Reasons for Vagina Smelling Bad

The vagina has its own unique smell, but sometimes certain things can cause that smell to become stronger or turn into an extremely unpleasant odor.

If you are a victim of bad vaginal odor, then listen up because there might be a solution in here for you.

But before we look at the solutions for vaginal odor, we have to first establish what causes bad vaginal odor, or the reasons for the vaginal smell.

What is “normal” vaginal odor?

Normal vaginal odor doesn’t smell like perfume, but it doesn’t exactly smell bad either.

A healthy or normal vagina can have different smells or odors, ranging from fleshy to metallic, depending on the time of the month, what you eat, sex or how often you shower. As long as the smell does not make you want to throw up, or cause you to pinch your nose, then this is normal, healthy vaginal odor.

Causes of abnormal or smelly vaginal odor

When your vagina does not smell like it should or smell like it normally smells, then this is an abnormal vaginal odor.

Abnormal or smelly vaginal odor can be caused by a number of factors that are typically not life-threating, but there are others that can be a sign of a more serious medical issue.

Here are the most common reasons for vaginal odor:

Sex

Sex, particularly unprotected sex will have a noticeable impact on the way your vagina smells.

If you used a condom, your vagina will smell like the condom for a little while, but this should go away after you pee and take a shower.

With unprotected sex, and ejaculation, your juices mix with his juices and that can make a pretty funky cocktail. Since semen has a higher pH than the vagina, when it enters the vaginal environment, it will cause a temporary imbalance which will impact the way it smells.

If the sex was rough, it can cause cuts and inflammation within the vagina. This can also give off an unpleasant smell.

Your Cycle

When you are on your period, you will notice that your vagina smells completely different. This is because of the blood, and the iron present in it. This will cause your vagina to have a stronger, somewhat metallic odor. Blood also has a higher pH than the vagina, so you can look forward to a bit of an imbalance until your period is over.

If you fail to change your pads or tampons frequently, the sweat coupled with your uterine lining and blood can make your vagina smell like something died down there.

Retention of Foreign Body

Even if you don’t use tampons, this may sound a little strange to you but this actually happens more often than you may think. This is referred to as a “retained tampon“.

This usually happens when a woman already has in a tampon and inserts another one forgetting she hasn’t removed the one already there. It can also happen near the end of a period where bleeding has stopped, and she forgets about it. Retained tampons can also be a result of impulsive period sex where it is pushed sideways into the cervix.

It is pretty easy to get a tampon lost or stuck in the vagina because it is so elastic. Other objects such as condoms, sex toys, and menstrual caps or sponges can easily get lost there too.

After a while, oxidized blood will cause the tampon to stink, and it can also result in yellow, green, pink, brown or grey discharge. This can cause an infection, or even worse, toxic shock syndrome.

Wearing the wrong kind of underwear

The kind of underwear you wear can have an effect on how your vagina smells. The ideal underwear is breathable, does not trap sweat and moisture, and is not be made of cheap, synthetic material. Silk, polyester, and lace might be sexy, but they can affect the overall balance of your vagina and put you at risk of infection.

Poor hygiene

Having poor hygiene can make your vaginal area smell funky. Failing to wash the vulva at least twice a day with plain water or a mild soap, especially after exercise, can cause sweat and dead skin to accumulate which can produce unpleasant odors. This can even make you more susceptible to infections which can also cause unpleasant vaginal odor.

Diet

You may have heard that pineapples can make your vagina taste and smell great, but there are certain foods that also make it smell and taste bad. This happens with foods such as asparagus, garlic, onion and meat that can throw off your pH and put you at risk of infections which can lead to vaginal odor.

The general rule of thumb here is, if it can make your breath or farts stink, then it can make your vagina smell. This also applies to smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol.

Bacterial infection

Bacterial vaginosis or BV is an infection caused by the overgrowth of bad bacteria in the vagina. This infection is very common and although the exact cause is unclear, certain factors can increase the likelihood of getting this infection, such as having multiple sexual partners, douching and poor hygiene.

Symptoms of this infection include irritation, pain, and discomfort when peeing or having sex, grey discharge and a fishy smell, especially after sexual intercourse.

Yeast infection

A yeast infection caused by the overgrowth of a fungus known as Candida in the vagina. This happens whenever the normal vaginal environment is disturbed by an increase in sugary foods in the diet, douching, inserting dirty objects into the vagina, or by taking antibiotics.

When this happens, the vulva swells and starts to burn. There is also soreness and pain when urinating or having sex. Yeast infections also cause lumpy discharge which can have an unpleasant odor.

Sexually Transmitted Disease or Infection (STD/STD)

Sexually transmitted diseases such as trichomoniasis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia are contracted during unprotected sex. These can cause fishy, or unpleasant smelling discharge. They can also cause genital itch, painful urination, abnormal discharge, and uncomfortable sex.

If these infections go untreated, they can cause what is known as Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID). This condition occurs when the bacteria which causes these diseases to travel up from the vagina to the uterus, ovaries or fallopian tubes. This will cause heavy, smell discharge, along with with fevers, chills, bleeding and painful urination.

What you can do about it

If you are experiencing abnormal vaginal odor, you will be glad to know that this doesn’t last forever and can be fixed with a simple change in hygiene, or a trip to the doctor.

Here are some solutions to the most popular causes of vaginal odor:

Hygiene

For vaginal odor issues associated with hygiene, cleaning the vagina properly can solve this problem.

When you shower or bathe, gently spread your vaginal lips with your fingers and use plain water or soapy water to clean your labia and clitoral hood. When finished, rinse completely and air dry or pat dry with a towel.

Wear clean, breathable underwear and repeat this practice twice a day. You should also change your underwear every time you take a shower. If you just had sex or exercised, you should shower or bathe as soon as possible.

When you are on your period, change your pad or tampon every 4-6 hours, and rinse away dried up blood. If you experience heavy periods, change your underwear every time you change your pad or tampon.

Never put soap or water into your vagina. Do not douche or use scented soaps, sprays or lotions in your vaginal region.

Diet

We aren’t going to tell you to stop eating certain foods because that would be very unfair and unrealistic. What you can do is to keep hydrated by drinking a lot of water. You can also increase your intake of vagina friendly foods such as cranberries and pineapple.

Using a condom or having one sexual partner

To avoid getting vaginal odor caused by STDs, you should always use a condom to protect yourself from infection. If you have a long-time partner who you are confident is STD-free, stick to him or her as this greatly decreases your chances of getting an STD. Any new partner should get tested.

See a doctor

If you suspect that you have contracted an STD after unprotected sexual intercourse, go see a doctor. The sooner the better. He/she will be able to treat your infection, if curable, and address all your symptoms.

If you suspect you have bacterial vaginosis or a yeast infection, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics or antifungal medication to clear up your symptoms.

Takeaway

Abnormal vaginal odor can happen to anyone and can be caused by any number of factors. Once you pinpoint the cause of your vaginal odor, you should seek treatment right away as your condition will worsen.

It is highly unlikely that the odor will linger long after you seek treatment, so you have nothing to fear.