Ladies Only: Vaginal and UTI Support

By Claire Bacon, ACN, CNC

This topic is just for the ladies!

If you’ve ever had a UTI or yeast infection, you know how disruptive the itching, burning, and pain can be… to your daily routine, your workouts, and your sex life.  And if your initial treatment doesn’t knock it out right away, you might get into a chronic cycle of recurrent infections. 

No one wants to become antibiotic-resistant! 

Chronic yeast and UTIs can not only be annoying, but eventually could turn into a more serious health threat.  In fact, over 10% of women over age 65 experience a UTI each year.  And it’s worse as we get older.  Over 30% of women over age 85 have recurrent UTIs. 

Aside from the obvious discomfort, this is dangerous because an untreated infection can quickly lead to fever, hospitalization, delirium, and death.  The infection quite possibly could be due to a number of factors for which women are not given proper treatment and attention:

• Overgrowth of yeast and fungus in the digestive system (worsened by a high carb diet)
• Yeast and fungal issues transferred by their male partners.
• Loss of sex hormones (causes changes to intestinal and vaginal pH)
• Vaginal atrophy (causing a thinning of the tissues)
• Loss of labial tissue (increasing risk of infection)
• Overuse of antibiotics without replenishing beneficial bacteria
• Dehydration that impairs kidney function
• Wearing diapers or synthetic panties for long periods that retain moisture near the skin.

Click the links above to read more about these individual topics.

Are you being shy about vaginal and UTI symptoms?

Another complicating factor is that older ladies are so polite!  “Back in their day” sexual topics or anything dealing with “lady parts” were very taboo.  Your grandmother may be too shy to speak up to her male doctor about her private problems. 

Staying silent puts older women at risk!  We need to advocate for our moms and grandmas, to make sure they are taken care of properly!

For this reason, I have compiled all the vaginal and urinary solutions that I have tried and recommend to others.  Most of these items are available in our office.  Just call and we can ship to you!

We hope you enjoy this handy resource!

Testing for Vaginal and UTI Issues

Are you tired of guessing and wondering what’s really going on?  Testing is important for women of all ages, because:

• Vaginal flora migrates to the uterus, and can impact fertility and the ability of an embryo to implant successfully.
• Vaginal flora can contribute to difficulties with cervical dysplasia and uterine cancer.
• Vaginal and rectal flora easily migrate to the urinary tract.

Make a small investment in your health, and order one of these helpful tests:

Microbiome Labs Vaginal Microbiome test (order through our office for $199)

This is a DNA-based assessment (a vaginal swab test) that evaluates the balance of beneficial and opportunistic microorganisms in the vaginal ecosystem, with a particular focus on key Lactobacillus species that help maintain vaginal health. The test can identify patterns associated with bacterial vaginosis, yeast overgrowth, vaginal dysbiosis, pH imbalance, and recurrent infections, providing targeted information to guide probiotic, nutritional, and lifestyle interventions.  You receive a very nice report detailing the beneficial and harmful strains.

Evvy Vaginal Health test (order online for $159)

This is a vaginal microbiome assessment that uses advanced metagenomic DNA sequencing (mNGS) to identify more than 700 species of bacteria and fungi from a single vaginal swab. The test provides a detailed analysis of beneficial and disruptive microbes, along with personalized insights related to bacterial vaginosis, yeast overgrowth, recurrent UTIs, fertility, perimenopause, and overall vaginal health, and includes clinician-reviewed recommendations for targeted care.

In my opinion, the Evvy test covers more bacterial strains than the MBL test.  And the next proactive step is that they can match you up to a probiotic or antibiotic appropriate for your needs.  However, not if you’re in Georgia!  Apparently, they don’t have a doctor on staff licensed in Georgia.  The correspondence through the website and customer service I felt was very confusing and off-putting, and ultimately I wasn’t allowed to order my personalized care through the company.

