How to Get Rid of Vaginal Odor
Vaginal odor is a smell from your vagina. It could be the vaginal odor produced by a healthy vaginal discharge or the smell of an infection.
Your vaginal odor can change throughout your menstrual cycle.
The vagina is supposed to smell like nothing. The vagina has some scent like other parts of the body.
And that scent? Isn’t that of dandelions, daffodils, or daisies!
“A vagina isn’t supposed to smell like flowers, no matter what our culture likes to tell us,” says sex educator Searah Deysach, owner of Early to Bed, a pleasure-product company in Chicago that ships worldwide.
The scent of your vagina will vary depending on a number of factors.
Common vaginal scents include coppery, musky, meaty, or fleshy, explains Felice Gersh, MD, author of “PCOS SOS: A Gynecologist’s Lifeline To Naturally Restore Your Rhythms, Hormones, and Happiness.” (Though sex may alter the scent for a few hours, especially if there was an exchange of bodily fluids).
“The vaginal tissue’s natural odor is caused by the secretions from it. This is normal and expected. Sometimes that smell can seem stronger than usual.”
There are some possible causes of vaginal odor.
- sweating
- Poor hygiene.
- The vaginosis is caused by the bacterium.
- There is a disease called trichomoniasis.
- forgetting to take a suck out
- Douching.
- diet
- The hormones change during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause.
More serious medical problems can cause vaginal odor in rare cases.
- There is a rectovaginal fistula.
- There is a cancer called cervical cancer.
- vaginal cancer
If your vagina smells a little off, and that scent is NOT accompanied by other symptoms, you may be able to relieve your symptoms on your own.
1. Shower or bathe regularly
The smell of a shower could be a sign that you need it.
Gersh says that the area can accumulate sweat, dead skin, and dirt. Those things can affect the smell of your vagina, just as they can affect the smell of your pits.
“The scent that you don’t like can accumulate if you don’t maintain a regular hygiene practice.”
“If you don’t have time to shower, you can wash your pubic mound and lips with a warm washcloth.”
She says that using your finger to warm the water around the vulvar is adequate.
loofahs are not a good substitute for washcloths. There is a chance that loofahs can cause small tears to the delicate genital skin.
2. Stop washing inside your vagina
To be clear: while you can (and should!) wash the outside of your vagina (aka the vulva), you should not start going in your hole with water, washcloth, or soap.
“Gersh says that a vagina is a self-cleaning machine. The vaginal canal has a natural makeup ofbacteria that doesn’t need help from you to operate.”
Washing inside the vaginal canal isn’t just unnecessary, it’s downright dangerous. Washing inside the vaginal canal — especially with fragrant soaps — can upset your vagina’s natural bacterial makeup and pH.
And when your vagina’s natural bacterial makeup gets disrupted? You put yourself at risk of developing infections like bacterial vaginosis (BV) which (negatively) impact your vaginal odor.
3. Check for recent product swaps
Did you change your detergent recently? Start using a different body wash. Do you want to switch up your toilet paper brand? Gersh says that all of these things can affect your vagina.
She says to take some time to think about what has changed in your routine. How tight your clothes are, what soaps you have been using, and how underwear you have been wearing are all possibilities.
Switching up your sexual lubricants, sex toy cleaner, and type of condom (or other barrier methods) could also be the culprit.
4. Stay hydrated
We are not talking about booze. The good fashion clear stuff is water.
It is good for your body to drink water. Deysach says it can help your vagina by encouraging healthy sweating and fluid release. The more you know.
5. Eat a balanced diet
As a general rule, a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins, will elicit a softer scent compared to greasy, fast foods.
Gersh says a balanced diet makes for a healthy body and includes your vagina.
Deysach warns that some strong-smelling foods like asparagus, garlic, and onions can make you smell stronger.
If you have been eating a lot of asparagus, garlic, and onions recently, you could return your vagina to its natural scent by simply cutting out those foods.
Gersh says there are no prescription drugs to treat vaginal odor. Read that again!
However, an unusual vaginal odor is a by-product of vaginal bacterial disruption, infection, or hormonal disruption, she says, all of which can be treated with medication.
For example, a bacterial sexually transmitted infection like gonorrhea, chlamydia, and There is a disease called trichomoniasis. — all of which can impact vaginal scent — can all be cleared up with a prescription antibiotic, she says.
Antibiotics can also be prescribed for other kinds of infections, such as BV, urinary tract infections (UTIs), and yeast infections.
