Using Lactin-V Probiotic to Prevent Recurrent Bacterial Vaginosis after Metronidazole Treatment
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Reviewed by Dat Tien Nguyen, B.A, ScM.
Translated by Nhi Phuong Quynh Le, B.A |
Posted on April 7th, 2025
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Bacterial vaginosis is a common condition that many women experience. Although it can be treated with antibiotics, recurrences are frequent, and if not managed effectively, the condition can lead to secondary infections and subsequent reproductive complications, imposing significant physical and emotional burdens. Funded by the United States National Institutes of Health, a study was conducted to explore the use of an intravaginal probiotic to prevent recurrent bacterial vaginosis.
The phase 2 clinical trial enrolled 228 premenopausal women aged 18 to 45 whose bacterial vaginosis had been treated with a standard 5-day course of 0.75% vaginal metronidazole. Within 48 hours after treatment, baseline examinations confirmed that all participants had cleared the pathogen. More than half of the participants had experienced over five episodes of bacterial vaginosis in the past. Additionally, blood tests and vaginal swab analyses verified that none of the participants were infected with HIV, syphilis, chlamydia, or gonorrhea.
The patients were randomly assigned to receive either a placebo or Lactin-V, which was provided as pre-filled vaginal applicators for self-administration twice weekly. Lactin-V contains 2 billion CFU of Lactobacillus crispatus, a bacterium typically found in a healthy vagina. The researchers hypothesized that, following the clearance of both the pathogen and naturally occurring vaginal bacteria by metronidazole, the supplemented Lactobacillus crispatus from Lactin-V could colonize the vagina and prevent pathogenic bacteria from re-establishing, thereby reducing disease recurrence. After 10 weeks of treatment, the researchers found that Lactin-V reduced the risk of recurrent bacterial vaginosis at 12 weeks by 34%. At 24 weeks, the treatment's benefits were sustained, with a 27% reduction in recurrence risk.
The phase 2 clinical trial enrolled 228 premenopausal women aged 18 to 45 whose bacterial vaginosis had been treated with a standard 5-day course of 0.75% vaginal metronidazole. Within 48 hours after treatment, baseline examinations confirmed that all participants had cleared the pathogen. More than half of the participants had experienced over five episodes of bacterial vaginosis in the past. Additionally, blood tests and vaginal swab analyses verified that none of the participants were infected with HIV, syphilis, chlamydia, or gonorrhea.
The patients were randomly assigned to receive either a placebo or Lactin-V, which was provided as pre-filled vaginal applicators for self-administration twice weekly. Lactin-V contains 2 billion CFU of Lactobacillus crispatus, a bacterium typically found in a healthy vagina. The researchers hypothesized that, following the clearance of both the pathogen and naturally occurring vaginal bacteria by metronidazole, the supplemented Lactobacillus crispatus from Lactin-V could colonize the vagina and prevent pathogenic bacteria from re-establishing, thereby reducing disease recurrence. After 10 weeks of treatment, the researchers found that Lactin-V reduced the risk of recurrent bacterial vaginosis at 12 weeks by 34%. At 24 weeks, the treatment's benefits were sustained, with a 27% reduction in recurrence risk.