Evvy UTI+ test (order online for $248)

The Evvy UTI+ Test is an at-home urine test that uses PCR technology to detect 12 common UTI-causing bacteria and fungi along with 7 antibiotic resistance genes, helping identify both the likely pathogen and which antibiotics may be effective. Results are available very quickly.  For patients with recurrent UTIs, the test can be paired with Evvy’s Vaginal Health Test to evaluate whether the vaginal microbiome may be contributing to urinary symptoms, since bacteria can migrate between the vaginal and urinary tracts.

Comprehensive Urinalysis

And of course, we can order a Comprehensive Urinalysis for you through LabCorp (best to combine with other routine labs).  I’d suggest checking your Estradiol, Progesterone, Testosterone, and SHBG at the same time, if appropriate to your case.  If your sex hormones are low, we can help you with a baby dose of topical Estradiol, Estriol, and Progesterone while you work on getting stronger support from your doctor.

Why Getting Data is Useful

Specific findings:  A vaginal microbiome profile showing high Gardnerella and Prevotella strains with low or absent Lactobacillus is associated with a disrupted vaginal ecosystem, often resembling bacterial vaginosis (BV).  Our natural strategy has three goals: 1) lowering disruptive organisms, 2) restoring acidity (pH balance), and 3) reintroducing beneficial Lactobacillus species.

Vaginal and UTI Solutions

You can do so much better than the dry Estradiol tablet that might be recommended by your doctor.  Other choices include:

Boric acid

Boric acid (1–2x weekly) may help maintain a more acidic vaginal pH, which can discourage overgrowth of organisms like Gardnerella and Prevotella. And it can help dissolve biofilms.  Using it intermittently is a good maintenance approach.  Can alternate with probiotics or hormonal support.  Excessive use can be irritating.  Can find at your local herb shop or pharmacy.

VagiBiom Vaginal Probiotics

VagiBiom Vaginal probiotic suppositories (1–2x weekly):  Vaginal probiotics are designed to directly reintroduce beneficial Lactobacillus strains into the vaginal environment. This may help crowd out less desirable bacteria and support a healthier microbiome balance over time.  Also includes hyaluronic acid for moisturizing support.  Order online.

Lactic Acid Yeast wafers

Lactic Acid Yeast wafers provide Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which is a beneficial yeast, not a bacteria. In vaginal microbiome support, it is sometimes used to help:  compete with pathogenic organisms, reduce recurrence of dysbiosis indirectly, and potentially interfere with biofilm formation.  Can be used orally every day and vaginally up to 3-4 nights a week. Usually good for younger women with good vaginal moisture.  We stock in office and you can order online.

Renewed Suppositories

Bezwecken Renewed suppositories support vaginal tissue health and comfort, particularly in peri-menopausal changes that can accompany dysbiosis. While they are not a direct antimicrobial treatment for BV, their ingredients may improve the condition of the tissue itself with DHEA, cocoa butter, Frankincense, Calendula, and Lavender essential oils.  Does not include estrogen.  We stock in office.

Hydration Ovals 2x Plus

Bezwecken Hydration Ovals 2x Plus suppositories are my personal favorite.  Why?  Because they supply Estriol (a weak estrogen) with DHEA (an androgen) diluted in cocoa butter.  These ovals are convenient for travel in a slim pack, and are highly moisturizing.  They are very effective for restoring comfort and plumpness to the tissue. We stock in office.

Glow Below Estradiol Serum

Dr. Michelle Sands’ “Glow Below” Estradiol Serum – is for the external vulva.  Female physician formulated GLOW BELOW delivers effective hydration, rejuvenation, and repair with no prescription needed. This PH-balanced formula is designed for both immediate relief and long-term benefits. Choose between bioidentical estrogen or DHEA, or use them in combination for maximum effectiveness.  Order online.

Julva Cream

Dr. Anna Cabeca’s Julva Cream is for the external vulva.  It nourishes and moisturizes intimate skin with DHEA for better comfort.  Julva restores lusciousness to your most sensitive areas without doctor visits or invasive procedures.  The anti-aging ingredients rejuvenate and moisturize, so you can feel comfortable and confident.  Order online.

