Vagina Odor: What Can I Do For Feminine Odor?

Dr. Dunn A. (M.B.B.S) - Written or Reviewed on January 31st, 2017 in Women Health, Women Problems

Last updated on July 28th, 2018 at 04:45 am

Do you have a vagina odor down there and you’re worried your smelly vagina may be due to an infection?

Vaginal odor in women is not always due to an infection. It may be due to what you eat, stress or your personal hygiene.

However, vaginal infections may change your vagina odor. Common infections that cause smelly vagina are bacterial vaginosis, chlamydia and trichomonas infections

This guide will explain the causes and what you can do for feminine odor.

Is it normal for vagina to have odor?

Its difficult to say the normal vagina scent you should have. This is because vaginal odor can change with your daily activities and personal lifestyle. However, there are abnormal vaginal odor that means there is a problem. If your vagina smells rotten or discharge is smelling like fish then its an abnormal smell.

Women may sometimes have a different vaginal odor after intercourse, after eating some types of food, a stressful day, excessive sweating, type of lubricant used during intercourse or if you have an infection down there.

Vaginal odor vary from woman to women and it due to your hygiene levels, use of external vagina sprays or if you always use a tight synthetic underwear.

The pH of your vagina can affect how it smells. Normal vagina pH is between 3.5 and 4.5. This acidic environment in the vagina makes it difficult for women to have infections.

In addition, it is normal if you have a sour smelling discharge down there without vagina itching or burning or increased pain during sexual intercourse. Body hormones fluctuations during your menstrual cycle can affect your vaginal odor.

What causes vaginal odor in women

These are some of the reasons you may have an odor down there:

Stress

If you notice an unpleasant vaginal odor after a stressful day, then you may not have to worry just yet. During a stressful day, the apocrine glands increases sweat production. Sweat when mixed with your discharge can cause an unpleasant vagina odor.

This usually resolves if you improve vagina hygiene, take your bath regularly, reduces stress level and exercise regularly.

What you eat

Vaginal odor and taste is dependent on the type of food you eat. Women that take coffee, garlic, onions, alcohol and plenty of meat might have slight change in their vaginal odors. Provided there is no signs of inflammation like pain in your vagina during intercourse or abnormal vaginal discharge, then its okay. Changing your diet will improve your vagina odor.

Bacterial vaginosis

Did you notice your vagina smells like fish odor? Do you feel pain in your lower abdomen? Did you use a douche to wash your vagina? Then its possible you bad vaginal odor is due to bacterial vaginosis.

Bacterial vaginosis, commonly called BV, can make your vagina smell offensively.

What causes bacterial vaginosis?

Normal vaginal pH when altered by use of soap, detergent or vaginal douching can cause BV infections. This is due to disturbance of normal vaginal flora.

A normal vagina have good bacteria (Also called lactobacillus), the bad bacteria (These are organisms that can cause infection), fungi and cervical mucus.

The lactobacillus, which is a protective bacteria, ensures that the pH of your vagina is acidic. This prevent growth of the bad bacteria thereby preventing vaginal infections naturally.

What are the risk factor that may predispose you to BV?

Use of soap to wash inside your vagina
Use of detergent or vaginal sprays inside your vagina
Vaginal douching (Washing your vagina with high flow water)

Any use of soap, detergents or douching destroys lactobacillus thereby allowing bad bacteria to cause an infection. Bacteria vaginosis bad bacteria are Gardnerella vaginalis and mycoplasma hominis.

Symptoms of bacterial vaginosis infections are

Fishy smelling discharge
Foul smelling vaginal discharge
Vagina pain and itching sometimes

Trichomonas infection

This is a sexually transmitted infection that can affect both males and females. Most women may not show trichomonas infection symptoms.

Tichomonas infection, also called trich, can cause abnormal vaginal odor in women.

Some of the symptoms you may experience are

Foul smelling vaginal discharge
Vagina pain during sexual intercourse
Vaginal itching
Discomfort during urination
Low abdomen pain

What to do If i have vaginal odor and these symptoms?

Inform your doctor ASAP to get tested and treated. Reinfection will occur if your partner is not treated too. Are you pregnant with symptoms of trichomoniasis? Then you should inform your doctor ASAP to prevent preterm delivery, miscarriage and premature babies

Gonorrhea infection

Gonorrhea, which is sexually transmitted, can cause women to have abnormal vaginal odor. It is caused by Neisseria gonorrhea with these symptoms:

Yellow mucus discharge
Smelling vagina
Vagina itching and burning
Vulva pain
Painful intercourse or discomfort
Pain while urinating
Sometimes women may experience pus-like discharge from their vagina

What to do if i have gonorrhea symptoms?

Inform your doctor if you have vagina odor with these symptoms. If you have had intercourse before then its likely an STD. Gonorrhea in women can be cured after treatment with antibiotics.

Vagina fistula

An abnormal connection between the vagina and the rectum is a recto-vaginal fistula. This connection can allow feaces to enter your vagina resulting to bad vaginal odor.

Symptoms of a vagina fistula are

Persistent or recurrent infection
Vaginal burning and irritation of perineal areas
Painful intercourse
Feaces coming out of your vagina
Passing gas from your vagina

If you experience these symptoms then you should let your doctor know.

Other causes of vaginal odor are

Poor vaginal hygiene

Forgotten tampon during periods

Cervical cancer

Vulva or vaginal cancer

What can i do for feminine odor

If you have a feminine odor or bad vaginal odor, then you should inform you doctor. However, these are some ways you can get rid of your vaginal smell at home.

Improve vaginal hygiene

Try to clean you vagina with water and avoid use of soap inside your vagina. Take your bath regularly and try avoid use of vaginal sprays inside your vagina

Stop synthetic underwear

Tight synthetic underwater will make you vagina moist making infection and smell possible. Also, sweat from tight underwear can change vaginal odor.

Use cotton underwear

Tight underwear prevent air flow into your vaginal area resulting to abnormal vagina odor. This can be prevented by using cotton underwear.

Change your underwear every 12 hours

You don’t want vaginal discharge on your underwear for too long. Proper hygiene and regular change of panties can prevent infection and smell.

Stop vaginal douching

Vaginal douching can cause women to have abnormal smell from their vagina due to bacterial vaginosis infection. Vaginal discharge is a natural way the body keeps the vagina clean.

Reduce your stress level

Improving stress or having regular exercise may help your vaginal odor. You should inform your doctor if your vagina continues to smell.

Try proven products (Home treatment)

Regularly wash your vagina before and after intercourse

The type of lubricant used during intercourse or semen from man can cause your vagina to smell. You should regularly wash your vaginal before and after intercourse to prevent bad vaginal odor or infection.

FAQs about feminine odor

These are some frequently asked questions about vaginal odor that you may be interested in. Let us know below if you have more questions

How do i get rid of feminine odor and discharge

Wash your vagina before and after intercourse
Change your underwear every 12 hours
Don’t use soap or detergent inside your vagina
Stop vaginal douching
Improve your stress level
Regular exercise
Don’t take antibiotic without doctors prescription

Feminine odor and sweating? Is it possible?

Yes. If you have an abnormal feminine odor following a stressful day, then improving your health and reducing stress can help.

Sweat, produced by the apocrine gland, when mixed with your vaginal white discharge can change your vagina odor with a bad smell. You should inform your doctor if this odor continues after reducing stress and improving vaginal hygiene.

Now its your turn. Do you have an abnormal vaginal odor? Let us know.