Probiotics for recurrent bacterial vaginosis

January 01, 0001

Probiotics for recurrent bacterial vaginosis

These investigators from China and the US assessed the effectiveness of vaginal probiotic capsules for recurrent bacterial vaginosis (BV) prevention. They randomly assigned 120 healthy Chinese women with a history of recurrent BV to daily vaginal prophylaxis with 1 capsule (Probaclac Vaginal; Nicar Laboratories, Inc, Blainville, Quebec, Canada) that contained 8 billion colony-forming units of Lactobacillus rhamnosus, L acidophilus, and Streptococcus thermophilus (n = 58 women) or 1 placebo capsule (n = 62 women) for 7 days on, 7 days off, and 7 days on.

They found: "Probiotic prophylaxis resulted in lower recurrence rates for BV (15.8% {9/57 women} vs 45.0% {27/60 women}) and Gardnerella vaginalis incidence through 2 months (3.5% {2/57 women} vs 18.3% {11/60 women}). Between the 2- and 11-month follow-up period, women who received probiotics reported a lower incidence of BV and G vaginalis. Aside from vaginal discharge and malodor, no adverse events were reported in either study group."

The authors concluded: "Short-term probiotic prophylaxis is well tolerated and reduces BV recurrence and G vaginalis risk through 11 months after treatment."

A treatment option that should be adopted.


For the full abstract, click here.

Am J Obstet Gynecol 203(2):120.e1-120.e6, August 2010 © 2010 to Mosby, Inc.
Efficacy of vaginal probiotic capsules for recurrent bacterial vaginosis: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Wang Ya, Cheryl Reifer, Larry E. Miller. Correspondence to Dr. Miller: [email protected]

Category: X. Female Genital System, Breast. Keywords: bacterial vaginosis, G vaginalis, probiotic, lactobacillus, randomized controlled trial, journal watch.
Synopsis edited by Dr Linda French, Toledo, Ohio. Posted on Global Family Doctor 7 September 2010

Pearls are an independent product of the Cochrane primary care group and are meant for educational use and not to guide clinical care.

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