Women's Health

7 Best Supplements for Vaginal Health

BY PUREHEALTH RESEARCH | June 22, 2023

Let us uncover why caring for the vagina and taking the best supplements for vaginal health are two vital things to remember for every woman. When a woman ages, her reproductive organs undergoes transformations.

These transformations occur due to hormonal changes, particularly the lower estrogen levels. The process of creating life is truly remarkable and beautiful thanks to the reproductive system, which consists of the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, and vagina.

While uterine changes are easy to notice (with changes happening in menstrual cycles), it is the vagina that takes a backseat as its symptoms are mostly ignored, or women feel uncomfortable sharing them with anybody.

Women experience most of these annoying symptoms during the 7-14 years of peri-menopause and continue during the post-menopausal phase. The symptoms manifest as a sensation of burning, dryness, and irritation in the vagina, followed by discomfort or pain while having sex. All these have a detrimental effect on a woman’s quality of life and overall well-being. 

These symptoms are indicative that vaginal health and hygiene need proper care. Essential vitamins and supplements can favorably affect the vagina by fortifying its microbiome and maintaining an adequate pH level, contributing to warding off infections. Hence, taking the ideal supplements to ensure a joyous and active life is paramount. 

Understanding Vaginal Health

The vagina is a closed muscular canal extending from the external genital area or the vulva to the neck of the uterus or cervix of a female. Several tissues and cells form the mucus membrane to keep the vaginal walls moist and maintain their elasticity and health.

These cells are responsive to the estrogen levels in the blood, which fluctuate throughout a woman’s lifetime. Estrogen levels peak during the menstrual age of women and tend to decrease as she ages and approaches menopause. As a result, the vaginal walls become dry, stiff, and thin. 

The vagina also hosts microorganisms like bacteria (mostly Lactobacilli) and fungi which constitute the vaginal flora. They are responsible for maintaining the pH of the slightly acidic vagina. These microorganisms coexist peacefully, and their imbalance leads to vaginal infections. 

The intriguing fact about the vagina is that it cleans itself automatically. You will notice occasional vaginal discharges that are normal, which means the vagina’s cleaning mode is on. You can start worrying when the color of these changes to yellow or green, having a distinct foul odor.

This sign indicates that the vagina is not healthy. When your discharge shows the consistency of cottage cheese, know that your vagina is in trouble. You can experience a burning sensation, and intense itching may add up to make the symptoms unbearable. A sore vagina and vulva are clear indicators of vaginal infection. 

When women approach menopause, the vaginal walls become thinner and drier, leading to vaginal atrophy (shrinking). If you notice symptoms like painful or difficult coitus, urinary infection combined with a persistent burning sensation during urination, and vaginal bleeding after sex during peri-menopause, be careful. Women need to opt for regular check-ups to keep the chances of developing vaginal cancer at bay. 

So, what can help you? With timely medical checks, regular sex, and intake of vagina supplements, you can get some relief. You know what they say, “Prevention is better than cure.” Once you feel something is fishy, immediately look for help. Listen to your vagina!

Key Factors Affecting Vaginal Health

Many factors can affect this muscular tunnel. Reducing adverse effects is possible by using proper supplements. Here are various factors that affect vaginal health:

• When a woman takes part in unprotected sex, she risks contracting sexually transmitted diseases. Furthermore, any instance of sexual intercourse with excessive force can cause vaginal injury that affects the vaginal health.

• Some conditions, like endometriosis, pelvic surgery, and some cancer treatments, can make sex painful. Vaginal yeast infections can also happen when using certain antibiotics.

• Condoms during sex or female intimate hygiene products are usually good for vaginal health. However, these can irritate the vagina of a few individuals. When such irritation occurs, it is not advisable to use douches or sprays. These can aggravate the problem further. The use of vaginal supplements can help in reducing the issue.

