9 Best Probiotics for Menopause: Say Goodbye to Discomfort

Menopause, which begins 12 months after you’ve stopped menstruating, is a natural part of the aging process. However, this can be an incredibly difficult time for some women, who are forced to contend with a range of uncomfortable physical and emotional symptoms.

Hormone replacement therapy is the most common treatment, but there is evidence to suggest that some probiotics may offer a convenient, yet effective alternative solution. To put this theory to the test, we browsed a wide range of probiotics for women, including their ingredients, pros, and cons, and selected the best for treating menopause.

We take a closer look at the top 9 options in this article, and explain how putting a boost of beneficial bacteria into your body is useful for coping with menopause.

Top 3 Options

9 Best Probiotics for Menopause This Year: Embrace Comfort

Hoping to alleviate the bloating, fatigue, and mood swings that come with menopause? Here are the best probiotics we’d recommend for managing these symptoms:

#1 Bioma: Best overall

Designed to support your journey towards gut wellness, Bioma is a probiotic supplement that promises to reduce bloating and heaviness, while boosting brain fog and low energy. It does this by replenishing the gut with friendly probiotic strains, which is essential as research suggests that menopause is associated with a lower gut microbiome diversity.

Along with thermogenic probiotics that might encourage fat-burning, Bioma also contains xylooligosaccharide (XOS), a prebiotic that improves the structure of the digestive tract and may alleviate inflammation. Another key ingredient is tributyrin, a postbiotic that is believed to promote gut health. Its anti-inflammatory properties may also help with insulin sensitivity and weight control.

So, if you’re hoping to tackle the low energy, anxiety, and bloating that often comes with menopause, simply start by taking the Bioma quiz, which will help you to understand your unique gut health needs.

Related article: Bioma Review

#2 YourBiology Gut+: Best for menopausal bloating

YourBiology Gut+ is a dietary supplement created especially to improve female health. One of the most unpleasant, yet common symptoms experienced by women going through menopause is bloating, and YourBiology is a supplement that can relieve this. 

The product contains 4 probiotic strains including Lactobacilli, a species that is proven to strengthen the gut and eliminate toxins that may be causing bloating. It does this with the help of 40 billion colony-forming units (CFUs), a measure that indicates the number of live microorganisms delivered to the gut.

While a probiotic supplement only needs 10 to 20 billion CFUs to improve gut health, this higher CFU count makes YourBiology ideal for relieving more extreme bloating and other irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms. Capsules are also protected by a unique Maktrek technology, which protects the probiotics from stomach acid as they make their way to the small intestine.

Learn more: YourBiology Review

#3 Provitalize: Best with natural herbs

Formulated especially to tackle menopause symptoms, Provitalize is a natural probiotic supplement that might help to boost metabolism and get rid of stubborn belly fat.

It does this with the help of a unique thermogenic probiotic blend, including L. gasseri, B. breve, and B.lactic. These friendly microbes address menopausal weight gain by increasing energy expenditure, and balance levels of good bacteria in the gut to  support digestive health. You’ll also no longer suffer from that heavy, bloated feeling that menopause can bring.

Provitalize also contains 3 natural herbs that ensure your body receives all the essential nutrients it needs to flourish. Turmeric root extract alleviates inflammation that may be caused by menopausal bloating, weight gain, and sore joints, while moringa leaf reduces hot flashes. Curry leaf contains vitamins A, B, C, and E to support your overall well-being.

While originally designed for women, men can also reap some of these benefits, such as improved gut health and weight loss.

#4 Ritual Synbiotic +: Best for reducing inflammation

Ritual Synbiotic + is an all-in-one pre-, pro-, and postbiotic supplement that not only supports gut health, but may also reduce menopause-related weight gain too. It does this with the help of L. rhamnosus and B. animalis, 2 probiotic strains that can help you achieve sustainable weight loss. They also relieve occasional digestive discomfort, including gas, bloating, and diarrhea.

Ritual has been shown to increase the production of butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid that also plays an important role in reducing inflammation and controlling body weight. Furthermore, this dietary supplement includes a PreforPro prebiotic, which helps the 11 billion probiotic strains thrive and work more effectively in the gut.

While some probiotic supplements lose their potency traveling through the digestive tract, Ritual Synbiotic + protects its strains with a unique delayed-release capsule to keep them intact. You’ll also benefit from a no refrigeration required bottle, making this a convenient supplement for treating the symptoms of menopause on the go.

#5 Unbloat: Best for bloating

Combining probiotics, prebiotics, digestive enzymes, and herbal ingredients, Unbloat is an all-in-one supplement designed to help women and men with bloating. 

Along with the 7 probiotic strains that naturally boost digestion, Unbloat also uses inulin and hydrolyzed guar gum. These are prebiotic fibers that support the growth of good bacteria and have also been shown to relieve menopause symptoms like hot flashes and vaginal dryness.

What’s great about this probiotic supplement is that it also contains herbal ingredients such as ginger, peppermint, spirulina, turmeric, and fennel. 

While spirulina improves Lactobacillus colonies, turmeric is known for its impressive anti-inflammatory properties, which help with menopausal joint pain and other symptoms caused by oxidative stress. As they act similarly to the estrogen hormone, fennel seeds can also be useful for those going through menopause.

