When it comes to women's health, keeping your vaginal health in check is super important but often gets overlooked. A healthy and balanced vaginal environment isn't just about feeling comfortable—it's also key for preventing infections and staying well overall.
Luckily, vitamins and supplements can play a big role in supporting this delicate area. In this article, we'll cover the best vitamins and supplements for vaginal health. Whether you're aiming to avoid discomfort, boost your immune system, or simply stay ahead of the game, these go-to nutrients will help you keep things in top shape.
What is Vaginal Health?
Vaginal health is not only about having an infection-free vagina. In addition to preventing infections, having a healthy vagina means vaginal pH levels are maintained, natural lubrication is adequate, sex feels better, fertility is optimized during the reproductive years, and the symptoms of hormone imbalances during menopausal years are eased.
Does a Lack of Vitamins Affect Vaginal Health?
While a lack of vitamins will not necessarily cause vaginal infections, studies have concluded that consuming certain vitamins and supplements can support and optimize your overall vaginal health.
This includes keeping infections at bay, replenishing vaginal health after an infection, and combatting the effects of hormone fluctuations during different stages of life.
Vaginal health can have a knock-on effect on a woman’s overall health and quality of life too. With vaginal infections, for instance, symptoms like genital itching, swelling, pain, unpleasant vaginal discharge or odors, and a burning sensation when peeing can make day-to-day life more challenging.
However, symptoms like these can also lower a woman’s self-esteem and interest in sex, as well as negatively affect their relationship with a partner. In extreme cases, poor vaginal health can cause anxiety, depression, more serious issues with the reproductive system, and infertility.
Hormone fluctuations can affect vaginal health too, particularly when low estrogen levels are involved before menstruation or during menopause. Symptoms such as vaginal dryness, pain, friction during sex, and a lack of libido can benefit from certain vitamins and supplements.
Best Vitamins and Supplements for Vaginal Health
Similar to your overall well-being, a healthy vagina can be maintained by practicing good hygiene, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and eating a well-balanced and nutritious diet that is rich in plant-based foods. However modern-day diets, long work hours, and familial responsibilities sometimes mean women don’t have time to maintain the diet they should.
This is where vitamins and supplements can help.
Probiotics
Although commonly taken to improve gut health, probiotics are also incredibly beneficial for vaginal health. Similar to the digestive tract, the vaginal environment, which is medically referred to as the vaginal microbiome or microflora, is a delicate balance of friendly and harmful bacteria.
The vaginal microbiome is kept healthy and balanced by the vaginal pH levels, which are mildly acidic and usually range from 3.8 to 4.5 (or 5.0 during menopause). As long as this delicate balance within the vaginal environment is maintained, yeast infections, BV, and UTIs can be avoided.
However, if an outside factor upsets the vaginal pH, the microbiome can become unbalanced, harmful bacteria can thrive over the friendly bacteria known as lactobacilli, and an infection occurs.
Flora Bloom Probiotics are designed especially for women, containing both probiotics and prebiotics that promote vaginal health as well as gut health. Taking them daily will help prevent vaginal infections by preserving healthy vaginal pH levels. Alternatively, taking probiotics after a vaginal infection will help to restore a healthy vaginal pH.
To avoid UTIs, Intimate Rose has also added cranberry and D-mannose to their probiotics, which prevent harmful bacteria from adhering to the urinary tract.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a vitamin, nutrient, and antioxidant many people take to boost their overall health. But it also influences the vaginal pH positively, boosts female fertility, and regulates hormones. Vitamin C is also nourishing for the skin and a daily intake can help alleviate vaginal dryness during menopause.
Although one study investigated applying vitamin C intravaginally, female health experts do not support this. Until further research exists, vitamin C should only be taken orally.
Vitamin D
Also known as the sunshine vitamin, vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that helps the body absorb calcium, magnesium, and phosphate. Studies have found that a regular intake of vitamin D, orally or topically, can also have a positive impact on vaginal health by influencing vaginal pH levels.