• When a woman experiences pregnancy followed by childbirth, she has to deal with many issues affecting her vagina. During her pregnancy, she will experience increased vaginal discharge. Tears in the vagina are common during childbirth unless it is a c-section delivery. While not very common, sometimes an incision is needed to cut open the vagina during vaginal delivery. It is also common to lose vaginal muscle mass after delivering a child.

• Anxiety and depression can cause less arousal during sex. These are causes of painful sex. Any trauma like abuse can also result in a similar scenario due to psychological effects.

• The fluctuation or reduction in hormone levels is also a significant cause that affects the vagina. During menopause or while breastfeeding, there is a reduction in estrogen production. Reduced estrogen typically thins the vaginal lining causing painful sex. Using the best supplements for vaginal health, a woman can significantly reduce the effect of hormonal imbalance.

Best Supplements for Vaginal Health

A healthy vagina is a gateway to a healthy and happy life. By contrast, an unhealthy vagina can hamper your mood, sex life, relationship with your partner, and more. Hence, treat your vagina like a temple to maintain its hygiene and microbiome:

1) Probiotics

When the health of the vaginal flora suffers, the chances of vaginal conditions like yeast infections, urinary tract infections (UTI), bacterial vaginosis (BV), and more start to creep into the system, making it hard for a woman to perform daily activities smoothly. According to a few scientific studies, evidence shows that women who took probiotic suppositories for vaginal health supplements had a healthy microbiome and were less prone to develop vaginal imbalances.

Probiotics have notable effects on inhibiting the growth of BV-causing bacteria. Some food items that can help you get this naturally from food are: 

• Yogurt 
• Sauerkraut 
• Kefir 
• Tempeh
• Kimchi
• Kombucha 
• Pickles 

2) Cranberry Extract

The essential acidic compounds in cranberry extract help maintain the pH levels of the vagina. Cranberry extract supplements, juice, pills, and other variants are gaining popularity among women as a treatment option for UTIs, yeast infections, and more. The highly acidic nature of the cranberry inhibits the growth of infection-causing bacteria and protects the vaginal microbiota. 

Cranberry extract is one of the top products used in several vagina supplements. You can also choose to ingest fresh cranberry juice (having no preservatives, artificial coloring or flavoring agents, or sugar). If you are doubtful regarding the freshness of the cranberry juice available in departmental stores, it is best to opt for cranberry pills to boost your vaginal health. However, no matter what you buy, always read the label before purchasing. 

3) Boric Acid 

The acidic formulation of boric acid acts as a fighting agent against harmful bacterial growth to protect your vaginal flora and maintain its pH level. Boric acid suppositories are a surefire treatment for yeast infection and provides respite from painful symptoms like itching and burning sensations down there. 

Did you know boric acid has antifungal and antimicrobial properties? A 2011 case study suggested this substance exhibited positive outcomes in curing recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis with no side effects. Therefore, it has become one of the safest, most cost-effective, and conveniently available supplements for vaginal health for women suffering from recurrent and chronic vaginitis. 

4) L-Arginine

Vaginal infections during the peri-menopausal and post-menopausal phases almost always affect a woman’s sexual desire negatively. A pretty sensitive matter, don’t you think? But why should you let age or infections hamper your personal life? Let us tell you: this master supplement for vaginal health is the precursor to the synthesis of nitric oxide.

When this nitric oxide gets into the bloodstream, it helps the genital muscles to relax and betters the blood circulation to heighten the libido. In fact, L-arginine is arguably one of the top elements able to treat wounds. It can also treat other conditions like high blood pressure and erectile dysfunction (in men), support the healthy secretion of growth hormones, bolster the health of tendons and bones, etc. 

5) Folic Acid

Folic acid is a natural healer for women frustrated with recurring bacterial vaginosis. If nothing seems to work for you, folic acid might save you. Folic acid promotes the growth of healthy new cells in our body. This B vitamin will fortify your immune system to combat the harmful bacteria that cause BV. Reports also claim that supplementing your diet with folic acid prevents BV from recurring. 