#6 Elm & Rye Daily Probiotic: Best for improving digestion

Unlike other supplements, Elm & Rye Daily Probiotic contains only one active ingredient, which is Lactobacillus acidophilus. Found in fermented, probiotic-rich foods like yogurt and cheese, the probiotic strain is one of the most well-researched for improving digestive health. This is because it produces lactic acid, which prevents harmful bacteria from colonizing the gut.

By taking this supplement, women going through menopause are less likely to suffer from common digestive problems like gas, bloating, constipation, or diarrhea. 

L. acidophilus also boosts immunity, and several studies show that it may directly alleviate menopausal symptoms including bone loss, increased pain sensitivity, weight gain, and even depression.

#7 Renew Life Vaginal & Urinary Complete Probiotic: Best for vaginal health

Renew Life Probiotic is specifically formulated to promote a healthy female body. The drop in estrogen levels that occur during menopause causes physical changes to the vaginal opening, which puts you at a higher risk of developing dryness and urinary tract infections (UTIs). Luckily, Renew Life offers a solution.

The supplement contains Lactobacillus rhamnosus and reuteri probiotics, which are the most clinically studied probiotics for vaginal health. By producing lactic acid in the vagina, they help to balance pH levels to reduce your risk of bacterial vaginosis and yeast infections, such as Candida albicans.

Another thing that we love about this female-focused probiotic supplement is its inclusion of whole-fruit cranberry concentrate. Consuming around 500 mg of this wonder ingredient per day reduces your chances of recurring UTIs, therefore helping to keep your vaginal microbiome healthy.

#8 mindbodygreen Probiotic+: Best for excess gas

With a unique blend of 4 probiotics mindbodygreen Probiotic+ is a dietary supplement created with women over 50 in mind. The formula helps to ease bloating and excess gas, promote regular bowel movements, and help with weight management, all of which menopause can make difficult.

A stand-out strain is Bifidobacterium lactis, which has several proven benefits for gastrointestinal health and immune function. Along with improved bowel function, it has also been shown to protect against diarrhea, and is specifically effective in treating diarrhea caused by antibiotics. 

An additional benefit of B. lactis is its ability to treat dysbiosis, which occurs when bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract becomes imbalanced. Dysbiosis may play a role in obesity, so taking mindbodygreen can prevent this and therefore help to control weight gain.

#9 Solaray Probiotic Women’s Formula: Best for balancing hormones

Solaray Women’s Formula probiotic supplement is packed with an impressive 24 probiotics and 50 billion CFUs for optimal vaginal health. The several Lactobacilli strains help to maintain a healthy vaginal pH to prevent infection, while Bifidobacterium produces estrogen. 

Estrogen levels are typically low during menopause, which can cause side effects such as hot flashes and mood swings. This supplement is therefore ideal for balancing female hormones, therefore easing the physical and mental discomfort often experienced by older women. 

Solaray also contains inulin, a soluble fiber that works as a prebiotic to help beneficial bacteria grow. Along with easing digestive discomfort and constipation, fiber also keeps you fuller for longer, which is useful for preventing the weight gain that often comes with menopause. 

All of these ingredients are delivered via a specialized capsule called Enteric Shield. This ensures that Solaray’s probiotic formula makes it safely to the intestines, where it can then work its magic for good gut health. 

FAQs

Comparison Table

How We Selected the Best Probiotics for Menopause

When searching for the best probiotic supplements on the market, we considered 5 factors to help us make the best recommendations. Here’s how we tested each product:

Purpose

The best probiotics for menopause should contain strains that are clinically proven to treat or reduce menopause symptoms, like weight gain, hot flashes, or urinary tract infections. We therefore tried to include those made with Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains, along with thermogenic probiotics that boost metabolism.

Quality

For us to consider a supplement high-quality, it should have a CFU count of at least 10 billion, which ensures that a good number of microorganisms are delivered to the gut. They should also be third-party tested, and manufactured in sites that follow Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).

Ingredients

We made sure that each probiotic contained only ingredients from natural sources, and excluded artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. To ensure the safety of the product, it was also important that they were free of toxins and most major allergens. We rated supplements highly if they contained prebiotics, which improve the efficacy of the probiotic strains.

Price

Dietary supplements tend to be on the pricier side, particularly those with high-quality ingredients and good CFU counts. However, cost doesn’t necessarily indicate effectiveness, and we did discover some great budget-friendly picks too. We therefore selected products that are ideal for a range of budgets, where the benefits tend to outweigh the costs.

Brand reputation

Brand reputation is an important category, as it can highlight whether or not a company’s products are safe and effective. However, it can be difficult to distinguish this factor, as dietary supplements are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

All of the supplements we selected are from brands with great customer reviews, as well as generally good reputations within the female health supplements industry.

Conclusion

The best probiotics for menopause are those that contain potent Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains that not only balance the gut microbiome, but also target vaginal health, weight management, and the symptoms of menopause directly.

When it comes to probiotics for women, our top 3 picks are Bioma, Provitalize, and YourBiology Gut+, which all contain safe, clinically tested probiotics, prebiotics, and other natural ingredients that are proven to make your menopause experience more comfortable.