Magnesium is a nutrient that the body needs for a range of healthy body functions. Magnesium is needed for the body to maintain stable blood sugar levels, for steady muscle and nerve function, to make protein and DNA in the body, and to support healthy bones. Magnesium is found in plant foods like beans, dark leafy greens, nuts, seeds, and whole grains. “Transdermal” is a way of administering a medicine or drug through the skin.

Transdermal medications are usually administered through a patch, ointment, cream, or spray. Transdermal magnesium, therefore, is magnesium that is given to the body through a patch, ointment, cream, or spray.

There are two concerns with the claim that transdermal magnesium spray can cure medication conditions such as vaginitis, bacterial vaginosis, and chlamydia:

1) The first is that evidence is lacking that applying magnesium transdermally is even effective. The effectiveness of oral magnesium supplements to both be absorbed into and benefit the body are well documented in scientific research. Research is lacking, however, on the effectiveness of transdermal magnesium to both be absorbed into the body or to benefit the body.

Because of the lacking and inconclusive research, transdermal magnesium is not supported or recommended. This is especially the case as transdermal administration of medicines is most useful when oral administration is not a good option. When it comes to magnesium, oral supplements are well-evidenced.

2) The second is that evidence is lacking about magnesium’s impact on conditions like vaginitis, bacterial vaginosis, and chlamydia.

There are known, documented benefits of magnesium for general health and for reproductive health specifically. For instance, magnesium supplementation during pregnancy (during which magnesium levels typically drop) can help improve maternal and child health outcomes such as a reduced risk of preterm labor and vaginal hemorrhage. Magnesium supplementation can also help with issues such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

Evidence is lacking, however, that magnesium supplementation is helpful for conditions such as vaginitis, bacterial vaginosis, and chlamydia. We know that magnesium is needed to support overall body health and prevent negative health conditions. We also have some data showing that magnesium supplements can be used to help treat certain conditions like PCOS and PMS. We do not have data showing that magnesium supplementation is helpful in treating specific vaginal conditions like vaginitis.

3) The majority of people have sufficient magnesium levels, meaning they do not need to take magnesium supplements for the protective benefits of magnesium. There are cases in which it might be beneficial to take magnesium supplements due to insufficient levels or to treat a specific condition; those cases should be discussed with a care provider. If a need for magnesium supplementation has been established, the magnesium should be given orally, not through the skin.

Overall, scientific data does not support the use of transdermal magnesium to prevent health conditions or to cure them, including conditions such as vaginitis, bacterial vaginosis, and chlamydia. That being said, there is little to no known risk of using transdermal magnesium so long as it is not being used in place of oral magnesium in a case when magnesium supplementation is definitely needed.

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