Introduction: Extended use of vaginal medications can disrupt the natural balance of the vaginal microbiota. In recent years, probiotics have emerged as a promising therapeutic approach. The objective of this review is to assess the effectiveness of probiotics in the treatment of vaginitis. Methods: For this review, articles published between 2008 and 2025 were retrieved from the PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases. The search was conducted using keywords such as "probiotics," "vaginitis," "treatment," and "vaginal flora." Studies examining the effects of probiotics on various types of vaginitis were analyzed. Results: Several probiotics, particularly Lactobacillus strains, have been identified as effective treatments for vaginitis. Research indicates that strains such as Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1, Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14, Lactobacillus crispatus, and Lactobacillus gasseri can reduce symptoms of bacterial vaginosis (BV) and prevent recurrence. Furthermore, when used in conjunction with antibiotics, probiotics have demonstrated significant therapeutic and preventive effects against vaginal infections, notably BV and vaginal candidiasis (VVC). Conclusion: Probiotic therapy represents a safe and effective treatment option for vaginitis, particularly in cases caused by bacterial and fungal infections. It can serve as a complementary treatment to conventional therapies. Numerous studies suggest that probiotics, especially Lactobacillus strains, play a crucial role in restoring the vaginal microbiota and alleviating symptoms, while also preventing recurrent infections.
Shiravani et al. (Wed,) studied this question.