6) Omega-3 Fatty Acids 

Menopause is challenging for a woman, primarily because her body experiences many changes. Vaginal dryness is a known problem among women in their peri and post-menopausal stages that only worsens the experience of sexual intercourse. However, you can count on an omega-3 fatty acid (fish oil) supplement or include fatty fish in your diet. Recent studies have revealed that fish oil increases vaginal lubrication during the menopausal phases. 

Did you know that eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA-one among many omega-3 fatty acids) can reduce the frequency of hot flashes that menopausal women experience? It also boosts the estrogen level, which directly and positively impacts the sex drive and lowers vaginal dryness. So, choose only the best supplements for vaginal health enriched with omega-3 fatty acids to also improve your heart health.

7) Vitamins (C, D, A, E)

The uncomfortable experiences associated with menopause can vary from woman to woman. Some women complain of vaginal atrophy leading to vaginal dryness, itching, burning, too much discharge, urge to urinate frequently, vulnerability to UTIs, irritation during intercourse, and more. If you’ve encountered any of the previously mentioned symptoms, do not think twice before trying out vitamin E. 

Vitamin C promotes the health of the vaginal microbiome by letting the Lactobacillus grow. A study recently conducted to check the efficacy of vitamin C among patients with recurring BV showed that vitamin C is a successful treatment option that lowers the risk of getting BV again. 

If vaginal dryness bothers you, the sunshine vitamin (vitamin D) could be your sunshine. It is a go-to option for women who have entered the menopausal phase and are facing problems related to vaginal wall thinning, itching, etc. Oral vitamin D supplements and suppositories work well in preserving the moisture in the vagina and its flexibility. 

Vitamin A is one of the vital players that helps maintain vaginal consistency (moisture) and boosts collagen production to reinforce vaginal walls for ultimate vaginal rejuvenation. 

Vaginal Health Supplements for Women Experiencing Menopause

Transitioning through menopause is a challenging phase in the life of a woman. She faces many transformations, both physically and emotionally. The physical change includes the changes to her vagina.

The drop in estrogen level during menopause triggers many shifts to the vagina and vulva, which causes vaginal dryness and more frequent urinary tract bacterial invasions. Discomfort during sex, burning sensation during urination, and changes in the outward appearance of the vulva are all associated with the changes triggered by menopause.

These changes are together called the genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM).

MenoHarmony, by PureHealth Research, can be an excellent supplement for vaginal health during menopause. Many experts have endorsed and praised this revolutionary power-packed formulation, including award-winning Dr. Holly Lucille, ND.

The primary reason for the vagina’s affectation post-menopause is the reduction in the estrogen level. MenoHarmony, with its unique ingredients, addresses this problem making it one of the best vaginal supplements. 

Ingredients like hops have shown excellent efficacy in reducing vaginal dryness. It contains xanthohumol (XN), isoxanthohumol (IX), and a powerful phytoestrogen, 8-prenylnaringenin (8-PN). Another ingredient, Angelica gigas, has unique bioactive compounds that act like estrogen reproductive and ovarian hormones. These compounds help to normalize estrogen and progesterone levels. Once the estrogen level normalizes, the vaginal issues reduce significantly.

A third ingredient that is worth mentioning is Cynanchum wilfordii. Compounds in this ingredient activate the estrogen receptor beta and signaling pathways. Cynanchum wilfordii also protects the vaginal tissue, resulting in less discomfort during sex. Red clover present in the product also reduces vaginal dryness and shrinkage. These ingredients make MenoHarmony an excellent natural supplement for vaginal health.

Final Thoughts

Silently suffering is not an option today when alternative medicine has traversed a long way in helping women. Research suggests that the best supplements for vaginal health are a great way to find comfort while safeguarding the sanctity of a happy relationship.

The best part is the botanicals effectively support your body’s natural systems without harsh side effects that can hamper your health in the long run. So, age is like fine wine because you do not get to live twice. Why let age get the better of you? Choose effective supplements for vaginal health like MenoHarmony and live a fulfilling life ever after!

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