The Best Probiotics for Women, Broken Down by Nutritionists

We updated this article in January 2023 to add more information about each featured product, based on extensive research done by our team.

Probiotics have been raved about for years for their ability to regulate digestive health and even support a healthy immune system. But, of course, everyone has different needs. That’s why probiotics and probiotic supplements for niche groups—including probiotics for women—have become popular.

In case you’re not familiar with them, probiotics are live microorganisms that can deliver health benefits when you ingest them, per National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). You may think of bacteria and other microorganisms as germs that are bad for your body, but many are actually helpful, working to digest your food, tackle cells that can cause disease, or help produce vitamins, the NCCIH explains. Probiotic supplements contain microorganisms that are very similar to the ones that naturally live in your body.

There are a lot of different types of probiotics, but the most common ones are bacteria in groups called Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium—and each does something a little different.

In a perfect world, you’d get your probiotic fix from fermented foods like yogurt, kimchi, miso, and sauerkraut, says Zhaoping Li, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the Center for Human Nutrition and Chief of the Division of Clinical Nutrition at David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. “What we really need as women is to have the best nutrients, and that’s through food that we take in every day,” she says.

That said, most people aren’t getting all the probiotics and nutrients they need from their daily diet, which is why supplementation can be beneficial. “Taking a probiotic supplement is easy,” Dr. Li points out. That said, Dr. Li recommends incorporating probiotic supplements with an all-around choice to improve daily nutrition. “Just having probiotics on a bad diet will not help,” she says.

Meet the Experts: Zhaoping Li, M.D., Ph.D., is the Director of the Center for Human Nutrition and Chief of the Division of Clinical Nutrition at David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Keri Gans, R.D., is the author of The Small Change Diet. Jessica Cording, R.D., C.D.N., is the author of The Little Book of Game-Changers.

Our top picks

Ready to try one? These meet expert criteria.

Dietary supplements are products intended to supplement the diet. They are not medicines and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure diseases. Be cautious about taking dietary supplements if you are pregnant or nursing. Also, be careful about giving supplements to a child, unless recommended by their healthcare provider.