Lactobacillus acidophilus is a probiotic, a helpful form of bacteria, found in yogurt and other dairy products that contain live cultures, as well as liquid supplements and freeze-dried capsules and powders. Doctors sometimes recommend L. acidophilus for people who are taking antibiotics to help restore friendly bacteria in the body. The probiotic can also clear up and prevent some yeast infections. Talk to your doctor if you have a yeast infection or are considering taking L. acidophilus for another purpose.
Sources
Acidophilus supplements are available in powder and capsule form. You can also purchase liquid preparations, but capsules or yogurt with probiotics are typically easier to use if you're treating a yeast infection. Purchase acidophilus supplements from reputable companies and read labels to determine how many live organisms the product contains in each dose. For yeast infections, you'll want at least 1 billion or 2 billion organisms per serving. Refrigerate your acidophilus supplements or yogurt to keep the quality intact.
Dosage
For vaginal yeast infections, the University of Maryland Medical Center recommends eating 8 oz. of yogurt that contains live Lactobacillus acidophilus cultures on a daily basis. Alternatively, you can take acidophilus supplements that contain a minimum of 1 billion to 2 billion live organisms per dose. Some women claim inserting acidophilus supplements as a vaginal suppository or applying plain yogurt with live cultures directly to the vagina relieves symptoms better than introducing the bacteria orally.
Side Effects
Acidophilus supplements and yogurt with live cultures are safe for most people and rarely cause side effects. Some people experience mild gastrointestinal side effects, such as nausea, gas and diarrhea, while taking probiotics. Check with your doctor before taking acidophilus if you take immunosuppressant drugs or have a medical condition that weakens your immune system.
Considerations
Treating a yeast infection yourself with acidophilus and other over-the-counter treatments is usually safe if you're sure a yeast infection is your problem. Other vaginal infections can cause symptoms similar to a yeast infection, so see your doctor if your symptoms haven't cleared up within a few days after taking supplements or using acidophilus products vaginally.
