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.
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.
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