For Women

90 capsules |up to 3 months' supply

Jenna Seward BSc, DipCNM Nutritional Therapist
This is my favourite specialist product for the vaginal microbiome and it's easy to take as a small, oral capsule - no pessary involved.
Jenna Seward
Jenna Seward BSc, DipCNM Nutritional Therapist

Who is it for?

For Women contains friendly bacteria strains especially found in the vaginal & urinary tracts, scientifically proven to reach the intimate area, and to complement the vaginal flora. It is suitable for women of all ages and is backed by over 30 years of research.

Purchase type

FREE UK delivery on orders over £10.

UK express - Monday to Friday delivery.

See our Delivery & Returns for more information.

Press & Awards:
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  • Vegan

    Vegan

  • No dairy

    No dairy

  • Yeast free

    Yeast free

  • Gluten free

    Gluten free

  • During pregnancy

    During pregnancy

  • During menopause

    During menopause

Key benefits

Friendly bacteria for women

  • Specifically designed for the vaginal microbiome It's not just the gut that has its own microbiome, which is why we have created this specialist friendly bacteria supplement scientifically proven to reach the vagina
  • Contains strains natural to the vaginal & urinary tracts A natural option containing strains natural to the vaginal and urinary tracts and which supports normal pH levels
  • Developed for quality not quantity It's the strains used to develop For Women rather than the billions count that make this supplement a favourite amongst our customers      
  • Multi-strain formula Contains the most studied strains for the intimate flora; the world renowned combination of L. rhamnosus GR-1®L. reuteri RC-14®, trialled in thousands of women around the world 
  • Highly researched and clinically proven Backed by over 25 studies and 30 years of research showing safety and quality 
  • Easy-to-take, small oral capsule Can be taken alone or alongside other supplements like cranberry, natural anti-bacterials and anti-fungals and more convenient than pessaries and creams
  • From the UK's most recommended brand Optibac is the brand of friendly bacteria supplements most recommended by UK consumers

 

 

^^Circana total VMS MAT in value and units 05/08/23

Making a difference 

For every pack of For Women purchased, we donate to the international women's rights charity, Womankind Worldwide. Since 2014, you have helped us raise more than £916,000! Read more about the Optibac and Womankind Worldwide partnership.

Womankind supported by Optibac

 

Optibac Probiotics strains

  • Lactobacillus paracasei F-19®
  • Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1®
  • Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14®
See full ingredients list
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Intimate flora

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Proven to reach the vagina

Customer Reviews

Customer reviews have been collected on our website or independently through Trustpilot where no moderation is possible. Reviews are not endorsed by us and should not be regarded as medical or health advice. The top 3 reviews have been hand selected as our recent favourites, please click 'View all product reviews' below to explore more reasons why customers love this product.

Help & advice

Our team of qualified experts are available for free personalised supplement advice. If you're not sure where to start or your needs have recently changed, please get in touch.

Louise Mason
Louise Mason BA(Hons) DipCNM Nutritional Therapist, DipCNM Naturopath, mANP
optibac

Why choose us?

We are the UK's most trusted & recommended brand of friendly bacteria supplements as determined in an independent survey of 1000 people 

We use the most researched strains of friendly bacteria in the world with each supplement designed to target individual needs and life stages.

  • How to use

  • Ingredients

  • Leave a review

  • Delivery & returns

  • How to use

    Recommended use

    For Women can be given to adults and children, from 4 years onwards.

     

    For Women has the following recommendations:

    • For best results take 1 capsule daily, preferably with breakfast
    • May be increased to 2 capsules per day if desired or professionally directed.
    • Do not exceed recommended daily dosage.
    • For those unable to swallow capsules, open and mix contents into cool food/drinks.
    • Can be taken intensively or on an ongoing basis (daily).
    • For Women can safely be taken alongside other supplements in the Optibac range.

    Storage instructions

    • For best results, do not remove desiccant sachet from the glass jar and close lid firmly after each use.
    • Store in a cool, dry place below 25°C and out of direct sunlight. For maximum potency, can be refrigerated after opening.

    Safety

    Live cultures are not recommended for those with serious medical conditions e.g. those who are severely immunosuppressed, have pancreatitis, are in the ICU, have melaena, have a central venous catheter, short bowel syndrome, or patients with open wounds following major surgery; unless under a doctor's care. Keep out of reach of children.

    Vaginal health supplements are not intended to prevent, treat or diagnose any medical conditions. If taking probiotic supplements for vaginal health, note that these should not be used as a substitute for a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. If you are taking any medications or have a serious medical condition, consult a doctor before use. Optibac supplements will not cause dependency and may be used on an ongoing basis.

  • Ingredients

    Live Cultures

    • Lactobacillus paracasei F-19®
    • Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1®
    • Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14®

    Ingredients

    Maltodextrin (natural source); Live cultures: Lactobacillus paracasei F-19®, Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14®, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1®; vegetarian capsule: hydroxypropyl methylcellulose; stabiliser: microcrystalline cellulose; anti-caking agent: vegetable magnesium stearate

    Each capsule guarantees 2.5 billion live cultures.

