How Her Balance Was Born: The Journey to a Probiotic Made for Black Women

When it comes to women’s health, there’s one thing we can all agree on: Black women deserve products that are made with us in mind. Yet too often, that hasn’t been the case, especially when it comes to vaginal health.

That’s what sparked the creation of Her Balance, Black Girl Vitamins’ first probiotic, specifically designed for the vaginal health of Black women. But this wasn’t just a quick idea we put on the market. It was a years-long process rooted in science, cultural understanding, and honest community conversations.

Here’s the story of how Her Balance came to life, from research and real data to the stories and voices of over 3,000 Black women who inspired it.

Part One: The Research

Before considering packaging or flavors, we began with the facts.

Our team worked closely with scientists and medical experts to understand how vaginal health differs between women of different ethnic backgrounds. What we found was eye-opening, even for those who have worked in women’s wellness for years.

A groundbreaking 2014 study published by the National Institute of Health revealed that there are significant differences in the vaginal microbiome (the bacteria that naturally live in and protect the vagina) between ethnic groups—even among women with no symptoms or health issues.

Here’s what the study found:

Group I, dominated by Lactobacillus crispatus, a beneficial bacteria that helps maintain vaginal balance and prevent infection, was most common among women of European ancestry.

Group IV, made up of anaerobic bacteria that are less protective and more prone to imbalance, was most common among African American women.

This means that even when perfectly healthy, Black women’s vaginal microbiomes are naturally different, which can make maintaining balance more challenging.

But that’s not where it ends. The study also pointed out that Black women are disproportionately impacted by healthcare barriers like racial bias in medical treatment, lack of culturally sensitive care, and limited access to specialists.

Most feminine health products on the market have been designed around research that didn’t include us. So, we asked ourselves the hard question:

“If our microbiome is different, why aren’t our products?”

That question became the foundation of Her Balance, a probiotic designed specifically to support vaginal balance, pH, and comfort for Black women.

Part Two: The Focus Group

Once the science provided the facts, we wanted to hear directly from the women who experience these challenges every day.

In June 2025, we hosted an intimate focus group at the Black Girl Vitamins headquarters in Chicago with around 40 Black women ranging in age, background, and lifestyle.

What started as a casual conversation turned into one of the most powerful, vulnerable discussions we’ve ever had.

The ladies shared everything from their earliest memories of learning (or not learning) about vaginal health, to the pressure to keep quiet about odor, infections, and discomfort. Others spoke about how discussing pH balance, yeast infections, or BV still feels “taboo,” even among close friends.

We also discussed relationships, sexual health, and the importance of self-care that goes beyond bubble baths.

However, the biggest takeaway was that every single woman in the room expressed a desire for a probiotic specifically designed for Black women. Not just repackaged with a new label, but formulated based on scientific principles that incorporate our microbiome data.

Many said having a product like that would make them feel seen, supported, and safe.

Part Three: The Vaginal Health Survey

After the focus group, we wanted to hear from more women to ensure our insights reflected the broader community. We conducted a Vaginal Health Survey with over 3,300 Black women participating nationwide via email.

Here’s a peek into what we found:

• 80% of women believe Black women have a different vaginal pH than other groups.

• 50% said vaginal health was not discussed growing up, at home or in school.

• 80% said they felt more comfortable talking to a doctor about vaginal health than to their friends or family.

Those statistics confirmed that more education is needed within our community and safe spaces are missing. Our survey also revealed that women are tired of products that only address symptoms such as odor or discharge, without addressing the root causes of imbalance.

Part Four: The Vaginal Health Webinar

In August 2025, we hosted our first-ever Vaginal Health Webinar featuring Dr. Standifer, a BGV medical advisor and practicing physician, alongside Jhalesa Seymour, founder of the feminine wellness brand Salt.xo.

Over 1,000 women tuned in live to learn, laugh, and ask questions about topics that are often overlooked.

Together, they broke down common myths about vaginal health and discussed the importance of maintaining a healthy vaginal microbiome, especially for Black women who may experience more frequent pH changes or infections.

The chat was full of relief, gratitude, and “me too” moments as women realized they weren’t alone.

Filling the Gap in Vaginal Health

Just like Black women have unique hair textures, skin tones, and nutritional needs, research shows that we also have unique microbiome patterns. Her Balance is our way of honoring that.

Formulated with targeted probiotic strains and ingredients selected based on scientific research, Her Balance works to:

• Support a balanced vaginal microbiome

• Promote healthy pH levels

• Help reduce discomfort and odor

• Encourage long-term vaginal wellness

For too long, the wellness industry has failed to acknowledge how cultural and biological factors intersect for Black women. Her Balance is our way of saying, “We see you, we hear you, and your health matters.”

The Bigger Picture

The journey to Her Balance began with scientific data, grew through authentic conversations, and came to life because thousands of Black women shared their stories, questions, and hopes for a better future.

So whether you’re dealing with recurring infections, curious about probiotics, or simply want to maintain your vaginal health, know this: you deserve a product made with you in mind, from start to finish.

Citation:

Fettweis JM, Brooks JP, Serrano MG, Sheth NU, Girerd PH, Edwards DJ, Strauss JF, The Vaginal Microbiome Consortium, Jefferson KK, Buck GA. Differences in vaginal microbiome in African American women versus women of European ancestry. Microbiology (Reading). 2014 Oct;160(Pt 10):2272-2282. doi: 10.1099/mic.0.081034-0. Epub 2014 Jul 29. PMID: 25073854; PMCID: PMC4178329.