While doctors are still prescribing strong drugs, there are alternative therapies such as use of probiotics for bacterial vaginosis and yeast infections. They are a great alternative to people who either don’t want to take the strong medications, or for whom they haven’t worked. Not only can probiotics help treat these conditions, they can also help prevent them from reoccurring.

But how, exactly, do probiotics for bacterial vaginosis and yeast infections work? Well, contrary to today’s bacteria phobic society where everything from handsoap to laundry detergent is being touted as “antibacterial” some bacteria is actually good for you. In fact, a certain amount of ‘good’ bacteria is essential for optimum health.

As soon as we’re born, beneficial or ‘good’ bacteria start to colonize in our bodies, in our mouth, digestive tract, and vagina. Unfortunately, the detrimental or ‘bad’ bacteria do as well, but as long as the good bacteria keep the bad in check, then everything is ok. Conditions such as bacterial vaginosis develop when the bad bacteria are allowed to overgrow and then outnumber the good.

This is where probiotics come into play. While not the traditional first course of treatment (antibiotics are – with limited success) it has been proven that there any benefits to using probiotics for bacterial vaginosis. Probiotics, either in supplement form or when present in live culture yogurt, can help restore the levels of the good bacteria in the body.

Some of the best probiotics for bacterial vaginosis are from the Lactobacillus strain. Certain specific strains of this probiotic have been proven to inhibit the growth of the bacteria that cause bacterial vaginosis, such as gardnerella by producing substances such as lactic acid, hydrogen peroxide, and bacteriocins.

There are many things that can cause this imbalance in bacteria that makes it necessary to use probiotics for bacterial vaginosis or a yeast infection. This includes the use of antibiotics (which is why it doesn’t really work as a treatment) dietary changes, smoking, sexual activity, and even changes in stress level, and can lead to either bacterial vaginosis or a yeast infection, depending on whether it is the bad bacteria or a fungus that overgrow. Because the exact cause can be very difficult to either identify or control, it is important to try and maintain high levels of good bacteria.

Find a supplement that’s specifically formulated women; these supplements will be sure to have high levels of exactly the right probiotics for bacterial vaginosis and yeast infections.