3 Best Probiotics for UTI Prevention
*2023 Update* You know you want to take care of yourself and find yourself the one probiotics that can help you. The problem is there are hundreds of probiotics out there, and each of them has its own probiotics recipe. It can be a daunting prospect to choose just one to take and hope that it’s the right one for you. So how do you decide?
This is where this article comes in. In this article, we’re reviewing the 3 best probiotics for UTI prevention in 2023.
Why UTI Prevention is Important
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) is one of the most common types of infections that women experience. Whether it’s the irritation or pain that comes with UTI or the time spent going to see a healthcare provider, UTI impacts your life.
And while most UTIs are considered to be uncomplicated and go away on their own, some can be complicated. These are the ones that may put you at risk for more serious complications and hospitalizations. So ask yourself, if there are steps you can take to lessen the risk of UTI, would you do it?
How Probiotics Can Help
Probiotics are health supplements that contain live microorganisms that are considered the “good” bacteria of the gut and have proven scientific data to provide health benefits to hosts. In talking about UTIs, we want to shift our focus from gut health to vaginal health. Unsurprisingly, many of the good bacteria that help with gut health are also ones that help with vaginal health as well. Those from the family Lactobacillus, in particular, are well known to be the dominant contributors to good vaginal health. Members of the Lactobacillus have certain anti-microbial properties that help to regulate the population of bad bacteria and ultimately prevent UTIs. That’s what we want!
What to Look for in Probiotics
There are multiple factors to consider when you think about which probiotics to take, but let’s begin with the most obvious one: which probiotic strains are included in the probiotics. We know that Lactobacilli members are important in vaginal health, so having Lactobacillus-containing probiotics is crucial.
The second factor is, do they work, and if they do, how well? This is where this post will hopefully help. This second factor is also going to include other ingredients that may impact your decision, such as soy, gluten, and artificial flavor or color.
The third factor is the company’s reputation and any type of certifications the products/company has. In the United States, health supplements do not have to comply with many regulations. This can make health supplements very scary! But there are certification programs out there offered through professional organizations that company can voluntarily submit their products to demonstrate that their products are what they say they are.
The fourth factor is the tablets. The number of tablets in each box. The size of each tablet. The number of tablets to take each day. The way the tablets are packaged can be important as well. Let’s just say some can be difficult to get out of the wrapping.
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3 Best Probiotics for UTI Prevention
- RepHresh Pro-B Probiotic Supplement for Women
- Garden of Life RAW Probiotics Vaginal Care
- Nature’s Way Probiotic Pearls Women
- *Honorable mention* AZO Complete Feminine Balance Daily Probiotics for Women
RepHresh Pro-B Probiotic Supplement for Women (capsules)
Features evaluated on Amazon: “Easy to swallow,” “Freshness,” “Easy to use,” “Value for money”
This probiotic contained patented strains of bacteria with benefits backed by several clinical studies. The goal of this product is to help bring balance to the yeast and bacteria in the vagina. They plan to achieve this through their patented probiotic strains and through the control of vaginal pH.
Probiotics Strains
- L. rhamnosus GR-1
- L. reuteri RC-14
Number of CFU at the time of manufacture: 2.5 billion CFU for each strain. 5 billion CFU total
Number of CFU guaranteed at the time of expiration: 1 billion CFU for each strain. 2 billion CFU total
Allergen-free Checklist:
- Milk-free: No | Dairy-free: Yes
- Soy-free: Yes
- Gluten-free: Yes
- Gelatin-free: Yes
- Other “free-bonuses”:
- Egg-free
- Fish-free
- Peanut-free
Each box contains 30 capsules, and the daily recommended dose is one tablet.
This product was developed by doctors and is advertised as “Recommended by Gynecologists.” I can’t find any other information on other certifications.
Pros:
- Easy to swallow
- Small capsule size
- Help eliminate odor
- Balance vaginal pH
Cons:
- The product can be out of stock or late delivery on Amazon
- Must stay consistent
- Products can be more expensive outside of Amazon
Click here to see on Amazon
Garden of Life RAW Probiotics Vaginal Care (capsule)
Features evaluated on Amazon: “Easy to swallow,” “Flavor,” “Value for money”
This probiotic was made to promote healthy bacterial balance to maintain vaginal and urinary tract health. The manufacturer promotes “RAW,” which means that this product is uncooked and does not contain binders, fillers, artificial ingredients, or chemical ingredients. This product, unlike some products in this list, contains yeast-digesting enzymes as well to help break down yeast cell walls.