Oral Probiotics

• Biotics BioDoph-Fem:  Oral probiotics containing Lactobacillus strains commonly used for women’s health may support the gut-vaginal axis and help reinforce healthy flora.  Contains ASTARTE™, a proprietary blend of four unique strains typically found in a healthy vaginal microbiome to help support a balanced vaginal microbial population, along with CLEPIUS™, a patented strain of L.plantarum that provides natural relief from loose stools and digestive distress.  These strains can be quite aggressive, so you may like to start slowly with just 1 capsule every other day.  We stock in house and available online.
• Microbiome Labs Vaginal Balance:  This product is nearly identical to the Biotics Bio-Doph Fem described above.  We can order for you.
• Microbiome Labs Pregnancy Support – is a targeted probiotic formulated to support a healthy maternal vaginal and gut microbiome before, during, and after pregnancy. It contains clinically studied vaginal Lactobacillus strains along with Bifidobacterium infantis to promote vaginal microbial balance, digestive health, maternal-infant microbiome transfer, and healthy immune and skin development in the infant.  We stock in office.
• Other probiotics – like Prosynbiotic, BioDoph-7-Plus, and Ortho-Biotic are all wonderful products for general digestive health, but they are not female-specific.

Oral Supplements

If your issue is particularly problematic, you’ll want a well-rounded nutritional protocol to support your urinary and digestive systems:

• Standard Process Albaplex – Supports the kidneys and bladder, and protects them from oxidative stress and inflammation.  Helps the immune system work better in the bladder and urinary environment.  Supports kidney vascular health, as well as liver detoxification.  We stock in house or you can order online.
• NOW/Protocol D-Mannose – A 2024 study suggests that consuming D-Mannose may prevent bacteria from adhering to the lining of the urinary tract.  After consuming D-mannose, it can attach to E. coli bacteria that may be in the bladder or urinary system. As a result, the bacteria can no longer attach to cells and cause infection.  Find at your local herb shop or pharmacy.
• Biotics UT Complex – contains botanicals from Traditional Chinese Medicine known to support urinary tract (UT) health, including:  Chrysanthemum, Couch grass, Cornsilk, Zhu Ling extract, and Buchu with zinc, orthophosphoric acid, and ammonium chloride.  We need to double check your medications for possible contraindications.  Please call!
• Mediherb Cranberry Complex – contains Cranberry, Crataeva, Buchu and Uva Ursi to provide urinary system support.  These herbs encourage healthy urinary tract and bladder functions, and promote healthy mucosal surfaces in the urinary tract.  We stock in house or you can order online.
• Food Research Biofilm Detox – contains a variety of herbs and enzymes to disrupt internal biofilms that protect bad bacteria, including Bilberry, Echinacea, Garlic, Grapefruit Seed, Milk Thistle, Astragalus, Black Walnut, Oregano, and Shiitake mushroom.  We stock in house.  Use code drbobbacon to order online.

A few considerations for vaginal and UTI dysbiosis:

1. Gardnerella biofilms can be stubborn.  In some cases, especially if symptoms are significant or recurrent, medical treatment may be necessary because biofilms can make dysbiosis difficult to fully resolve with probiotics alone.  Also consider…

1. Prescription Metronidazole (oral or vaginal):  A common first-line treatment for bacterial vaginosis. It reduces anaerobic bacteria such as Gardnerella and Prevotella, though recurrence is common if the biofilm remains intact.
2. Prescription Clindamycin (oral or vaginal)
3. Oral N-acetylcysteine (NAC) – may help break down the sticky matrix of biofilms.
4. Oral Lactoferrin – may help inhibit pathogenic bacteria and support beneficial flora.
5. Absence of Lactobacillus often reflects an underlying issue.  Hormonal shifts, sexual activity, antibiotics, low estrogen states, chronic stress, menstrual products, hygiene products, or blood sugar imbalance can all contribute to recurrent vaginal dysbiosis.

Are you confused?

We know all of this can be confusing.  That’s why we’re here to help!  Click this link to request an appointment, and we’ll help you understand the strategy that’s most appropriate for you.