Abstract: The vaginal microbiota consist of a large number of lactic acid bacteria，primarily species of Lactobacillus. A key ecological function is the maintenance of a low pH in the vagina，which is important for resistance against pathogenic organisms. Vaginal infections commonly occur in women of reproductive age and bacterial vaginosis （BV） or yeast vaginitis is the most common cause for women to seek medical care. This review focuses on the usage of oral probiotics Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14 for improvement of vaginal health，as adjunctive treatment in symptomatic disease and as stand-alone treatment for restoring and maintaining a healthy vaginal microbiota. In vitro experiments demonstrate that strains GR-1 and RC-14 are able to adhere to epithelial cells，and to inhibit pathogens-particularly uropathogens-by producing bacteriocin-like substance and displacing biofilms. Data from use in humans reveals that both strains are able to survive gastrointestinal passage and translocate to the vagina（from the gut via the perineum）as viable bacteria. This has been demonstrated by isolating GR-1 and RC-14 from fecal and vaginal samples following oral administration.

Key words: Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus reuteri, Vaginitis