Probiotics Strains – 38 probiotic strains
- Lactobacillus
- L. acidophilus SD-5212
- L. reuteri SD-1357
- L. rhamnosus SD-5217
- L. fermentum SD-2468
- L. paracasei SD-5218
- L. salivarious SD-5208
- L. gasseri SD-5685
- L. brevis
- L. bulgaricus
- L. casei
- L. helveticus
- L. kefiranofaciens
- L. kefirgranum
- L. lactis
- L. cremoris
- L. kefir
- L. parakefir
- L. lactis biovar diacetylactis
- Streptococcus thermophilus
- Bifidobacterium
- B. lactis BL818
- B. longum
- Leuconostoc
- L. lactis
- L. mesenteroides
- L. cremoris
- L. dextranicum
- Kluyveromyces marxianus
- Brettanomyces anomalus
- Debaryomyces hansenii
- Saccharomyces
- S. unisporus
- S. turicensis
- S. cerevisiae
- S. exiguus
- Torulaspora delbrueckii
Number of CFU at the time of manufacture: 50 billion CFU
Number of CFU guaranteed at the time of expiration: Not listed but it mentioned that potency is good through expiration if stored in a cool, dry place.
Allergen-free Checklist:
- Milk-free: No | Dairy-free: Yes
- Soy-free: Yes
- Gluten-free: Yes
- Gelatin-free: Yes
- Other “free-bonuses”:
- NOT egg-free
- Preservative-free
- Sweetener-free
- Artificial-color-free
Each bottle contains 30 capsules, and the daily recommended dose is one capsule. The product is available in shelf-stable formulation and refrigerated formulation.
This product is manufactured by Garden of Life. This company is USDA Organic, non-GMO Verified, Certified B corporation. This company is proud to be sustainable inside and out. They utilize many natural ingredients to present supplements that are as close to nature as possible.
Pros:
- Easy to swallow
- No taste
- Gentle on the stomach
Cons:
- More expensive than other options
- The refrigerated formulation needs to be refrigerated
Click here to see the product on Amazon
Nature’s Way Probiotic Pearls Women (soft gels)
Features evaluated on Amazon: “Easy to swallow,” “Flavor,” “Value for money”
This probiotic was made to support women’s health specifically. The pearls are made small enough to be easy to swallow and with care to protect them from heat, air, moisture, and stomach acid.
Probiotics Strains
- L. acidophilus NCFM
- L. rhamnosus Lr-32
- L. plantarum Lp-115
Number of CFU at the time of manufacture: 1 billion
Number of CFU guaranteed at the time of expiration: Not listed
Allergen-free Checklist:
- Dairy-free: Yes
- Soy-free: No
- Gluten-free: Yes
- Gelatin-free: No (Tilapia)
- Other “free-bonuses”:
- Salt-free
- Yeast-free
- Wheat-free
- Coloring-additives-free
Each box contains 30 softgels, and the daily recommended dose is one softgel. The product is available in a box of 30 or 90.
This product is manufactured by Nature’s Way. This company is GMP-certified, ISO-certified, CRN-certified, and meets California’s Proposition 65. This means that this product meets certain standards set out by the NSF.
The company has a 45-day satisfaction Guarantee when the product is purchased from Naturesway.com or through an authorized seller.
Pros:
- Small, unique pearl shape pill
- Easy to swallow
- No flavor
- Less stomach bloating
- More regular bowel movement
Cons:
- Tablets can be difficult to get out of the packaging
- It may take several weeks for the effect
- Recent price increase
- The round tablet makes it hard to find if dropped
Click here to see on Amazon
AZO Complete Feminine Balance Daily Probiotics for Women (capsule)
Features evaluated on Amazon: “Easy to swallow,” “Flavor,” “Value for money”
This probiotic aims to restore the natural balance of bacteria and yeast to promote and maintain good vaginal health. It claims to work in 7 days.
Probiotics Strains
- L. crispatus
- L. rhamnosus
- L. gasseri
- L. jensenii
Number of CFU at the time of manufacture: 5 billion CFU total
Allergen-free Checklist:
- Gluten-free
- Sugar-free
Each box contains 30 capsules, and the daily recommended dose is one tablet. Available in a box of 30 counts and 60 counts.
Pros:
- Easy to swallow
- Relief of some amount of odor
Cons:
- Some people experienced stomachache and bloating
- Product prices outside of Amazon are more expensive.
Click here to see on Amazon
Final Take:
UTI prevention is important. One of the ways to help prevent UTI is with probiotics! Hopefully, this article can help get you started navigating through hundreds of probiotics options and ease that decision a bit for you.
For us, the winner of the best probiotics for UTI prevention is RepHresh, based on the success of several clinical studies done on the probiotics strains contained in the product as well as the ease of use.
Reference:
Barrons, R., & Tassone, D. (2008). Use of Lactobacillus probiotics for bacterial genitourinary infections in women: a review. Clinical therapeutics, 30(3), 453–468. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinthera.2008.03.013
