Do Probiotics Have An Effect On Sexual Health Or Function?

Probiotics may improve sexual function and satisfaction in specific populations such as women and men with depression treated with SSRIs, women with polycystic ovary syndrome, and postmenopausal women. Evidence also suggests potential benefits in sexual function in multiple sclerosis patients and pessary users. However, effects are strain-specific and population-specific, and evidence is limited to certain clinical contexts rather than general sexual health improvement.

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Certainty not assessed

This analysis does not carry a graded certainty rating. Read the limitations section before drawing conclusions.

What the research shows

Several high-quality randomized controlled trials (PMID: 38216917, 42059569) demonstrated that probiotic supplementation (including strains like Bifidobacterium bifidum and Lactobacillus acidophilus as part of multi-strain products such as Lactofem) improved sexual function and satisfaction in women and men with depressive disorders undergoing SSRI treatment. Another RCT (PMID: 36096842) showed improved sexual function and pregnancy rates in women with polycystic ovary syndrome receiving probiotics plus letrozole. Postmenopausal women also showed improved sexual function and quality of life with Lactobacillus acidophilus supplementation (PMID: 41326645, 41186601). In patients with progressive multiple sclerosis, synbiotics improved sexual function alongside fatigue and pain (PMID: 37651846). Vaginal Lactobacillus acidophilus tablets provided satisfaction comparable to ultra-low-dose oestriol in pessary users (PMID: 40464696). These findings indicate probiotics may benefit sexual function in specific clinical populations, often linked to underlying conditions affecting sexual health. Evidence from athletic performance and general population studies does not support broad claims of probiotics improving sexual function. Safety profiles were generally favorable with rare adverse events reported. Limitations include population specificity, short intervention durations, and lack of long-term follow-up.

Best studied probiotic strains

Bifidobacterium bifidum (part of Lactofem multi-strain product)

RCT in women with depression on SSRIs showed significant improvement in Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and sexual satisfaction after 8 weeks (PMID: 38216917).

Studied for: Depression with SSRI-induced sexual dysfunction in women

Used in combination with Lactobacillus acidophilus, L. rutri, and L. fermentum; effects observed as adjunct to SSRI treatment.

Multi-strain Lactofem (including Bifidobacterium bifidum and Lactobacillus acidophilus)

RCT in men with mild to moderate depression on Escitalopram showed improved erectile function and sexual satisfaction (PMID: 42059569).

Studied for: Depression with SSRI-induced sexual dysfunction in men

Adjunctive therapy with SSRI; large sample size; cultural and demographic limitations.

Lactobacillus acidophilus

RCT in premenopausal and menopausal women showed improved FSFI scores and menopause quality of life after 8 weeks (PMID: 41326645).

Studied for: Premenopausal and menopausal women with sexual dysfunction

Single strain supplementation; improvements in sexual function and quality of life.

Bacillus coagulans

RCT in children with hand, foot and mouth disease showed improved immune function and quality of life, indirectly relevant to sexual health (PMID: 41248651).

Studied for: Immune-related conditions

Evidence for sexual function improvement is indirect; primarily immune and quality of life benefits.

Lactobacillus crispatus (intravaginal)

RCT for bacterial vaginosis treatment showed high satisfaction and improved vaginal health (PMID: 17125424).

Studied for: Bacterial vaginosis

Improves vaginal microbiota and health, which may influence sexual satisfaction.

Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis (part of multi-strain probiotic)

RCT in male soccer players showed improved anaerobic power and lower-body strength when combined with casein (PMID: 40353739).

Studied for: Athletic performance

Performance-related benefits may indirectly affect sexual health; combined with casein.

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Who may benefit

Women with depressive disorders undergoing SSRI treatment experiencing sexual dysfunction Men with mild to moderate depression on SSRIs with sexual dysfunction Women with polycystic ovary syndrome Postmenopausal women with sexual dysfunction Patients with progressive multiple sclerosis Women using pessaries for pelvic organ prolapse Athletes seeking improved physical performance that may indirectly influence sexual health

Safety

Probiotic supplementation was generally well tolerated across studies with rare and mild adverse events reported. No serious safety concerns were identified in the reviewed trials involving various strains including Bifidobacterium bifidum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bacillus coagulans, and others. However, long-term safety data are limited.

Limitations

Most evidence is limited to specific clinical populations (e.g., depression with SSRI treatment, PCOS, postmenopausal women) and may not generalize to healthy individuals seeking sexual function improvement. Intervention durations were typically short (6-8 weeks). Some studies had limited sample sizes or were conducted in culturally homogenous populations. There is a lack of long-term follow-up data. Effects are strain-specific and cannot be generalized across all probiotics. Evidence for direct improvement of sexual function in healthy populations is lacking. More large-scale, diverse, and long-term RCTs are needed.

PubMed sources

Study	Type	Year	PMID
Adjuvant administration of probiotic effects on sexual function in depressant women undergoing SSRIs treatment: a double-blinded randomized controlled trial. BMC psychiatry	Randomized Controlled Trial	2024	38216917
Adjuvant administration probiotic effects on sexual function in depressant men undergoing selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor treatment: a double-blinded randomized controlled trial. The journal of sexual medicine	Randomized Controlled Trial	2026	42059569
Probiotic effects on sexual function in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a double blinded randomized controlled trial. BMC women's health	Randomized Controlled Trial	2022	36096842
The effect of probiotic supplementation on sexual function in premenopausal and menopausal women: a randomized controlled clinical trial. Scientific reports	Randomized Controlled Trial	2025	41326645
The effect of probiotic consumption on fatigue severity and sexual function among postmenopausal women: a double-blind randomized controlled trial in the west of Iran. Menopause (New York, N.Y.)	Randomized Controlled Trial	2026	41186601
Anti-inflammatory-antioxidant modifications and synbiotics improved health-related conditions in patients with progressive forms of multiple sclerosis: A single-center, randomized clinical trial. Complementary therapies in clinical practice	Randomized Controlled Trial	2023	37651846
Comparison of vaginal moisturisers with ultra-low-dose oestriol and lactobacillus vaginal tablets in women with POP who used a pessary: a randomised controlled trial. Journal of obstetrics and gynaecology : the journal of the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology	Randomized Controlled Trial	2025	40464696
Pre-sleep casein ingestion with probiotic strains improves anaerobic power and lower-body-specific strength and power performance in soccer players. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition	Randomized Controlled Trial	2025	40353739