Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Apr 29
Wellness culture promotes vaginal products lacking scientific evidence for microbiome improvement
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Apr 29

Wellness culture promotes vaginal products lacking scientific evidence for microbiome improvement

7 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Apr 29
  • Despite a billion-dollar feminine probiotic industry, experts like Dr Caroline Mitchell and Smita Gopinath report no products can reliably shift the vaginal microbiome to a healthier state.
  • Most claims about these supplements are unproven, and regulatory gaps mean products are not safety tested or ingredient-verified before marketing, raising concerns about efficacy and potential side effects.
  • Researchers stress that the vaginal microbiome is complex and self-regulating, with ongoing studies aiming to develop effective therapeutics, while consumer demand and misinformation continue to influence clinical practice.
Are billion-dollar feminine probiotics a medical breakthrough or a wellness scam?
Beyond probiotics: Are bacteria-killing phages the future of vaginal health?
Your daily probiotic might be useless. How can you find one that works?
Science just redefined the 'healthy' vagina. Are current treatments obsolete?
Could treating a male partner be the secret to curing recurrent BV?
Women's health is a $1 trillion opportunity. Why is it being ignored?