Research in Vaginal Probiotics
Research into vaginal probiotics has tested a wide range of doses. Effective regimens have now been established for the three strains used in TripleFlora. Clinical studies show that vaginal probiotics can:
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Reduce recurrence rates of bacterial vaginosis (BV)
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Improve vaginal flora balance
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Help maintain a healthy vaginal pH
This makes probiotics a valuable addition to women’s intimate health routines.
Mechanism of Action
Once inserted, probiotic organisms activate in the vaginal environment of warmth and moisture.
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Adhesion & Biofilm Formation
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Lactobacillus gasseri has specialised adhesion factors that attach to vaginal cells.
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The bacteria form a protective biofilm lining the mucosa.
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This creates a physical barrier against invading microbes.
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pH & Antimicrobial Compounds
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Lactic acid production lowers vaginal pH to 3.5–4.5.
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At this pH, pathogens like Candida and harmful bacteria struggle to survive.
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Lactobacilli also secrete hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and bacteriocins (natural antibiotics).
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Immune System Support
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Lactobacillus crispatus modulates immune responses.
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It reduces harmful inflammation while enhancing local IgG antibodies.
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In the bladder, L. crispatus can trigger interferon production, helping cells kill E. coli.
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Competition With Pathogens
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Lactobacilli compete with pathogens for nutrients and receptor sites.
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This prevents adhesion of organisms like E. coli and Gardnerella vaginalis.
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Direct Antimicrobial Action
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A 2022 study showed that lactobacilli can force Candida and E. coli into less virulent states or even kill them.
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L. fermentum depletes Candida’s ergosterol, weakening its cell membrane and slowing growth.
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Together, these biochemical, physical, and immunological actions help restore balance (eubiosis) and reduce recurrent infections.
Clinical Evidence by Strain
Lactobacillus crispatus
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Dose-ranging studies: 0.5 to 2 billion CFU per dose.
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Safe at all tested levels.
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Efficacy trials recommend 2 billion CFU/dose, daily for 5 days, then twice weekly.
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This regimen rapidly colonises the vagina, reduces BV recurrence, and restores healthy flora.
Lactobacillus gasseri
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Often studied in lower doses compared to L. crispatus.
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Example: 0.1 billion CFU L. gasseri + 0.1 billion CFU L. rhamnosus produced positive outcomes.
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Continued dosing over weeks and months ensures colonisation.
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L. gasseri adheres strongly to vaginal epithelium and multiplies in vivo, so it does not need very high doses.
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Effective in maintaining long-term vaginal balance, especially post-infection.
Lactobacillus fermentum
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Pilot BV study: slow-release tablet with 0.4 billion CFU L. fermentum + 0.4 billion CFU L. plantarum.
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Given nightly for 1 week, then spaced out.
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Moderate dosing proved effective in restoring healthy flora.
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Slow-release design allows L. fermentum to persist, establish, and multiply naturally.
What is it?
TripleFlora Pessary is a vaginal insert (pessary) containing friendly probiotic bacteria that may help maintain a healthy vaginal balance. It provides three strains of Lactobacillus – L. crispatus, L. gasseri, and L. fermentum – which are natural residents of a healthy vagina. These beneficial bacteria produce lactic acid to keep your vaginal pH low (acidic), which may help prevent and alleviate the overgrowth of yeast and bad bacteria.
Each pessary is like a dose of “good microbes” delivered directly where they’re needed.
Why use a vaginal probiotic?
Just like taking probiotics can support your gut health, using a probiotic pessary can support your vaginal health. Factors like antibiotics use, stress, or hormonal changes can reduce your natural Lactobacillus, leading to issues such as bacterial vaginosis (BV), yeast infections (thrush), or even UTIs. This product aims to replenish the good bacteria. Research shows that having plenty of Lactobacillus in the vagina is linked to fewer infections – for example, women with more L. crispatus have significantly lower rates of BV and UTIs. Our probiotics may help restore your vagina’s natural defense system. In clinical studies, women using Lactobacillus pessaries after medication had fewer recurrences of BV and yeast infection than those who didn’t.
How might it help you?
TripleFlora Pessary may help:
- Prevent Bacterial Vaginosis: BV is often marked by odor and discharge. This probiotic could help maintain the normal flora after BV treatment – studies found that using L. crispatus probiotics after antibiotics significantly reduced BV coming back.
