* If you’re unsure if probiotics are right for you, contact your primary care provider.

(Ad) Taking a probiotics supplement can offer women many benefits, including weight loss, better immune system, improved digestive health, and a more balanced vaginal formula. However, choosing the best probiotics for women isn't easy, considering how many options are available on the market.

To help you decide, we've reviewed the best probiotic supplements for women's health. Some of the products below include prebiotics and live cultures such as lactobacillus acidophilus, lactobacillus rhamnosus, lactobacillus plantarum, and bifidobacterium. Some probiotic formulas for women focus on overall gut health, while others address digestive issues and vaginal health.

Here are our top picks for the best women’s probiotic pills for gut health, vaginal flora, and immune function.

If you're looking to improve your gut health, combat the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, and strengthen your mental health, YourBiology Gut+ offers a shelf-stable formula that can help target each of these issues and more.

YourBiology Gut+ includes four probiotic strains of helpful bacteria, including:

The Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species work together for a host of health benefits, which may include a reduction of IBS symptoms, improved skin health, improvements in digestive and vaginal health, and a reduction in inflammation of the skin and gut.

The formulated probiotics also contain prebiotic fiber from fructooligosaccharides to help feed the live probiotics in your system, as well as MAKtrek® Bipass Technology made from brown seaweed to assist in preventing the supplement from dissolving in stomach acid before reaching your intestinal tract.

The YourBiology Gut+ formula for women contains approximately 40 billion colony-forming units of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains. This formula can promote Lactobacilli vaginal colonization to prevent vaginal infections and bacterial vaginosis.

The majority of reviews for YourBiology Probiotics are positive, with many responders citing an improvement in healthy gut functions and even mental health benefits.

If you are unhappy with your YourBiology Probiotics supplements, the company offers a 60-day money-back guarantee. However, the pros and cons of this probiotic supplement are clear, and many users report that the UK-based YourBiology is one of the best probiotic supplement manufacturers on the market.

Overall, YourBiology Probiotics offers women one of the most effective probiotic products on the market. Users report an improved mood, less bloating, improved bowel movements, and a more balanced vaginal flora.

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The best probiotic for postmenopausal women is Probiotic 40-Billion, which offers probiotics formulated to help provide the same beneficial bacteria available in fermented foods like pickles, kombucha, kefir, yogurt, and other cultured foods and beverages.

The live probiotics in Probiotic 40-Billion include:

Like YourBiology, Probiotic 40-Billion also utilizes MAKtrek® Bi-pass Technology to help prevent stomach acid from breaking down the capsule before the probiotic bacteria reach your intestinal tract for absorption and colonization. Probiotic 40-Billion also implements fructooligosaccharide prebiotic fiber to feed the healthy bacterial strains in the capsule.

Users of Probiotic 40-Billion will get approximately 40 billion CFUs of the four strains of good gut bacteria meant to outperform harmful bacteria in your digestive tract and help provide several benefits. Probiotic 40-Billion can help users improve urinary tract health, deter a urinary tract infection, improve digestive and vaginal health, and establish a healthy gut biome.

The manufacturer makes Probiotic 40-Billion according to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) guidelines in an FDA-registered facility. The formula is not vegetarian, as it includes L-leucine sourced from animal products.

The bacterial strain formula in the effective probiotic supplement Probiotic 40-Billion can help the intestinal barrier recover from years of damage due to harmful bacteria, thus assisting the function of the digestive system and supporting immune system health benefits. This immune health support can reduce instances of bacterial vaginosis, which becomes more common after menopause.

A strong link also exists between systemic inflammation and gut microbiota. Probiotic 40-Billion offers immune support by helping establish colonies of good bacteria with balanced bacterial strains as part of a regular probiotic regimen. The pros and cons of this probiotic supplement make it one of the best probiotics for women over 50.

Overall, Probiotic 40-Billion is one of the best probiotics for women post-menopause. The formula for this probiotic supplement aids in preventing urinary tract infections while improving digestive and immune health. Additionally, it is a powerhouse in establishing a healthy vaginal microbiome for postmenopausal women.

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Microbiome Plus+ offers formulated probiotics of 3.5 billion CFUs of L. reuteri, with clinically proven benefits to digestive health, increased Vitamin D, and lower LDL (bad) cholesterol levels. Other benefits to taking these probiotics daily may include increased energy, healthy inflammation management, and potential weight loss.

While the Microbiome Plus+ company offers several related products with different probiotic and prebiotic formulas, the Microbiome Plus+ Gastrointestinal Probiotic supplements feature a single active ingredient:

The Microbiome Plus+ manufacturer proudly certifies its probiotic supplement as kosher, halal, vegan, free from genetically modified organisms, and GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe)-certified by the FDA. It also follows Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) guidelines in FDA-certified facilities.

