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Around your period, there may be a slightly metallic odour because the blood contains iron. A healthy vagina has a natural, slightly acidic odour. Hormonal changes, such as pregnancy or menopause, can also change the odour. The most important thing is that the vagina should never smell bad. Bad odour from the vagina can have several causes.
Jan 20, 2017 · It's possible that this is your partner’s natural aroma. It’s may also be that there’s something causing the "musty" smell. For example, a strong, sour, or fishy vaginal odor may be indicative of an infection. Infections may be caused by several factors, including bacterial or yeast overgrowth in the vagina, sexually transmitted ...
- Lisa Marie Conklin
- Persistent body odor. If a shower can’t help your body odor, it could be a sign of a magnesium deficiency. “The mineral magnesium helps in ‘deodorizing’ our internal organs and also helps with our body odor,” says cardiologist Robert Segal, MD, co-founder of LabFinder.
- More BO. If you have a digestive disorder such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, you could be short on zinc. Zinc helps your body manage waste and toxins, says Dr. Segal; when a digestive diorder is present, the body may not absorb the mineral as it should.
- Rotten-egg breath. If a floss, brush, or piece of minty gum can’t cut the odor, you may have a bacterial infection, Dr. Segal warns. A common bacteria called H. pylori that can take up residence in your digestive system could be to blame.
- Rotten-apple breath. “When we don’t have enough insulin in our body, our liver then creates the chemical ketones, which are our body’s way to compensate for the lack of insulin,” says Dr. Segal.
- Overview
- 1. Tangy or fermented
- 2. Coppery like a penny
- 3. Sweet like molasses
- 4. Chemical like a newly cleaned bathroom
- 5. Skunky like BO or a smoked herbal, earthy scent
- 6. Fishy or that fillet you forgot about
- 7. Rotten like a decaying organism
- When you should see a doctor
- Smells change, and that’s OK
The normal vaginal PH in a person of reproductive age is slightly acidic, which means it’s normal for it to have a tangy odor. However, a healthy vagina can have a variety of odors.
Yeah, we’ve seen those scented tampons ads too. And it seems to us like all that flowery sunshine is another example of the world getting vaginas all wrong.
Just take a quick trip to your local drugstore. You’ll find a wall full of products promising to mask the natural way your vagina smells — like douching. Widely acknowledged by the medical community as harmful to the natural balance of vaginal flora, this practice of “cleaning” the vagina can instead cause bacterial vaginosis or a yeast infection instead.
The truth is, your vagina is home to billions of bacteria. And the precise makeup of this bacteria changes on a daily — sometimes hourly — basis.
Change is natural. These smell variations are likely a result of your menstrual cycle, your hygiene habits, or just you being you.
Plus, considering the groin contains a collection of sweat glands, is it really a wonder that your vagina isn’t odorless?
It’s common for vaginas to produce a tangy or sour aroma. Some compare it to the smell of fermented foods. 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 IPA you had last weekend, there’s no need to stress.
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 are 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 can cause small cuts or scrapes. To prevent this, try using lube. Was this helpful? 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.
Reasons for a sweet odor
Bacteria: Yep, bacteria again. Your vaginal pH is an ever-changing bacterial ecosystem. And sometimes this means you might smell a little sweet. Was this helpful?
Reasons for a chemical odor
•Urine: Urine contains a byproduct of ammonia called urea. A buildup 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,” says Minkin. Was this helpful? Bacterial vaginosis is a common infection. Symptoms can include: •a foul or fishy odor •thin gray or white discharge •vaginal itching •burning during urination
Reasons for a skunky odor
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. Was this helpful? 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.
Reasons for a dead fish odor
•Bacterial vaginosis: “You get bacterial vaginosis when there’s an overgrowth of anaerobic bacteria in the vagina,” says Minkin. “And these anaerobic organisms are odorous.” •Trichomoniasis: Trichomoniasis is the most common curable sexually transmitted infection and is treatable with a course of antibiotics. It’s known for its pungent fishy odor. “The trichomoniasis infection can be quite smelly,” says Minkin. “It’s a more pronounced fishy odor than bacterial vaginosis.” Was this helpful? In rare cases, a fishy smell can indicate a more serious condition.
Reasons 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,” says Minkin. “This happens to lots and lots of people. It isn’t something you need to be embarrassed about.” Was this helpful? Minkin says it’s perfectly safe to remove a forgotten tampon on your own.
See a doctor if an odor is accompanied by:
•itching or burning •pain •pain during sex •thick, cottage cheese discharge •vaginal bleeding unrelated to your period Was this helpful?
Subtle shifts in your vaginal fragrance can be natural. Remember, how your vagina smells has everything to do with its pH. And there are lots of things that affect your pH.
Take penile-vaginal sex, for instance. Semen has a relatively high pH, so it’s typical to notice a different smell after penile-vaginal sex. This change is only temporary.
Menopause also affects vaginal pH. Due to a lack of estrogen, people in menopause “end up with less vaginal mucosa,” says Minkin. “Vaginal mucosa lines the vagina and nurtures the Lactobacilli bacteria. So, without these cells, you can end up with a much higher pH.”
Our advice? Don’t be afraid to get to know your vagina, in all its fragrant glory. The better you understand the smells your vagina produces daily, 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 all about.
Nov 30, 2022 · 6. Fishy. 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. But odor usually isn’t the ...
- jasmine.gomez@hearst.com
- Commerce Editor
Jun 19, 2019 · The moral of the story is: “Trust your olfactory instincts, as they are often correct,” Dr Mahmut says. “Humans have this sense for a purpose and even though it can feel superseded by other ...
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Nov 8, 2011 · Place a heated pad on the back or belly to relieve UTI pain. 5. Diabetes. This one is not a bad body odor, but it does spell bad news. Sometimes, urine may have a sweet, fruity smell. “If you ...
