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Ora Organic claims that Lady Bugs can help support your urinary and reproductive tracts, while also being particularly useful for women that want to avoid UTIs, bacterial vaginosis, and yeast infections.
But can it really deliver on these claims, or are the ingredients in this formula not effective enough? What is the evidence behind them and what is the feedback from those real people who have tried it?
In this article, I’ll be looking at the scientific literature and help you understand whether or not Ora Organic’s Lady Bugs formula is worth it.
Brief Summary
- The prebiotics in Lady Bugs (derived from Jerusalem artichoke) may offer protective effects due to their ability to decrease the population of harmful bacteria but there’s not enough research to claim that with 100% confidence.
- On the other hand, Lady Bugs has probiotics of the Lactobacillus family, which have substantial evidence supporting their role in enhancing vaginal flora and treating conditions like bacterial vaginosis.
- Lady Bugs is quite pricey at 37,99 per bottle, but it may be reasonable considering it’s a fully organic formula and there’s also the fact that Ora Organic is a considerably more ethical brand.
Ingredient Analysis
This formula has basically two ingredients: one is Jerusalem artichoke, and the other is basically a probiotic blend with six different strains.
The reason Ora Organic is using Jerusalem artichoke is not because it’s a special plant with unique properties— but because it contains inulin, which is a type of soluble fiber, or as it’s often so called, a prebiotic.
Consuming prebiotics can improve immunity functions by increasing the population of protective microorganisms. Animal and human studies have shown that prebiotics can decrease the population of harmful bacteria. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Considering that UTIs can result from bacteria such as E. coli in the gut and other conditions such as bacterial vaginosis, and yeast infections can arise from imbalances in the vaginal microbiome, introducing beneficial bacteria might work.
With that being said, I haven’t found any studies that address the role of prebiotics in vaginal health— though there’s considerable evidence to prove that it can regulate gut inflammation, alleviate constipation, and managing certain gastrointestinal disorders, such as IBS. [6, 7, 8, 9]
Bottom line: Given its prebiotic content, there is a possibility that Jerusalem artichoke may actually support vaginal health and help support certain conditions that may arise from imbalances in the vaginal microbiome. However, more research is needed.
When it comes to probiotics, there’s a lot more research available as they’ve been used as supplements for a while longer.
For instance, Lactobacillus is the most dominant bacterial species in the vaginal microenvironment (it’s the one used in this supplement) and can maintain or change the vaginal microecological balance. [10, 11]
In fact, probiotics can improve vaginal flora, increase beneficial bacteria, reduce the number of harmful bacteria, and maintain the stability of vaginal flora environment. [12]
There’s even increasing evidence that probiotics are effective in the treatment of bacterial vaginosis. [13, 14, 15]
In other words, it’s likely that adding a probiotic to your supplement stack can improve your overall gut and vaginal health.
After all, Ora Organic’s Lady Bug contains a variety of Lactobacillus species, which are essentially the ones that inhabit the vaginal microenvironment, and also the ones that can maintain or bring the most change to said environment.
What Do Real People Have To Say?
Below are reviews from real customers gathered from various third-party websites, so that you can get an unbiased view into the overall experience of those that have used Lady Bugs.
“I’ve been suffering from BV and yeast infections for 7 years (I’m 49 yo). Couldn’t get rid of the candida overgrowth in my body and restore my PH and vaginal health. So far, it’s been two months without any episode. It has yet to be tested when I take antibiotics, but so far so good. The pill is large but easy to swallow, no need to store them in the fridge so it’s convenient to travel with. Those pills are my best friends now and haven’t disappoint me. I feel less bloated too now that I think of it.” – Steph B.
“I loved this product from the start! Great for my vaginal health, great for my gut health! I did not have bloating and have a flat stomach even after I eat. However, after about 2 weeks now of only 1 capsule not 2 I am having my face flush and redness on my face that I have when I am overloaded with histamine. It took a while to get used to the probiotics, but now I have no issues. Be aware though if you have a sensitive body.” – Kenna Knap
“For awhile I was suffering with constant BV infections despite my doctor prescribing me all sorts of antibiotics. It was disheartening, I felt like I tried everything. My doctor recommended taking probiotics to help rebalance my micro biome and did my due diligence by researching different brands specifically for this issue. This was the only brand I found that carried a very specific strain of probiotic normally found in the female reproductive system. This was my holy grail I tell you. It was only after taking these supplements religiously that all my symptoms went away and eventually my BV!!! (With the additional help of trying antibiotics for the 4th time). I would 100% recommend these to anyone with a vulva and I commend this brand for putting quality and clean ingredients in all their products. I don’t normally write reviews but wow, I had to for this one. Thank you Ora Organic for helping me regain balance and comfort again.” – Honey B
“I can’t give it a fair review because I haven’t used it enough yet, but I don’t see too much difference from my regular probiotics which is kinda disappointing. I am very happy this is vegan and plant-based. I know it’s a healthy alternative for keeping my gut in check and that’s enough for me:)” – Stacy G.
Other Frequently Asked Questions
Priced at $37.99 per bottle, Lady Bugs is not an inexpensive supplement.
The cost can be attributed to several things, including the strict use of organic ingredients, and the fact Ora Organic is an ethical brand when it comes to environmental and labor practices.
With that being said, the cost can be reduced by 20% if you subscribe to Ora Organic’s recurring subscription plan which allows you to get Lady Bugs delivered to you every 30, 45, 60, or 90 days.