- Reduce Yeast Infections (Thrush): The Lactobacilli in the pessary produce acids and natural antifungals that inhibit Candida (yeast). In one study, adding probiotics to standard antifungal therapy kept 89% of women yeast-free vs 70% who didn’t use probiotics (results may vary, but it’s promising).
- Support Urinary Tract Health: By creating a healthy vaginal environment, the pessary may indirectly lower the risk of UTIs. Harmful bacteria often travel from the vagina to the bladder – keeping a vagina full of friendly Lactobacillus makes it harder for the bad bugs to take hold. In fact, a specific strain we use (L. crispatus) has been researched for UTI prevention and showed a trend toward fewer UTIs in women using the probiotic.
- General Comfort & pH Balance: Many women use vaginal probiotics for ongoing maintenance. Our product can help maintain a low, healthy pH (around 4), which curbs itchiness, unusual odors, and discomfort by keeping the vaginal ecosystem in balance. It’s especially useful after your period, antibiotic use, or intercourse – times when pH can rise and flora might be disturbed.
Why use a vaginal probiotic?
Just like taking probiotics can support your gut health, using a probiotic pessary can support your vaginal health. Factors like antibiotics use, stress, or hormonal changes can reduce your natural Lactobacillus, leading to issues such as bacterial vaginosis (BV), yeast infections (thrush), or even UTIs. This product aims to replenish the good bacteria. Research shows that having plenty of Lactobacillus in the vagina is linked to fewer infections – for example, women with more L. crispatus have significantly lower rates of BV and UTIs. Our probiotics may help restore your vagina’s natural defense system. In clinical studies, women using Lactobacillus pessaries after medication had fewer recurrences of BV and yeast infection than those who didn’t.
How to use?
It’s easy – TripleFlora comes as oval suppository-shaped pessaries that you insert into the vagina. We recommend inserting one pessary at bedtime, so it can melt and release the probiotics overnight. (The pessary is small, smooth, and inserting it is similar to inserting a tampon without an applicator). For general upkeep, using one pessary once or twice a week may be enough. If you are using it after an infection treatment (e.g. finishing a course of antifungal or antibiotic), you might use one pessary per night for 5 nights in a row to boost your Lactobacillus levels, then switch to weekly. Always follow the specific instructions on our packaging or given by your healthcare provider.
Why a pessary and not an oral capsule?
Just like taking probiotics can support your gut health, using a probiotic pessary can support your vaginal health. Factors like antibiotics use, stress, or hormonal changes can reduce your natural Lactobacillus, leading to issues such as bacterial vaginosis (BV), yeast infections (thrush), or even UTIs. This product aims to replenish the good bacteria. Research shows that having plenty of Lactobacillus in the vagina is linked to fewer infections – for example, women with more L. crispatus have significantly lower rates of BV and UTIs. Our probiotics may help restore your vagina’s natural defense system. In clinical studies, women using Lactobacillus pessaries after medication had fewer recurrences of BV and yeast infection than those who didn’t.
Why a melting pessary and not a vaginal capsule?
You might wonder why our pessaries is formulated as a melting suppository pessary instead of a typical vaginal capsule or tablet. We made this choice for greater effectiveness, and comfort:
- Complete Dissolution: Our pessary is designed to fully melt at body temperature, turning into a small amount of fluid that distributes the probiotics evenly along the vaginal walls. There’s no hard shell or tablet residue. You won’t need to remove anything – the entire pessary dissolves and releases its contents. (In contrast, some vaginal capsules or tablets rely on vaginal moisture to dissolve and can sometimes leave behind undissolved bits, especially if someone’s vaginal environment is dry. A melting pessary avoids that issue by using your natural body heat.
- Minimal Leakage, Comfortable Use: TripleFlora pessaries are formulated in a small 1 ml suppository-shaped pessaries. This low-volume suppository shape makes it easier to insert, even in the absence of vaginal moisture. Our pessaries are formulated to be also self-lubricating with body-temp melting point, hence eliminate the need of using personal lubricants for the insertion of the pessaries unlike the gelatin or cellulose gelled capsules that would require lubrication to insert, especially in abscense of vaginal moisture.
- Nourishing Formulation: Each pessary is enriched with gentle emollient oils and vitamin E, which not only aid smooth insertion but also help to moisturise and soothe the vaginal mucosa. This can provide added comfort, especially for women experiencing dryness or irritation, while supporting the restoration of a healthy vaginal environment.
Safety & Comfort:
The strains we use are naturally found in your body. Clinical research has found no serious side effects from vaginal Lactobacillus use. You might notice a bit of discharge as the pessary dissolves (that’s normal – it’s just the base melting). A minority of women report mild burning or itching initially, but this is usually temporary. If you experience persistent irritation or your symptoms worsen, discontinue use and consult a healthcare professional.
