Overall , lactobacilli were beneficial for the treatment of patients with bacterial vaginosis .
No clear benefit was seen for c and idiasis or urinary tract infection .
In conclusion , the use of certain lactobacillus strains such as L. rhamnosus GR-1 and L. reuteri for prevention and treatment of recurrent urogenital infection is promising , especially for recurrent bacterial vaginosis .
Abstract Probiotics are increasingly being used to treat and prevent urogenital infections .
However , a critical assessment of their efficacy in major urogenital infections is lacking .
We report the results of a systematic review to determine the efficacy of probiotics for prevention or treatment of three major urogenital infections : bacterial vaginosis , vulvovaginal c and idiasis , and urinary tract infection .
Bacterial vaginosis and the effect of intermittent prophylactic treatment with an acid lactate gel.
Intermittent treatment with an acid lactate gel ( Lactal , ACO , Sweden ) reduced symptoms of  bacterial vaginosis ( BV )  and promoted the reestablishment of the normal vaginal flora of lactobacilli . Forty-two women seriously affected by recurrent BV were initially given acid gel ( lactate gel , pH 3.8 , 5 ml ) to be inserted into the vagina daily for 7 consecutive days . Thereafter they entered into a double blind clinical trial and were treated prophylactically 3 days monthly for 6 months with either lactate gel or a placebo gel . Women treated with the lactate gel were clinical ly improved , i.e. no signs of BV in 88 % compared to 10 % in the placebo group ( p less than 0.001 ) . The vaginal lactobacilli flora was reestablished in 83 % of the lactate group and in 16 % of the placebo group . Local intermittent application of lactate gel was found to be free of side effects and is a preferable alternative to repeated treatments with antibiotics in patients with recurrent BV
Overall , lactobacilli were beneficial for the treatment of patients with bacterial vaginosis .
No clear benefit was seen for c and idiasis or urinary tract infection .
In conclusion , the use of certain lactobacillus strains such as L. rhamnosus GR-1 and L. reuteri for prevention and treatment of recurrent urogenital infection is promising , especially for recurrent bacterial vaginosis .
Abstract Probiotics are increasingly being used to treat and prevent urogenital infections .
However , a critical assessment of their efficacy in major urogenital infections is lacking .
We report the results of a systematic review to determine the efficacy of probiotics for prevention or treatment of three major urogenital infections : bacterial vaginosis , vulvovaginal c and idiasis , and urinary tract infection .