If you intend to add a supplement to your routine during pregnancy, consider checking with your doctor first. Alas, many women take Lady Bugs even while pregnant— but still, it’s always better to be on the safe side.
References:
1. Stinson LF, Payne MS, Keelan JA. Planting the seed: Origins, composition, and postnatal health significance of the fetal gastrointestinal microbiota. Crit Rev Microbiol. 2017 May;43(3):352-369. doi: 10.1080/1040841X.2016.1211088. Epub 2016 Dec 8. PMID: 27931152.
2. Denji, K. Amani, et al. “Effect of dietary prebiotic mannan oligosaccharide (MOS) on growth performance, intestinal microflora, body composition, haematological and blood serum biochemical parameters of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) juveniles.” Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Science 10.4 (2015): 255.
3. Klatt NR, Canary LA, Sun X, Vinton CL, Funderburg NT, Morcock DR, Quiñones M, Deming CB, Perkins M, Hazuda DJ, Miller MD, Lederman MM, Segre JA, Lifson JD, Haddad EK, Estes JD, Brenchley JM. Probiotic/prebiotic supplementation of antiretrovirals improves gastrointestinal immunity in SIV-infected macaques. J Clin Invest. 2013 Feb;123(2):903-7. doi: 10.1172/JCI66227. Epub 2013 Jan 16. PMID: 23321668; PMCID: PMC3561826.
4. Looijer-van Langen MA, Dieleman LA. Prebiotics in chronic intestinal inflammation. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2009 Mar;15(3):454-62. doi: 10.1002/ibd.20737. PMID: 18831524; PMCID: PMC5148622.
5. Steed, H., et al. “Prebiotics and probiotics science and technology.” (2009): 135-161.
6. Carlson JL, Erickson JM, Lloyd BB, Slavin JL. Health Effects and Sources of Prebiotic Dietary Fiber. Curr Dev Nutr. 2018 Jan 29;2(3):nzy005. doi: 10.1093/cdn/nzy005. PMID: 30019028; PMCID: PMC6041804.
7. Naseer M, Poola S, Uraz S, Tahan V. Therapeutic Effects of Prebiotics on Constipation: A Schematic Review. Curr Clin Pharmacol. 2020;15(3):207-215. doi: 10.2174/1574884715666200212125035. PMID: 32048977.
8. Jose-Walter Huaman, Marianela Mego, Chaysavanh Manichanh, Nicolau Cañellas, Daniel Cañueto, Hegoi Segurola, Marta Jansana, Carolina Malagelada, Anna Accarino, Jelena Vulevic, George Tzortzis, Glenn Gibson, Esteban Saperas, Francisco Guarner, Fernando Azpiroz, Effects of Prebiotics vs a Diet Low in FODMAPs in Patients With Functional Gut Disorders, Gastroenterology, Volume 155, Issue 4, 2018, Pages 1004-1007, ISSN 0016-5085.
9. Ford, AC, Harris, LA, Lacy, BE et al. (2 more authors) (2018) Systematic review with meta-analysis: the efficacy of prebiotics, probiotics, synbiotics and antibiotics in irritable bowel syndrome. Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 48 (10). pp. 1044-1060. ISSN 0269-2813.
10. Łaniewski P, Ilhan ZE, Herbst-Kralovetz MM. The microbiome and gynaecological cancer development, prevention and therapy. Nat Rev Urol. 2020 Apr;17(4):232-250. doi: 10.1038/s41585-020-0286-z. Epub 2020 Feb 18. PMID: 32071434; PMCID: PMC9977514.
11. Piccioni A, Franza L, Vaccaro V, Saviano A, Zanza C, Candelli M, Covino M, Franceschi F, Ojetti V. Microbiota and Probiotics: The Role of Limosilactobacillus Reuteri in Diverticulitis. Medicina (Kaunas). 2021 Aug 5;57(8):802. doi: 10.3390/medicina57080802. PMID: 34441008; PMCID: PMC8398895.
12. Ling Z, Liu X, Chen W, Luo Y, Yuan L, Xia Y, Nelson KE, Huang S, Zhang S, Wang Y, Yuan J, Li L, Xiang C. The restoration of the vaginal microbiota after treatment for bacterial vaginosis with metronidazole or probiotics. Microb Ecol. 2013 Apr;65(3):773-80. doi: 10.1007/s00248-012-0154-3. Epub 2012 Dec 19. PMID: 23250116.
13. Jeng HS, Yan TR, Chen JY. Treating vaginitis with probiotics in non-pregnant females: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Exp Ther Med. 2020 Oct;20(4):3749-3765. doi: 10.3892/etm.2020.9090. Epub 2020 Aug 3. PMID: 32855726; PMCID: PMC7444381.
14. Selis NN, Oliveira HBM, Souza CLS, Almeida JB, Andrade YMFS, Silva LSC, Romano CC, Rezende RP, Yatsuda R, Uetanabaro APT, Marques LM. Lactobacillus plantarum Lp62 exerts probiotic effects against Gardnerella vaginalis ATCC 49154 in bacterial vaginosis. Lett Appl Microbiol. 2021 Nov;73(5):579-589. doi: 10.1111/lam.13547. Epub 2021 Aug 12. PMID: 34338346.
15. Liu HF, Yi N. A systematic review and meta-analysis on the efficacy of probiotics for bacterial vaginosis. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2022 Jan;26(1):90-98. doi: 10.26355/eurrev_202201_27752. PMID: 35049024.