This product is hormone-free and antibiotic-free. It won’t mask infections – if you have a high fever, severe pelvic pain, or a very foul discharge, those are signs to see a doctor. Our probiotic pessaries is a natural approach that works by reinforcing your body’s own defenses rather than introducing harsh chemicals.
When to avoid use:
Do not use the pessary during your period (the flow might prevent it from working fully – you can resume right after menstruation). If you are pregnant or trying to conceive, consult with your doctor before use (while probiotics are generally safe in pregnancy, it’s good practice to get medical guidance). Similarly, if you have an immune system issue, check with a doctor.
This product is for vaginal use only – do not swallow it or use it in other body cavities.
Storage:
Keep TripleFlora pessaries refrigerated for optimal potency. They may be transported at temperatures below 25°C without affecting quality. Each pessary is sealed in an ovule shell – simply peel one out when ready to use. Because they contain live probiotic cultures, avoid exposing them to heat or direct sunlight. Proper storage will help ensure the bacteria remain effective until the stated expiration date.
Notable studies:
- Randomized Trial of Lactin-V to Prevent Recurrence of Bacterial Vaginosis
Craig R. Cohen, M.D., Michael R. Wierzbicki, Ph.D., Audrey L. French, M.D., Sheldon Morris, M.D., Sara Newmann, M.D., Hilary Reno, M.D., Lauri Green, B.S., Steve Miller, M.D., Jonathan Powell, M.P.H., Thomas Parks, Ph.D., and Anke Hemmerling, M.D.
https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1915254
- Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Phase 2 Trial of a Lactobacillus crispatus Probiotic Given Intravaginally for Prevention of Recurrent Urinary Tract Infection
Ann E. Stapleton , Melissa Au-Yeung , Thomas M. Hooton , David N. Fredricks , Pacita L. Roberts , Christopher A. Czaja , Yuliya Yarova-Yarovaya , Tina Fiedler , Marsha Cox , Walter E. Stamm
https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/cir183
- Phase 1 dose-ranging safety trial of Lactobacillus crispatus CTV-05 for the prevention of bacterial vaginosis.
Hemmerling A 1 , Harrison W , Schroeder A , Park J , Korn A , Shiboski S , Cohen CR
https://europepmc.org/article/MED/19543144
- Phase 2a study assessing colonization efficiency, safety, and acceptability of Lactobacillus crispatus CTV-05 in women with bacterial vaginosis.
Hemmerling A 1 , Harrison W , Schroeder A , Park J , Korn A , Shiboski S , Foster-Rosales A , Cohen CR
https://europepmc.org/article/MED/20644497
- Phase I trial of a Lactobacillus crispatus vaginal suppository for prevention of recurrent urinary tract infection in women.
Czaja CA , Stapleton AE , Yarova-Yarovaya Y , Stamm WE
https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC2216064
- Vaginal colonisation by probiotic lactobacilli and clinical outcome in women conventionally treated for bacterial vaginosis and yeast infection
Sonal Pendharkar, Erik Brandsborg, Lennart Hammarström, Harold Marcotte & Per-Göran Larsson
https://bmcinfectdis.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12879-015-0971-3
- Human lactobacilli as supplementation of clindamycin to patients with bacterial vaginosis reduce the recurrence rate; a 6-month, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study.
Larsson, Per-Goran; Stray-Pedersen, Babill; Ryttig, Kjeld R; Larsen, Stig
https://archive.org/details/pubmed-PMC3225869
- Efficacy and safety of a vaginal medicinal product containing three strains of probiotic bacteria: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled trial
Tomusiak A , Strus M, Heczko P, Adamski P, Stefański G, Mikołajczyk-Cichońska A, Suda-Szczurek M
https://doi.org/10.2147/DDDT.S89214
- Effectiveness of the Two Microorganisms Lactobacillus fermentum LF15 and Lactobacillus plantarum LP01, Formulated in Slow-release Vaginal Tablets, in Women Affected by Bacterial Vaginosis
Vicariotto, Franco MD*; Mogna, Luca PhD†; Del Piano, Mario MD‡
https://doi.org/10.1097/MCG.0000000000000226
To purchase our probiotic pessaries, you can visit us in-store, email or contact us through our website, or simply call us on 08 9341 7009. We also offer convenient delivery of our compounding products Australia-wide.