Vaginal Smells: Causes And How To Care For Healthy Vaginal

The vagina is an elastic, muscular canal with a soft, flexible lining that provides lubrication and sensation. The vagina connects the uterus to the outside world. The vulva and labia form the entrance, and the cervix of the uterus protrudes into the vagina, forming the interior end. The most common explanation for an unpleasant vaginal odor is an infection called bacterial vaginosis (BV), which produces a fishy smell. Medical personnel says the normally acidic vaginal becomes overgrown with bacteria, making it become more alkaline. A healthy vaginal smells like a lot of different things, flowers isn’t one of them. We’ve seen those scented tampons advert on social media platforms but many of them are getting vaginas all wrong.

Douching is widely acknowledged by the medical community as harmful to the natural balance of vaginal flora, this common tool that cleans the vaginal might actually cause bacterial vaginosis instead. There are suggestion to use Vicks VapoRub as a treatment for vaginal scents. The truth is, your vaginal is home to billions of bacteria. And the precise makeup of this bacteria changes on a daily, sometimes hourly basis.

Change is normal. These smell variations are likely a result of your menstrual cycle, your hygiene habits, or being dirty and untidy to your vaginal. Leaving vaginal too hairy exposes it to germs and bacteria. Considering the groin contains a collection of sweat glands, is it really a wonder that your vagina isn’t odorless?

Tangy or fermented: It’s very common for vaginas to produce a tangy or sour aroma. Some compare it to the smell of fermented foods. In fact, yogurt, sourdough bread, and even some sour beer contain the same type of good bacteria that dominate most healthy vaginas: Lactobacilli. If it smells curiously similar to that sour food you had last weekend, don’t freak out. Reasons for a tangy odor: Acidity, the pH of a healthy vagina is slightly acidic “The Lactobacilli bacteria keep the vagina acidic,” says medical expert “This protects against an overgrowth of the bad kinds of bacteria.”

Coppery like a penny: Many people report smelling a coppery, metallic vaginal odor. This is usually nothing to worry about. Rarely, it signifies a more serious problem. Reasons for a coppery odor: Blood. Blood contains iron, which has a metallic smell. The most common reason for blood is menstruation. During your period, blood and tissue shed from your uterine lining and travel through your vaginal canal.
Sex – Light bleeding after sex can be common. This is usually due to vaginal dryness or vigorous sex that has cause small cuts or scrapes. To prevent this, try using lube. A coppery smell can also be due to less common, but serious, causes of vaginal bleeding. The metallic scent shouldn’t linger too long after your period is over. If your vagina has had contact with semen, this may change the pH level and cause a metallic smell.

If you’re experiencing bleeding unrelated to your period or the metallic smell continues with itching and discharge, it’s best to see a doctor.

Sweet like molasses: When we say sweet we don’t mean freshly baked cookies sweet. We mean robust and earthy. But don’t fret, a sweetish tinge is no cause for concern. Reasons for a sweet odor: Bacteria, your vaginal pH is an ever-changing bacterial ecosystem. And sometimes this means you might smell a little sweet.

Chemical like a newly cleaned bathroom: An odor similar to bleach or ammonia could be a couple different things. Sometimes, this odor is reason to see a doctor. Reason for a chemical odor: Urine contains a by product of ammonia called urea. A build up of urine in your underwear or around your vulva could put off a chemical smell. Keep in mind, urine smelling strongly of ammonia is a sign of dehydration.
Bacterial vaginosis: It’s also possible a chemical-like smell is a sign of bacterial Vaginosis: “A chemical smell often falls under the category of fishy, bacterial vaginosis is a very common infection. Symptoms include:a foul or fishy odor, thin gray, white or green discharge, vaginal itching, burning during urination.

Skunky like a smoked herbal, earthy scent: No, it’s not just you. Many people find a similarity between body odor and marijuana. Sadly, there isn’t a good scientific answer for this, although Vice did take a stab at it. But thanks to the sweat glands down there, at least we do know why vaginas and body odor can smell so similar. Reason for skunky odor are Emotional stress. Your body contains two types of sweat glands, apocrine and eccrine. The eccrine glands produce sweat to cool your body down and the apocrine glands respond to your emotions. These apocrine glands populate your armpits and, you guessed it, your groin. When you are stressed or anxious, the apocrine glands produce a milky fluid. On its own this fluid is odorless. But when this fluid contacts the abundance of vaginal bacteria on your vulva, it can produce a pungent aroma.

Fishy or fillet, you’ve probably heard an abnormal vaginal odor described as fishy. In fact, fresh fish shouldn’t smell like much at all. Decomposing fish is the more apt comparison. Why? Trimethylamine, which is the chemical compound responsible for both the distinct aroma of rotting fish and some abnormal vaginal odors. Reasons for a dead fish odor: Bacterial vaginosis. “You get bacterial vaginosis when there’s an overgrowth of anaerobic bacteria in the vagina,” says medical expert. “And these anaerobic organisms are odorous.”Trichomoniasis. Trichomoniasis is the most common curable sexually transmitted infection and easily treatable with a course of antibiotics. It’s known for its pungent fishy odor. “The trichomoniasis infection can be quite smelly,” “It’s a more pronounced fishy odor than bacterial vaginosis.” In rare cases, a fishy smell is indication of a more serious condition.

Rotten like a decaying organism: A rotten odor that makes your nose wince and your face contort is definitely not the norm. If the smell is putrid, like a dead organism, it may not be your vagina but something in your vagina. Reason for a rotten odor: A forgotten tampon. Inadvertently letting a tampon go days, even weeks, inside a vagina is much more common than you’d think. “I can’t tell you how many tampons I’ve taken out of patients. “This happens to lots and lots of people. It isn’t something you need to be embarrassed about. ”Fortunately, it’s perfectly safe to remove a forgotten tampon on your own.

When you should see a doctor: In general, abnormal odors should be easy to spot. They’re the ones that make your face scrunch up. Rotting fish, dead organism, decay — these are all red flag odors. If there’s a serious cause, often other symptoms will appear alongside the smell. See your doctor if an odor is accompanied with: itching or burning, pain, pain during sex, thick, cottage cheese discharge, vaginal bleeding unrelated to your period. Smells change, and that’s subtle shifts in your vaginal fragrance is normal. Remember, the way your vagina smells has everything to do with its personal health. And there are lots of things that affect your personal health.

Take penile vaginal sex, for instance. Semen has a relatively high pH, so it’s super normal to notice a different kind of smell after you’ve had penile vaginal sex. Don’t worry though, this change is only temporary. Menopause also has an effect on vaginal pH. “Due to a lack of estrogen, women in menopause end up with less vaginal mucosa,” “Vaginal mucosa lines the vaginal and nurtures the Lactobacilli bacteria. So, without these cells you can end up with a much higher pH.”

Medical Advice: Don’t be afraid to really get to know your vagina, in all its fragrant glory. The better you understand the smells your vagina produces day to day, the more prepared you’ll be when something goes amiss. After all, vaginas do so many wonderful things for us. It’s about time we start understanding what they’re really all about. Consult your medical doctor if strange smells occur and use antibiotics when necessary. Females should not use underwear for days, it causes vaginal odor. Try shave pubic hair especially your vaginal, take bath twice daily during menstruation period, use recommended sanitary pad and change it at interval.