Get Rid Of Unpleasant Vaginal Odor?

How to get rid of unpleasant vaginal odor! Understanding what your particular feminine odor means and how to treat this sometimes-embarrassing problem.

If you are a woman of child bearing age, then you would have some sort of vaginal odor.
The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology states that feminine odor changes throughout your normal monthly menstrual cycle, and is subject to outside situations such as the presence of bacteria, foods that you eat, or hormonal functions. The reason is simple. The vagina is prone to vaginal secretions and discharge due to a malady of factors that affect the way it smells. This, is nothing to be embarrassed about. In short, at any given time – your vagina will have a smell to it. Just like your breath or your feet, there is a certain odor associated with the vagina.
However, at times many women notice that their vagina smells differently. It may smell metallic, or musty or even give off somewhat of a ‘fishy’ smell. These different odors, are often associated with bacterial or yeast infections and occur alongside vaginal itchiness, burning, irritation, and a change in what would be considered your normal monthly menstrual discharge.

Main Causes For Unpleasant Vaginal Odor

Understanding vaginal odors symptoms and causes can help you identify whether there is a need to see a physician right away, or whether you should look for natural methods to treat at home.

A Sudden Change in Vaginal Odor

If you notice a sudden change in vaginal odor, the first thing to ascertain is whether other symptoms are present.

• Do you have more or foul smelling discharge? This normally means that you have an overgrowth of yeast or bacteria, as occurs with bacterial vaginosis and vaginal yeast infections.

• Have you just begun to take a new medication or supplement, or eaten an extremely spicy meal? These factors can cause a sudden change in vaginal secretions that will cause you to have a sudden feminine odor.

• Have you recently had unprotected sex with a new partner? If so, you could have been exposed to a sexually transmitted disease that is causing an infection.

• Have you recently changed laundry detergents that could be causing irritation?

All of these things can upset the delicate pH balance of the vagina and cause a sudden onset of odors. Additionally, the smell of your vaginal secretions will change greatly near ovulation and near menstruation every month.

If you notice a sudden change in your vaginal odor, which is accompanied with pain and discomfort – you may need to seek medical attention, especially if it does not go away in 1-2 days, but instead gets worse.

Fishy Odor Down There

Perhaps the most common vaginal odor described by women is a fishy odor. The fishy smell is in actuality due to an imbalance in the vaginal pH. Doctors at Emory University state that as healthy lactic acid bacteria is reduced in the vaginal environment, unhealthy bacteria and organisms grow readily. These bacterium have a natural smell to them that when added to vaginal discharge smells fishy. Bacterial vaginosis is the most common culprit of a fishy odor emitting from the vagina, and can be easily rectified with home remedies, supplements or by contacting your doctor.

Vaginal Odor Plus Discharge/Pain/Irritation

As stated above, when vaginal odor is accompanied with a yellow or whitish cottage cheese looking discharge, itching, burning and irritation of the vagina and the labia – chances are high that an infection is present. The smell can vary from person to person, and is normally mild compared to the irritation caused by the discharge. If there is blood in the discharge, then the infection may have spread from the vagina to the reproductive organs and medical attention should be sought.
Additionally, vaginal odor that does not go away with anti-fungal or anti-bacterial creams or home treatments can be caused by a sexually transmitted disease such as Trichomoniasis, or Chlamydia. Remember, if a sexually transmitted disease is present, your partner may not show any symptoms – but will need to be treated as well to prevent re-infection.

 Vaginal Odors After Sex;
 
According to the WebMD, many people have a problem with a foul odor in the vagina after intercourse. This is especially true if your partner ejaculates inside of you. The pH of the semen, along with the extra secretions during sex can create a cocktail of odorous proportions. In a report by LiveStrong Organization, it was determined that some women are actually ‘allergic’ to their partner’s semen, which can eventually cause bacteria to build up, yeast infections and urinary tract infections. One reason that the problem is pronounced after sex is because the natural movement of intercourse tends to push the bacteria higher into the reproductive organs. If you have this problem, you should ask your partner to ejaculate outside or use a condom.  However, many women also have a bad reaction to the latex and chemicals on condoms as well. If the odor primarily comes after sex, then simply wash the vagina with warm water and mild soap afterwards. You might also want to start taking a pro-biotic or eating yogurt on a daily basis to build up your beneficial flora.

Vaginal Odor During Pregnancy

ACOG (American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology) reports that around 9 out of every 10 women experience an unusual vaginal odor during pregnancy. The reason, is normally harmless, and caused solely by the immense amount of hormone secretions and overworking sebaceous sweat glands in the vaginal area that are stimulated into a frenzy during pregnancy.
Additionally, as your body becomes deficient in vitamins and minerals that are now transferred to your baby, the pH of your vagina can be thrown off kilter. Still, the subject should be breached with your OBGYN during routine visits. Chances are they will check for infections such as yeast infections or bacterial vaginosis, which can be treated easily during pregnancy. But more than likely, this will be yet another pregnancy side effect you will have to deal with.

How To Get Rid Of Vaginal Odor And Prevention

Remember, that every woman has a certain smell to her vagina. If you feel the smell is offensive, onsets suddenly, or warrants a trip to the doctor – the following tips can help to eliminate vaginal odor and keep it from returning.

• Eating plenty of plain yogurt is found to be effective. Make sure that this is organic, unflavored yogurt, especially the non-sugary type. Yogurt is rich in lactobacillus, which helps to restore the normal vaginal pH level, helping to prevent the condition from recurring.

• Apple cider vinegar helps restore the acidic quality of the vaginal flora and fights off the toxins that cause infection. Simply indulge in a long bath with two to three cups of this natural antibacterial agent in your bathing water to achieve quick results.

• Garlic is one of nature’s most powerful antibiotics. Inserting a clove of garlic into your vagina and retaining it for a couple of hours can alleviate the bad vaginal odor to a large extent.

• Pour half cup of vinegar and half cup of salt into a bathtub and soak several times a week.  This will help to balance the vaginal pH.

• Avoid douching. Instead, wash with warm water and mild soap. You may find a hand held shower attachment can help you to feel cleaner. Be sure to wash the labia and inner folds of the vagina as well.

• Wear cotton panties and loose fitting clothes. Tight jeans and fabrics that don’t allow your vagina to breathe can result in vaginal sweating, causing bacteria build-up, an eventually will cause an odor.

• Always wipe front to back after bowel movements to avoid spread of rectal bacteria.

• Changing pads, tampons, and pantie-liners frequently.

• Changing underwear daily.

• Avoid using scented product, harsh laundry detergents, or feminine products designed to ‘freshen’ the vagina.

• Take a pro-biotic supplement to ensure you maintain a healthy level of ‘good’ bacteria in your body.

Remember that vaginal odor to a certain degree is absolutely normal! Paying attention to your body and being aware of any sudden changes, and seeking medical attention accordingly, are your best defense against recurring feminine odor. Still, any sudden change in your feminine odor is a sign your body is trying to tell you something is wrong, and it should be heeded.