    Suitability

    • Vegetarian
    • Vegan
    • No dairy
    • Suitable during pregnancy
    • Suitable during breastfeeding
    • Suitable in menopause
    • Gluten free
    • Yeast free
    • Soy free
    • GMO free
    • No added sugars
    • Free from artificial flavourings, colourings and preservatives
    • No chemicals and parabens
    Format Capsule
    No. Live Cultures 2.5 billion
    Recommended Use 1 capsule daily
    Age Range Adult
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  • Delivery & returns

    UK Delivery

    Free UK Delivery over £10 
    Free standard UK delivery is automatically applied at the checkout when you spend £10.

    Standard 2nd class: £2.50
    Allow 4-10 working days (Monday - Friday) for delivery 

    1st class: £3.95
    Allow 1-3 working days (Monday - Friday) for delivery 

    Express Next Day, order before 2pm (Tracked): £6.95 
    Allow 1-2 working day delivery to most of the UK*. Orders placed on Friday will be delivered on Monday (next working day). Requires signature.

    Shipments will be dispatched via DHL or FedEx, the service will be selected depending on the delivery location.

    *Express delivery may exclude the Channel Islands, Herm Island, Isle of Man, Isle of Wight, Northern Irish postcodes BT18 & upwards, Sark, Scottish borders and offshore and a small number of remote mainland destinations as determined by our delivery courier. 

    Good to know

    • We'll send you an email to confirm once your parcel has been dispatched.
    • For delivery queries, please call us on +44 (0)1264 339 770 or email enquiries@optibacprobiotics.com
    • Orders placed before 2pm are typically dispatched on the same working day.
    • Delivery within the UK and Northern Ireland has a fixed price, regardless of the size and weight of your order. 
    • Delivery times are estimates and not guaranteed unless otherwise stated.

    International Delivery

    We offer an excellent worldwide delivery service. For more details, please take a look at our delivery FAQ.

    Returns

    If you have changed your mind, you can return goods, at your cost, unopened within 14 days for refund or exchange, this does not affect your statutory rights.

Customer Questions

All questions answered by probiotic experts Dr Kate Steed PhD (Food and Microbial Sciences) BSc(Hons) Medical Biology and Helen Morton BSc (Hons) DipION Nutritional Therapist

Friendly bacteria for women help to support the vaginal flora, even when taken orally1. A healthy vagina typically contains Lactobacilli bacteria which produce lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide. These substances help to keep the all-important pH balance in the vagina at an optimum pH of 4.5 (slightly acidic). Women's friendly bacteria supplements are for anyone who feels they can benefit. Several strains, such as Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14® and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1®, and Lactobacillus paracasei F-19®, survive to reach the vaginal flora and prefer to colonise there. They are regarded as specific vaginal friendly bacteria and can be found in the Optibac Probiotics For Women supplement.

This supplement contains live cultures which are designed to complement the natural vaginal flora and, whilst called For Women, we acknowledge it may also be appropriate and helpful for trans men or non-binary people. What's more we've heard anecdotal situations where men have taken For Women as part of a supplement protocol and seen a benefit. Please contact us if unsure which supplement to take - we're here to help!

The best women’s live cultures supplements contain friendly bacteria specifically researched in women, with the same billions count used in supporting research studies. Optibac Probiotics For Women strains have been used in gold standard clinical trials 1,2,3 at the same strength of 2.5 billion live cultures per capsule daily. 

Read references

Most women feel more confident when taking vaginal live cultures daily, while some women take a seven-day intensive course when needed. It is entirely down to individual preference. Optibac Probiotics For Women comes in three sizes: 7 days, 30 days, and 90 days, but is designed for long-term daily use. Take with food, ideally breakfast, when stomach acidity is closer to neutral.

Taken orally, vaginal live cultures, such as those in Optibac Probiotics For Women, are proven to reach the vagina alive in 3-4 days and to colonise in the vaginal flora in one week. Once there, what do women's live cultures do for women? Lactobacilli bacteria in the vaginal flora produce lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide, which help to keep the all-important pH balance in the vagina at an optimum pH of 4.5 (slightly acidic)1,2.

Read references

It’s best to take your women’s probiotic supplement at breakfast time, as this is when stomach acidity is at its most neutral. Taking it with food further helps to buffer the acid and assist the passage of the live cultures into the gut and on to the vagina. If you are intermittent fasting then simply take For Women with your first meal or snack of the day.

It is perfectly safe to take Optibac For Women during pregnancy; however, pregnant women may prefer to consider a supplement designed for pregnancy, such as Optibac Pregnancy, which contains live cultures specifically researched in pregnant women. Vaginal friendly bacteria supplements are also safe to alongside other supplements and medications, such as HRT and the oral contraceptive pill.

The live cultures in Optibac For Women prefer to live in the vaginal flora, but other friendly bacteria strains prefer to live in the gut. This is why many people choose to take a digestive supplement, such as Optibac Every Day, alongside their vaginal live cultures  so that they have all-round support for their gut and vaginal flora.

Optibac For Women is a highly researched alternative to Wellgard and other similar brands. When comparing brands you should always check the ingredients list; high-quality supplements always list the full strain names of the bacteria, not just the species, enabling you to look at the supporting research. If looking for vaginal friendly bacteria alternatives to brands like Garden of Life and Pro-Ven it is always worth comparing the cost, recommended daily amount and customer reviews too.

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