is the best probiotic supplement for you. There are also probiotics designed specifically for women’s health, as well as digestive enzymes, to help address different needs. Keep reading below to learn more about women’s probiotics and some of the best probiotic supplements for women today.

What are Probiotics?

The human body contains trillions of microorganisms inside the body and on the surface of the skin. They can play many roles such as helping to digest food, produce vitamins, and fight off disease-causing bacteria. While you might already have a daily vitamin subscription to promote your overall health, you can also take certain products to help improve your digestive and immune health.

Probiotics are a type of live microorganism like bacteria or yeast that you can consume to help balance out the “good” and “bad” bacteria in the gut. You can consume these compounds in fermented foods like yogurt and sauerkraut, or through probiotic supplements. Depending on the health issues you are looking to improve, there are different strains of probiotics with different functions. The most common strains of probiotics are Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium bacteria as well as Saccharomyces boulardii.

The “good” bacteria in probiotic foods and supplements can help to support your immune health, in addition to other supplements to boost your immune system, and can help to reduce inflammation in the body. In turn, some probiotics may help to reduce symptoms of conditions like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), atopic dermatitis, as well as gut health issues like diarrhea and irritable bowel syndrome.

Our Picks for the Best Women’s Probiotics

Each product featured here has been independently selected by the writer. Learn more about our review methodology here. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn a commission.

• Best for Systemic Health – Seed Daily Synbiotic
• Best Overall – Renew Life Ultimate Flora Women’s Care Probiotic
• Best With Digestive Enzymes – Onnit Total Gut Health
• Best Probiotic Diversity – Global Healing Floratrex
• Best for Energy – Sunwarrior Probiotics
• Best for Immune Health – Care/of Pocket Protector Probiotics
• Best for Chronic Constipation – Poophoria Harmony Probiotic
• Best for Active Lifestyle – NutraOne Probiotic X
• Best Prebiotic – Vital Plan Gut Balance

How We Chose the Probiotics on This List

There are so many probiotics on the market today, that it can be hard to figure out which one will work best for you. When choosing the top probiotics for women, the following factors were considered:

• Number of colony-forming units (CFUs): A probiotic with at least 1 billion CFUs containing some of the most common probiotic strains as listed above.
• The active cultures used: A diverse mix of common strains like Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Saccharomyces boulardii.
• Evidence-based products: Strains that have been studied for effectiveness and safety.
• Clear information on label: Clear labelling of the number of CFUs, types of strains, and expiration and use by dates.
• Other ingredients: Products that are free of common allergens such as gluten and are free from harmful compounds like certain additives.

Read below to learn about the top 9 best probiotics for women that you can buy today.

Our Favorite Probiotics for Women in 2022

The Research on Women’s Probiotics

When it comes to women’s health, research shows that probiotics may help improve the vaginal Lactobacilli level in the body as well as support reproductive health. Not to mention that a 20-year meta-analysis of studies show that probiotics taken in the third trimester of pregnancy can help reduce the risk of an infant developing the skin disease atopic dermatitis. Also, a 2020 study shows that Lactobacillus-containing vaginal probiotics show promise to manage or prevent bacterial vaginosis.

Finally, when it comes to mental health, a 2020 study review reports that both probiotics and prebiotics may help improve symptoms in mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression. A 2019 study shows that a daily dose of a probiotic mixture containing Lactobacillus strains such as fermentum LF16, rhamnosus LR06, and plantarum LP01, as well as Bifidobacterium longum BL04) taken for 6 weeks may help improve mood, fatigue, and sleep quality.

How to Choose a Probiotic for Women

When choosing the best probiotic made for women, you should consider the following factors. Be sure to understand these factors before delving into the wellness websites and stores so you choose the probiotic that will work best for you and your health goals.

What to Look For

When shopping for a probiotic, be sure to choose a probiotic that contains:

• 1 billion or more CFUs
• A diverse array of probiotic strains that include common strains like Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Saccharomyces boulardii, to name a few.
• Links to research on their site that can verify effectiveness of the strains used in the probiotic product.
• Clearly stated expiration and use-by dates on the label.
• No ingredients that you may be allergic to.

How to Read Labels

Looking at a label on a probiotic product for women can be confusing at first. Here are certain terms you may see on a label and how to interpret them.

• Potency: The potency or CFUs of each strain, should be guaranteed until a certain date on the label.
• CFUs: The colony-forming units tell you the number of living microorganisms in the probiotic product.
• Other ingredients: This section should tell you any added compounds such as prebiotics, preservatives, flavorings, colorings, etc. This section will help you find out if the probiotic contains any compounds that you may be allergic or intolerant to or that may be harmful.
• Daily Value: A supplement label will usually tell you the daily recommended value (DRV) of certain nutrients that are in a product. For probiotics, since no DRVs have been set, asterisks are in the place where those values would be.
• Serving size: This section would tell you what the suggested daily dosage is to reap the benefits of a probiotic product.
• Use by date: This date would tell you when you should use the probiotics in order to reap the full benefits of the probiotic strains.
• Research and strain information: A probiotic label may contain the strains in a product as well as any links or resources that one could view to learn more about the research done on such strains. Sometimes a product may have the research data on the brand’s website. You can also call to request such data if you don’t see it in either of those places.
• Storage information: The label should provide guidelines on how to best store the probiotic to preserve the microorganisms. Many probiotic products will need to be kept in a cool, dry place, while others may require storage in a refrigerator.
• FDA disclaimer: This part of the label will show you that the brand is clear about the fact that claims of supplements like probiotics are not evaluated or approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

How to Use

In order to gain the most from your probiotic for women, and to make it into a daily routine, you should take it about 15 to 30 minutes before a meal. Be sure to drink at least 8 ounces of water or other fluid with it to help with transport to the gut where it can settle and do its work. Water will also help to dilute stomach acids to help the probiotic strains survive on their journey to your gut.

Finally, it can help to consume prebiotics during the day to feed your probiotic bacteria so they can thrive. Examples of prebiotics include bananas, Jerusalem artichokes, garlic, onion, asparagus, beans, other legumes like lentils, as well as apples and jicama, among other foods.

Safety & Side Effects

Probiotics are generally safe for most people, with the exception of some mild side effects like bloating or flatulence in some people. However, for some at-risk people, such as infants, elderly people, hospitalized patients, and those with compromised immune systems, probiotics may do more harm than good. Therefore, it is always a good idea to talk with your healthcare provider first before starting any supplement to ensure that it will safely fit within your current health routine.

Staci Gulbin, MS, MEd, RD is a registered dietitian, freelance writer, health editor, and founder of LighttrackNutrition.com. She has been a registered dietitian with the Commission on Dietetic Registration since 2010. Staci has graduate degrees in Biology, Human Nutrition, and Nutrition and Education from New York University, the Columbia University Institute of Human Nutrition, and Teacher’s College, Columbia University. She has been a featured expert for sites including Health.com, Shape.com, ThisisInsider.com, and Eat This Not That.