Role of Probiotics in Reducing Recurrence of Vulvovaginal Candidiasis

Abstract:Background:Vaginitis is a frequent clinical condition among women. Approximately ۷۰–۷۵% of women develop vaginal Candida infections at least once during their lifetime, and ۴۰–۵۰% of them suffer from one or more recurrences. Recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) primarily affects women of reproductive age and is linked to substantial physical discomfort, psychological burden, and additional healthcare costs. The aim of this review is to explore the effect of probiotics on reducing the recurrence rate of vulvovaginal candidiasis.Methods:PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus were searched using the keywords “vulvovaginal candidiasis,” “RVVC,” “recurrence,” and “probiotics.” Studies focusing on the effect of probiotic therapy on reducing recurrence were reviewed.Results:Across the included studies, probiotic strains, dosages, treatment duration, and routes of administration (vaginal or oral) varied, but the results were generally consistent. Probiotic monotherapy is less effective than conventional antifungal treatment, both for symptom resolution and recurrence prevention, but adjunct probiotic therapy with antifungal agents alleviates clinical symptoms and significantly reduces recurrence rates. This reduction may be attributed to restoration of vaginal microbiota balance and inhibition of Candida adhesion, with no significant adverse effects reported.Conclusion:Adjunct probiotic therapy showed positive effects in reducing recurrence rates and consequently easing financial and psychological burdens. However, further investigation is needed to determine the optimal probiotic regimen, including dosage, strains, duration of therapy, and route of administration (oral or vaginal).

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Keywords:Vulvovaginal candidiasis ، Probiotics ، Recurrence ، Adjunct therapy ، Antifungal therapy ، Women`s health