Your doctor could also help you determine if medications, sweat, hormones, hygiene , or another lifestyle factor may be causing abnormal vaginal odor. Duration of an abnormal vaginal odor depends on the cause. Once the underlying cause is completely treated, the odor should go away. Remedies for your vaginal odor will depend on the cause. Your doctor can help determine which medications or natural remedies can help treat an underlying condition. You may need to see your doctor for treatments that target a specific issue, especially an infection.
Certain lifestyle modifications can help keep the vaginal area clean and reduce your risk of odor:. But if the odor is a symptom of an underlying condition that needs to be treated, complications could arise not from the odor itself, but from whatever is causing the odor. Odor is often the result of an infection that requires antibiotics. A number of conditions can change the bacterial balance in the vaginal area, leading to unusual odor.
These include:. Planned Parenthood. Mayo Clinic. A go-to resource for medical advice, the Mayo Clinic offers comprehensive info on vaginal odor, from symptoms and causes to diagnosis and treatment. Additional reporting by Julie Marks and Brianna Majsiak. By subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Health Topics. Health Tools. Vaginal Odor. Reviewed: April 23, Medically Reviewed. Vaginal odor is any unpleasant odor that comes from the vagina.
It's normal for your vagina to have its own unique smell, but a very strong odor may signal a problem. The smell of your vagina may vary during your menstrual cycle , pregnancy , or menopause. You may also experience stronger smells after sexual intercourse or exercise. An intense odor, however, could be due to an infection that needs treatment.
Temporary vaginal odor is common and often goes away on its own. Vaginal odor is considered normal if you don't have other symptoms. Some causes of vaginal odor may include: Bacterial vaginosis BV This infection is caused by an overgrowth of bacteria in the vagina. Symptoms may include a strong, fishy odor and a thin, gray discharge. Trichomoniasis A sexually transmitted infection STI , trichomoniasis can cause vaginal odor. Other STIs, such as gonorrhea and chlamydia , typically aren't accompanied by a strong smell but may be the culprit, per the Mayo Clinic.
A forgotten or stuck tampon A very strong vaginal odor can occur if you forget to take a tampon out or if one is stuck inside you. According to the British National Health Service, it is not possible for a tampon to get lost inside you. It can however be compressed at the top of your vagina. The effect it has is much different from washing yourself in the bath or shower, which is perfectly healthy.
Doctors don't recommend douching because it can increase your risk for many health problems including STIs, and even interfere with conception. Douching removes healthy bacteria that the vagina needs to keep balanced and can actually make the problem worse in the long run. In addition, douching can promote overgrowth of harmful bacteria, which can lead to yeast infections or BV.
If you already have a vaginal infection, douching may spread the infection into your uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries, which can cause pelvic inflammatory disease , a serious infection that causes infertility in 1 in 10 women who have it, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Poor hygiene Not bathing or showering regularly can lead to inflammation of the vaginal area, which can cause vaginal odor.
Sweating The skin in the groin area is prone to sweating, which can cause vaginal odor. Diet What you eat and drink influences the smell of urine , and there's some evidence that what you eat can affect your vaginal odor.
If your vagina smells off, foods with strong odor, such as garlic, could be the cause. And does a girl really need them? The truth is that when everything's normal, no one else smells any odors from a girl's vagina. If a girl has an infection like bacterial vaginosis, she may notice a fishy smell. But even then, it's unlikely that people around her will notice it. Girls who notice an unusual smell should see a doctor just in case they have an infection. As far as periods go, if you change your pads or tampons frequently, shower or bathe daily, and wear clean clothes, no one can smell that either.
Douches, feminine sprays, deodorants, and wipes that are meant to keep a woman's vaginal area smelling fresh and clean can do more harm than good. Douching means washing out the vagina, usually with a product you buy in a store.
But it's not a good idea to douche unless a doctor tells you to. We all know that our vagina has a smell of its own. At times, however, the vagina may end up smelling fishy quite literally! This can happen due to causes such as infection, hormonal changes, or just poor hygiene. Truth be told, you are what you eat. Yes, ladies, food plays an important role in keeping your vagina healthy!
A healthy vagina smells a little funky and its smell changes too. What you need to keep in mind is that there are several all-natural foods that you can eat for a better smelling vagina smelling. Are you ready to discover all these foods? Here they are:. Pineapple is believed to sweeten the smell of vaginal secretions. Eating it may be beneficial because it is rich in vitamins C and B as well as fibre.
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