Microbiome Plus+ features a slow-release vegetarian hydroxypropyl methylcellulose capsule that helps the probiotics survive until they reach the intestinal tract. Other probiotic agents the company offers include prebiotic short-chain fructooligosaccharides, digestive enzymes, and advanced pancreatin.

Clinical studies of Lactobacillus reuteri NCIMB 30242 have shown  to potentially help with the following:

Customers rate Microbiome Plus+ as high for containing a single effective probiotic strain rather than a blend of strains, helping improve their Vitamin D and folate (Vitamin B9) levels in blood tests, and assisting with their digestive health against common complaints.

The pros and cons of Microbiome Plus+ make it clear why this is one of the best women's probiotic capsules.

Overall, Microbiome Plus+ is one of the best probiotics for women looking to improve their gut health, reduce their LDL, and improve their Vitamin D and folate absorption. While most probiotic brands utilize blended probiotic strains, users often don't know the quantity of each of the specific probiotic strains. With Microbiome Plus+, users know the identity of the single probiotic strain and whether it is the best probiotic for them.

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BiomeMD for Women is a women's health probiotic produced by 1MD Nutrition™, a dietary supplements company with a wide range of products. While the company offers a standard probiotic product for either gender called BiomeMD, the women's health formula is a targeted probiotic for women that can help improve gut health and vaginal health as well as reducing instances of urinary tract infections.

BiomeMD for Women contains 62 billion CFUs of the formula containing 16 probiotic strains, including:

The remaining probiotic strains include Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species, which helps promote a healthy digestive system and improved overall health for women, including improved immune system function, healthy human gut microbiota, and vaginal and urinary tract health.

This U.S.-produced, doctor-formulated blend of probiotic strains utilizes manufacturing procedures exceeding the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) standards. 1MD Nutrition™ promises that its products adhere to the company's Purity Pledge, with strict testing of ingredients and upholding suppliers to its product standards. BiomeMD for Women is free from genetically modified organisms, gluten, shellfish, and soy.

The formula also contains a proprietary blend of three different prebiotics to assist with feeding the healthy bacteria that support digestive health, improving mood and mental functions through the gut-brain axis. The CARE4U® HMO (Human Milk Oligosaccharides) prebiotics can help improve gut health and boost the immune system by binding with bad bacteria to prevent absorption through the intestinal wall.

Doctors developed BiomeMD for Women based on clinical research of several probiotic strains in combination with prebiotics to maintain the 62 billion colony-forming units through the digestive system. While most probiotic dietary supplements require refrigeration or only include a single probiotic culture strain (or a blend of only a few probiotics), BiomeMD for Women uses a clinically backed blend of the best probiotics for women.

Sixteen strains make this an extremely effective probiotic formula, including Lactobacillus rhamnosus for digestive health and Lactobacillus plantarum which all help with managing eczema, cholesterol, and IBS symptoms. Lactobacillus acidophilus is an important ingredient in any probiotic for women, helping to establish healthy cultures in the vaginal microbiome. The pros and cons of BiomeMD for Women make it a clear choice among the best probiotics for women.

Overall, BiomeMD for Women is the best probiotic for women who don't want to try every single-strain or "targeted" blend of probiotics to see what works. The 16-strain broad-spectrum probiotic for women in BiomeMD for Women can help users address their digestive health and vaginal health and build a healthy immune system all with one capsule.

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OMNi-BiOTiC Stress Release is a probiotic for women that comes in a single-serving powdered drink packet, which makes taking probiotics simple for anyone who has trouble swallowing pills or capsules. This formula is vegan, allergen-free, and does not require refrigeration.

OMNi-BiOTiC Stress Release includes nine potent culture strains, including:

The formula includes 7.5 billion colony-forming units of these probiotics, which helps target the gut-brain axis for improved mental function, stress relief, mood improvement, memory, and a reduction in irritable bowel syndrome symptoms.

Certain strains in the formula, such as Lactobacillus acidophilus, can help establish a balance of good bacteria in the lower intestines while fighting bad bacteria that can cause brain fog, irritable moods, and feelings of anxiety.

The formula also includes prebiotics like fructooligosaccharides to feed the probiotic supplements when they colonize your intestinal tract. Each package contains 28 single-day servings that never require refrigeration.

OMNi-BiOTic Stress Release is GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe)-certified by the FDA. The manufacturer, the Institut AllergoSan, develops its probiotic supplements to meet the highest standards by the FDA, World Health Organization, World Gastroenterology Organization, and Austrian/German Societies for Probiotic Medicine.

The Institut AllergoSan develops its formulas with the backing of over 25 years of research on the gut microbiome and over 100 clinical studies using its probiotic products. You can see the results of its independent clinical trials on its research and education page.

The list of pros and cons of taking OMNi-BiOTiC Stress Release provides insight into why the product offers one of the best probiotic formulas for women.