She says that you can prescribe hormone replacement medications for people with menopause who are experiencing changes and odors.
The headline should have a quotation in it.
There are a number of online articles and forums that discuss at- home and do-it-yourself rejuvenations, but the truth is these should not be considered.
Including the below.
Douches and scrubs
“Remember when we told you not to wash your vagina? Douches and scrubs are marketed as internal washes, so that’s why they’re avoided.”
These might claim to help eliminate odor-causing “bad” bacteria, but they also eliminate the “good” infection-fighting bacteria!
Gersh says that washing the vagina on the inside can throw the ratio out of whack. The result? It was a strong odor!
Foods
If you want to show the record that you should not be putting garlic gloves, cottage cheese, or yogurt inside your vaginal canal, you should do it.
“Gersh says that putting food inside your vaginal canal is a bad idea. The food won’t do anything but harm your vaginal microbiome.”
Fragrant ‘feminine hygiene’ products
There are a number of perfumed tampons, pads, and toilet papers on the market. Avoid these.
The vagina is a delicate system that will be negatively impacted by fragrant products.
Gersh says it is always best to talk with a healthcare professional if you have any concerns.
She says talking with a healthcare professional is important.
- You are having sex with a new partner.
- You are experiencing any additional symptoms, such as burning, pain, or funky discharge.
- You are hoping to become pregnant.
A clinician will be able to help if there is no underlying cause.
Deysach can help you understand whether recent medications, hydration levels, or lifestyle habits are causing the smell and advise on any next steps.
These tips can help if you just eliminated the scent or are looking for ways to prevent future bad vibes.
Take inventory of your usual scent
“You have to know what your scent is before you can tell if it’s off. If you don’t already notice the smell of your vagina, start doing so!”
“Gersh says that the most common sign of a change in smell is a vagina. A change in scent can’t be explained by where you are in your cycle”
When something is off, you can identify it by the range of the scent of your vagina.
Choose cotton
It is time to swap your silk and satin skivvies for cotton ones.
Cotton is more absorbent than other materials and it does a great job of removing sweat and fluids from your body.
Gersh says that other materials can trap excess water and cause infections.
“Excess moisture can promote an overgrowth of yeast, which can change the natural bacterial makeup and ultimately disrupt your natural scent,” she says. Pass.
Cut out tight clothes
Gersh says that tight clothing can trap the water in the groin area. There are stinky, irritating side effects of the moist environment.
Good vaginal health depends on the amount of oxygen between your legs.
She recommends staying away from skin-tight leggings and jeans if you notice a change in odor.
What causes vaginal odor?
The vagina is going to have a smell. The natural odor can be affected by factors like diet and menstrual cycle.
Is it unusual vaginal odor? Gersh says there are three main causes.
- The vaginal canal has changed in the past.
- Changes in hormones.
- The underlying infection is not treated.
What is a ‘bad’ vaginal smell?
If you start to smell a rotten smell between your legs, you should get checked out by a doctor. The scent is a sign of an illness.
What do yeast infections and BV smell like?
They smell different.
The vagina will smell like a loaf of sourdough if a yeast infection is present. The other way around, it causes a stinky smell.
Can sex cause vaginal odor?
Semen and ejaculate have a different pH compared to the vaginal canal, so P-in-V intercourse can cause a disruption in the pH.
Likewise, most lubricants, coated condoms, and other barriers have chemicals that can be irritating, leading to a scent change.
How long does vaginal odor take to go away?
“It depends on the cause. It shouldn’t take more than 2 to 3 days to clear up after you find the cause.”
How do I get rid of the odor down there?
You can not completely remove the odor from your vagina. It is supposed to have a scent.
If your vaginal odor seems strong, you may be able to reduce it.
- Good hygiene.
- A good diet.
- Staying hydrated.
- If you see any changes in your routine or products, please let me know.
Is it normal for the vagina to have a smell?
“Yes. The vagina’s natural odor is meant to be a slight one. Normal vaginal smells include coppery, musky, and meaty.”
A change in vaginal odor can be a sign of a bigger problem, one that you may not be able to treat on your own. It is best to see a doctor early in the process to prevent your symptoms from getting worse.
Gabrielle Kassel is a New York-based sex and wellness writer and CrossFit Level 1 Trainer. She’s become a morning person, tested over 200 vibrators, and eaten, drunk, and brushed with charcoal — all in the name of journalism. In her free time, she can be found reading self-help books and romance novels, bench-pressing, or pole dancing. Follow her on Instagram.
