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WHAT A HEALTHY VAGINA SHOULD TASTE LIKE. It can feel a little taboo to talk about taste when it comes to our genitals, but just as with smell, taste can give us important clues about vaginal health. A healthy vagina has a flavour that can also be described as slightly acidic, much like kefir.
Jan 20, 2017 · That said, if your partner’s "musty" smell is their signature scent, you may find that you get used to the unique smell and taste with time or opportunity. You may even begin to associate that particular aroma with your partner’s pleasure (and yours).
- Overview
- 1. Food
- 2. Sweat
- 3. Poor hygiene
- 4. Forgotten tampon
- 5. Bacterial vaginosis
- 6. Trichomoniasis
- 7. Rectovaginal fistula
- General tips to help remove vaginal odor
- When to see your doctor
An onion-like vaginal odor isn’t normal and may be a sign of infection. However, most causes can be treated with lifestyle changes and antibiotics.
A healthy vagina has no singular smell. Every woman has her own unique scent, and the odor can change throughout the month. That said, certain things can cause it to smell in a way that may indicate an underlying problem.
As you might expect, eating a lot of onion or garlic can cause your vaginal discharge and urine to take on a strong onion or garlic scent.
Asparagus can also cause your urine to take on a strong scent, which could be mistaken for vaginal odor. Curry and heavily spiced foods can lead to vaginal discharge or sweat with a distinct smell too.
Sweat is much more than fluid escaping your body when you’re hot. Sweat is filled with skin cells and bacteria, and it can escape from almost every pore in your body.
Although sweat helps cool your body, it can also stink. When sweat mingles with fluids in and around your vagina, your natural scent may change. The odor may grow stronger if you’re sweating a lot, like during warm months or after exercise.
Your vagina is designed to take care of itself by keeping a healthy balance of bacteria. These bacteria help prevent infections and irritation.
If you don’t wash or change your underwear daily, you will experience odor problems. Poor hygiene of the labia may also lead to irritation. Bacteria may grow in an unbalanced way and lead to an infection of the vagina too.
It’s not uncommon to forget a tampon for a few extra hours, but if you forgot one for a few extra days, you may smell the result. An old tampon can begin to smell of rotting onions in a few days.
Some people also suggest it smells like rotting meat. Either way, an old tampon certainly gives off a foul odor for most women.
Typically, a vagina does a good job balancing healthy, normal bacteria with bad bacteria. From time to time, however, an imbalance can occur, and the bad bacteria may grow and upset the pH balance. When this occurs, it’s known as bacterial vaginosis (BV).
BV is very common. It’s most common during the reproductive years, but it can affect woman of any age.
Not all women experience symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they may include:
•a thick discharge that’s white or gray
•a strong fishy smell, especially after sex or a shower
•itching
Trichomoniasis (or “trich” for short) is an infection caused by a single-cell animal called a Trichomonas vaginalis. These microscopic organisms are transferred during sexual encounters, so trich is considered a sexually transmitted infection (STI).
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 3.7 million Americans are affected by trich. Women are more likely to be diagnosed with trich than men, and older women are more at risk than younger women.
Only about 30 percent of people with this infection develop symptoms. In addition to a strong vaginal odor, these may include:
•discomfort during urination
•unusual vaginal discharge
•itching
A rectovaginal fistula is an abnormal opening between your rectum and your vagina. This occurs when the lower portion of your large intestine leaks into your vagina.
Bowel contents can leak through this fistula, and it may cause gas or stool to leave through your vagina. This can cause unusual odors, which you may mistake as vaginal odor.
Rectovaginal fistulas aren’t common. They’re often the result of an injury, such as during childbirth. Crohn’s disease and inflammatory bowel disease are also common causes.
The symptoms of a rectovaginal fistula depend on where the opening is and how large it is. For example, you may notice gas, stool, or pus coming from your vagina instead of your rectum. You may just smell an unusual odor if the opening is small.
You can still take steps to reduce the unwanted smell while you wait for a diagnosis. You should:
1. Wash your labia and groin regularly with soap and warm water. Be sure to thoroughly rinse the soap out of the opening of the vagina so you don’t further upset your natural pH balance.
2. Wear breathable fabrics, especially underwear. Cotton is the best choice. Avoid silk, satin, and polyester.
3. Don’t wear tight-fitting pants regularly. Your vagina naturally releases moisture all the time. If the moisture can’t escape because of clothes, the bacteria balance may be upset. This can lead to odor and irritation.
If your efforts to eliminate an unusual vaginal odor don’t seem to work, it may be time to see your doctor. If you don’t already have an OB-GYN, you can browse doctors in your area through the Healthline FindCare tool.
Likewise, if you begin to notice an unusual discharge or start running a fever, it’s time to make an appointment. While there are some steps you can take at home to eliminate odor, some odors may be the result of a serious issue that needs medical attention.
Oct 25, 2022 · Vaginal Odor. All vaginas — including healthy ones — have a mild odor. Your vaginal scent can change in response to sex, menstruation, pregnancy, etc. However, a strong, unpleasant vaginal odor with a discharge may be a sign of a health problem like vaginitis.
Nov 30, 2022 · A funky, fishy odor could be a sign of a vaginal infection like bacterial vaginosis, a fairly common infection caused by an upset pH balance in your vagina.
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Aug 14, 2023 · Lactobacilli. The presence of lactobacilli can cause the vagina to smell “tangy” or like fermented cheese, Ikyaator says. This is due to the presence of lactobacilli, which is a good bacteria...
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