Overall, if you're targeting mental function over digestive or vaginal health, OMNi-BiOTiC Stress Release is the best probiotic product to help you achieve a healthy gut-brain axis. While it may improve your digestive health, specific probiotic strains in this formula may reduce brain fog, ease anxiety, and help you deal with stress.

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Probiotic strains are good cultures of bacteria that live in the large intestine and promote proper absorption of nutrients through the intestinal walls. Proper nutrition helps to feed your immune system, power normal metabolic functions, and build foundational structures like bone, muscle, and connective tissues.

The intestine can develop an overpopulation of bad strains of bacteria, leading to several different problems. These include brain fog, anxiety, bacterial vaginosis, diarrhea, constipation, and a weakened immune system.

With probiotic products, you can suppress the overgrowth of bad bacteria by introducing an abundance of good bacterial strains. Probiotics help remove excess bad bacteria while supplying your body with starter cultures of the good strains you need to function at optimal health.

Probiotics include the same strains of good cultures found in fermented foods like sauerkraut, yogurt, kefir, pickled vegetables, and fermented soy products. However, many of these foods that sell as pre-packaged groceries no longer contain as many beneficial strains as they once did, making supplementing probiotics essential for whole-body health.

We took several factors into consideration when determining our ranking for the best probiotics for women. We carefully balanced our list by comparing the types of probiotic strains, the CFU count of the effective ingredients, customer reviews, and pricing.

Our top probiotics for women have very similar formulas, perhaps only differing in the quantity of each of their strains and a few inactive ingredients. Both YourBiology Probiotics and Probiotic 40-Billion contain Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium lactis, Lactobacillus Plantarum, and Lactobacillus paracasei.

Microbiome Plus+ offers a single-strain formula of Lactobacillus reuteri NCIMB 30242, which offers promising results in clinical studies for lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol and increasing Vitamin D absorption.

BiomeMD for Women offers the highest quantity of individual probiotic strains, with 16 strains in its formula. The proprietary blend includes Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Bifidobacterium lactis, and Lactobacillus reuteri, which improves vaginal health along with establishing a strong gut microbiome.

OMNi-BiOTiC Stress Release features a blend of nine targeted probiotic strains for improved mental clarity and stress management, including Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species.

We considered the effects of each of the strains and their clinical efficacy regarding their purported benefits as a prime factor in our ranking.

The colony-forming units are the number of live culture individuals in a serving of a probiotic product. A product with a 5 billion CFU contains 5 billion live bacteria that can establish a colony in your lower intestine and remain viable. So a capsule may contain approximately 7 billion live bacteria, but only 5 billion make it to the large intestine to colonize your digestive tract.

Probiotic 40-Billion and YourBiology Probiotics each boast 40 billion CFUs of their four-strain formulas. They both contain special acid-resistant capsules to help the probiotics survive your stomach acid and make it to the large intestine for colonization, where prebiotics in their formulas feed the good cultures to help them establish.

Microbiome Plus+ offers 3.5 billion CFUs in its single-strain formula. Turn to its Microbiome Plus+ Gastrointestinal formula for effect-enhancing prebiotics or choose the company's pure probiotic formula if you have a negative reaction to fructooligosaccharides.

BiomeMD for Women offers 62 billion CFUs of its 16-strain formula as well as a proprietary blend of three prebiotics to feed the cultures as they establish a colony in your large intestine.

OMNi-BiOTiC Stress Release offers 7.5 billion CFUs of nine different probiotic strains targeting the gut-brain axis. This formula also includes fructooligosaccharides as a prebiotic and a protective formula to help the good cultures survive the trip through your digestive system and resist deterioration in your stomach acid.

Because each formula contains a different number of probiotic culture strains, we compared the CFUs and proven effects of the strains in each formula to create our ranking.

We scoured the internet for reviews from third-party sales sites, clinical studies, and the news media to see how each of these products measured up. YourBiology and Probiotic 40-Billion are ranked as the two best probiotics on Times Union.

Many reviewers like Microbiome Plus+ for its single-strain formula, saying it's easy to know whether a single ingredient was helpful rather than trying to figure out which ingredient offered the most benefit in a multi-strain formula.

Of BiomeMD for Women, reviewers say they like the all-in-one 16-strain formula because they don't have to try several different products to find what works for them.

Reviewers for OMNi-BiOTiC Stress Release say that they like the drink powder over taking probiotics with a capsule or pill, and that the flavor is better than coated capsules.

Many users reported results in line with each probiotic's claims, while a few users claimed that they didn't see any results or didn't see enough of a change to justify the cost. We compared the reviews in conjunction with the other factors to determine our ranking.

