Is There a Vaccine for Recurring UTIs?What the MV140 Trial Found
Bladder & Pelvic FloorArticleMV140 is a preparation of inactivated bacteria taken under the tongue to prevent repeat bladder infections. In a trial of 240 women with recurring UTIs, 56 to 58% stayed infection-free for 9 months after treatment, compared with 25% on placebo. The maker funded the trial. A Canadian study found similar results. Here is what the evidence shows and what to ask.
Recurring UTIs, usually defined as three or more in a year or two or more in six months, affect about 5 to 10% of women.1 A bacterial “vaccine” called MV140 has been tested as a non-antibiotic option.
What MV140 is
MV140 is a preparation of whole, inactivated bacteria taken under the tongue, for 3 or 6 months in the main trial.1
The main trial
A double-blind trial in Spain and the UK randomly assigned 240 women aged 18 to 75 with recurring UTIs to MV140 for 3 months, MV140 for 6 months, or a placebo.1 Infections were then counted for 9 months.1
| Group | Typical number of UTIs | Stayed UTI-free |
|---|---|---|
| Placebo | 31 | 25%1 |
| MV140, 3 months | 01 | 56%1 |
| MV140, 6 months | 01 | 58%1 |
Side effects weren’t serious enough to limit treatment.1 The authors called it a trial of modest size and duration, and it was funded by the makers.1
A Canadian clinic study
A study of 67 women averaging 6.8 UTIs a year gave everyone MV140 for 3 months:2
- 41% had no UTI in the next 9 months.2
- Infections fell by about 75% compared with the year before.2
- Side effects that may have been from the vaccine were mild and cleared within three months.2
There was no placebo group, the vaccine was supplied free by the maker, and the lead author advises the company.2
What to ask
- Is it available where I live?
- Is my UTI pattern confirmed by urine cultures?
- What else fits me? See vaginal estrogen after menopause, D-mannose, drinking more water and UTIs after sex.
Try: “I’ve had five UTIs this year and I’m tired of antibiotics. Could MV140 or another non-antibiotic option work for me?”
Laugh, Sneeze, Jump covers working with a clinician in Chapter 3, “Not a Doctor in the House,” in a section called “How to Use This Book With a Professional.” Its Three-Day Read, a short bladder diary, gives you times, urges and symptoms on paper to bring along. See the book.
This article is for general educational purposes only and is not medical advice. It isn't a substitute for diagnosis or treatment from a qualified healthcare professional who knows your health history. Get prompt care for UTI symptoms with fever, chills, back or side pain, nausea or vomiting, or blood in your urine, and if you're pregnant. MV140 isn't available everywhere; ask your clinician what options exist where you live. Girl Playbook does not endorse any specific product, test, or provider.
Girl Playbook sells this book. It provides education and worksheets, not individualized medical care.
Sources
The research behind this article, in the order it’s cited. How we source our articles.
- NEJM Evidence (abstract via PubMed), 2022Sublingual MV140 for Prevention of Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections (opens in a new tab)abcdefghijkl
- Canadian Urological Association Journal (via PubMed Central), 2024MV140 sublingual vaccine reduces recurrent urinary tract infection in women Results from the first North American clinical experience study (opens in a new tab)abcde
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