According to research, a lack of vitamin D may increase the risk of BV and worsen symptoms of menopause. When ingested as a daily supplement, however, it is believed to minimize the risk of BV infections and help alleviate some symptoms of menopause.
Vaginal dryness, for instance, can be improved by taking vitamin D as it encourages the production of natural lubrication. Vitamin D also helps to balance hormones during menopause, as well as during the menstrual cycle.
Boric Acid
Although vitamin D is believed to reduce the regularity of recurring BV infections, the recommended dose is small and is not successful for every woman. Boric acid suppositories, on the other hand, when taken in conjunction with antibiotics, have been clinically proven to eradicate recurring BV infections.
Due to its antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, boric acid destroys harmful microbes, restores healthy vaginal pH levels, and relieves symptoms like itching, burning, and swelling - often faster than traditional medicine.
Effective, natural, inexpensive, and available over-the-counter boric acid suppositories can also treat yeast infections and trichomoniasis. Boric acid suppositories are considered perfectly safe when used intravaginally and can be taken long-term but they should never be taken orally or used when you’re pregnant.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is another fat-soluble vitamin and antioxidant that is beneficial for vaginal health. Because it prevents skin cell and tissue damage, vitamin E can help alleviate vaginal dryness during menopause.
Vaginal dryness often results in friction and micro-tearing on the vaginal walls during sex, which can make intercourse uncomfortable to the point of pain. This pain can inevitably encourage menopausal women to refrain from sex, however, a daily vitamin E as well as the application of a personal lubricant before or during intercourse can prevent abstinence.
When treating symptoms of menopause, vitamin E is often recommended as a complementary supplement to hormone therapy (HT), or Chasteberry, which is the natural alternative to HT.
Chasteberry (Vitex)
Chasteberry, also known as Vitex Agnus-Castus, is a natural supplement that has been used for centuries to maintain and improve vaginal health. As a natural phytoestrogen, it is primarily used to treat hormone imbalances linked to PMS, perimenopause, and menopause.
However, it also improves vaginal health by enhancing natural lubrication, alleviating vaginal atrophy, and improving libido when it drops during perimenopause.
Other symptoms that are relieved by a regular intake of Chasteberry include breast tenderness, mood swings, insomnia, hot flashes, and pelvic pain. If you are looking for the best vitex supplement on the market, we recommend ours!
Conclusion
The vaginal microbiome can be altered for many reasons throughout a woman’s life. While some changes are natural and do not require treatment, other changes can result in irritating symptoms due to hormone fluctuations or infections.
Maintaining your vaginal health with the help of vitamins and natural supplements can help prevent symptoms like vaginal itching and burning, as well as vaginal dryness and unpleasant vaginal odors. Above, you’ll find the most effective vitamins and supplements for vaginal health and you may find that more than one could be helpful for you.
Although vitamins and natural supplements rarely affect a person’s health adversely, its always a good idea to check with your healthcare professional before adding any natural remedies to your routine.
References
National Library of Medicine - The Vaginal Microbiome in Health and Disease—What Role Do Common Intimate Hygiene Practices Play? - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9959050/
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology - The Role of Probiotics in Vaginal Health - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2022.963868/full
BioMed Central - Association between bacterial vaginosis and 25-Hydroxy vitamin D: a case-control study - https://bmcinfectdis.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12879-023-08120-3
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology - The Role of Vitamin D In Menopausal Women - https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physiology/articles/10.3389/fphys.2023.1211896/full
National Library of Medicine - Clinicians’ use of Intravaginal Boric Acid Maintenance Therapy for Recurrent Vulvovaginal Candidiasis and Bacterial Vaginosis - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6878170/
Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute - The Effect of Vitamin E Supplementation in Postmenopausal Women—A Systematic Review - https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/1/160
National Library of Medicine - Comparison of Vitex agnus-castus Extracts with Placebo in Reducing Menopausal Symptoms: A Randomized Double-Blind Study - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6887765/