Prices vary considerably between each of these products. As with most dietary supplements, many manufacturers offer discounts for bulk purchases that can influence the cost per pill. We compared the standard cost for a single package and for the best deal on each probiotic product.

We compared pricing along with reviews and effective ingredients in our considerations to establish our ranking of our top five best probiotic formulas for women.

The primary benefit for women taking probiotics is the ability to balance yeast and good bacterial cultures in the vaginal microbiome. What many women suspect to be a yeast infection can actually be an imbalance in the bacterial flora.

This imbalance can be a problem for many women who treat a yeast infection then further throw their vaginal health out of balance with strong yeast infection medications. Taking these probiotic pills can replenish the natural balance of the vaginal microbiome to fight bacterial vaginal infections.

Many women also suffer from mental conditions like brain fog or memory lapses, especially under stress. A constant feeling of tiredness or lack of energy can lead to over-imbibing on caffeinated drinks, which can affect cardiac health and lead to feelings of anxiety. Additionally, some women don't get enough rest at night if they consume large quantities of caffeine.

Sleep is when our body repairs damage to muscles and organs as well as our immune system. Women who don't get enough sleep and push through their days are like people who drive their cars while the "check engine" light is on.

Adding probiotics to your routine can help you manage any issues you have that come from an unhealthy gut microbiome. Doctors and researchers have found that several health conditions stem from an imbalance in the digestive tract bacteria, leading to system-wide problems within the body.

Many women have questions about the benefits and efficacy of probiotics in improving their health and well-being. Check out this FAQ to find the answer to your questions about probiotics for women.

Some of the probiotics on our top-five probiotics list are as affordable as $0.81 per day, while others can be over two dollars per day. Many reviewers of these products say that the most affordable probiotic is the one that works best for you.

If you suffer from irritable bowel syndrome, bacterial vaginosis, or mental fatigue, you might want to try probiotics to see if you find any relief from your symptoms. While you likely won't see results immediately, over time, your healthy gut biome should develop to protect your digestive system, immune system, and mental performance.

While you should take probiotics daily, the doses and administration differ between brands. OMNi-BiOTiC Stress Release and BiomeMD for Women both offer all-day probiotics with a single dose. Others on the list recommend taking one capsule in the morning and one before bed.

If you notice that you have bloating, trouble losing weight, or frequent problems eliminating waste, you should consider the beneficial effects of probiotics. Probiotics are also an excellent benefactor for vaginal health, urinary tract health, skin health, and mood management. Even for occasional digestive issues like constipation, diarrhea, or stomach cramping, probiotics could ease your system into a more stable function.

It can take at least a week to start noticing an improvement in your gut health, as it takes time for the probiotic bacterial strains to effectively colonize your lower intestinal tract. After a few months, you should be able to reap all the benefits of a probiotic routine.

Probiotic products are not weight loss supplements, but they can help to influence some factors that lead to weight loss. By improving nutrient absorption, your body can better get the energy it needs to perform higher levels of activity.

In developing the link between the gut-brain axis to improve mood, probiotics can help you find the motivation to make healthier choices in nutrition and exercise.

Probiotics may also help you eliminate waste more effectively, reducing bloat and feelings of sluggishness. Many probiotics reduce inflammatory responses, so you might not be as sore after a strenuous workout.

Yes! Many probiotic strains, especially Lactobacillus acidophilus, improve the balance of the vaginal flora, reducing instances of vaginal issues.

Many of these probiotic formulas include prebiotics. Prebiotics are insoluble fibers that your system won't absorb. They act as food for the probiotic strains in your probiotic formula, feeding the healthy bacteria cultures that you want to build in your system.

Probiotics are an essential supplement to support digestive health in women. However, women need specially formulated probiotics to address their concerns. The live active cultures in many probiotics don't target feminine issues such as vaginal imbalances and mental stressors.

The best probiotic formulas for women focus on the problems that most readily affect women, including improving digestive health, lessening the effects of IBS, maintaining the vaginal microbiome, balancing mood, and reducing brain fog.

The best overall probiotic is YourBiology Probiotics, while the best probiotic for women over 50 is Probiotic 40-Billion. For users seeking a single-strain formula, Microbiome Plus+ is the best option, especially if you have a reaction to fructooligosaccharides.

If you're looking for an all-in-one solution with several strains of probiotics, turn to BiomeMD for Women with 16 strains and a triple prebiotic formula. 

*This article is provided by an advertiser. Statements made are not meant to offer medical advice nor to diagnose any condition. Any studies cited here may be preliminary, and may or may not be peer reviewed, and may or may not have sufficient participants to be statistically relevant. Anecdotal accounts should not be taken as scientific results. Products discussed in this article are not designed to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease. The FDA does not evaluate dietary supplements. Consult your doctor about possible interactions, allergies, and if you are considering using a natural and/or dietary supplements for any condition. Individual results will vary.