Does drinking a mixture of apple cider vinegar and warm water cause healthy bacteria to spread in the vagina? No, that's not true: There is no evidence to prove the diluted acidic mix works, according to health care experts and a peer-reviewed study.
The claim originated in a video (archived here) on TikTok on April 1, 2023, with the caption (translated from Serbian to English by Lead Stories staff) "Secret ingredient for vaginal health." It opened:
Because the vagina blooms when it is in an acidic environment, using acid in food intake can help bacteria which are maintaining the immune system to spread. One tablespoon of domestic apple cider vinegar in a glass of warm water, once or twice a day. *If you have interstitial cystitis, stomach ulcers or frequent urinations you should not drink this. Will help good vaginal bacteria from the Lactobacillus genus to multiply.
This is what the post looked like on TikTok at the time of writing:
(Source: TikTok screenshot taken on Thu Oct 26 20:13:43 2023 UTC)
On May 31, 2023, the Frontiers in Reproductive Health journal published a review of treatments and preventions for bacterial vaginosis, a condition that causes unusual vaginal discharge when natural bacteria levels are out of balance. The article looked at the range of "complementary and alternative options for the management and prevention of bacterial vaginosis."
The authors of the review concluded:
Oral consumption of apple cider vinegar would likely not have a direct effect on the vagina but may influence gut microbiota.
The review says there have been "no in vivo studies" for the use of apple cider vinegar as a treatment for bacterial vaginosis. In vivo studies mean experiments carried out in living beings, compared to in vitro studies, which means investigations carried out outside a living organism, such as in a test tube.
(Source: Frontiers in Reproductive Health screenshot taken on Thu Oct 26 20:40:21 2023 UTC)#
Dr. Caroline Mitchell, director of vulvovaginal disorders at Massachusetts General Hospital wrote:
Other people make a drink with a tablespoon of vinegar in a glass of water, which is likely to be safe, if not very tasty. However, there have not been any clinical trials that examined the effectiveness of vinegar as a treatment for BV [bacterial vaginosis]. Never douche with vinegar.
Meanwhile, in an article questioning whether probiotics should be used in vaginas, she was quoted in Harvard Medical School's Health Blog:
When it comes to recurrent bacterial vaginosis, the thinking is that introducing more of the helpful lactobacilli might protect against that overgrowth of harmful organisms, and consequently reduce recurrent infections. However, proof is lacking. ... If that theory is shown to be true, a probiotic could be beneficial, but no one is sure. And it's not at all clear that taking a probiotic orally will help the vagina.
According to Medical News Today while some women say apple cider vinegar helps with bacterial vaginosis, it should not replace evidence-based treatments such as antibiotics:
Some people also claim that apple cider vinegar can assist in treating BV. However, it is important to note that these claims are purely anecdotal, and there is no evidence to prove them. Home treatments may benefit some people but should not take the place of evidence-based treatment plans. A person wishing to use home remedies should speak with a doctor before doing so.
