Concerned about the smell coming from down there? Don’t stress! There are plenty of odors that are completely normal.
A healthy vagina emits different scents at various times during your monthly cycle, but odors that are unfamiliar, strong or unrecognizable could indicate a minor infection.
What’s Normal and What’s Not
Normal vaginal odors include a musky smell that comes after sweating heavily and a metallic scent that often manifests during or after menstruation. Neither of these smells is anything to be worried about. You may also occasionally notice sweet or pungent scents related to what you’ve been eating.
However, there are times when you should pay closer attention to vaginal odors:
- Fishy scents often accompany infections such as bacterial vaginosis or trichomoniasis
- Yeast infections may emit a bready or yeasty smell
These odors manifest with other symptoms, including discharge, irritation, itching, swelling or pain when urinating. In the case of bacterial infections, an imbalance in pH is to blame for the unpleasant smell.
A pH-imbalance can be caused by a poor diet, chronic stress or using feminine cleansing products that are acidic. Always look for feminine hygiene products that are pH-balanced, like Swipes feminine wipes.
Treating Unusual Odors at Home
Minor odors can be addressed through smart hygiene, healthy dietary choices and simple home remedies:
- If you’re dealing with an infection, wash with a mild antibacterial soap several times a day.
- Avoid douching, as this can upset the balance of healthy bacteria.
- Support immune health with a nutritious diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables.
- Eliminate sugary foods, alcohol and simple starches that may feed yeast.
- Take a probiotic or consume probiotic foods.
You may have to try one or more of these remedies to eliminate problematic odors.
If your odors are stemming from sweat you can simply carry pH-balanced feminine cleansing wipes and freshen up throughout the day.
When to See Your Doctor
Home treatments may clear up unusual odors in your vaginal area, but if the odor persists it’s time to make a doctor appointment.
Stubborn yeast infections might require something more extensive than a traditional over-the-counter treatment, and bacterial infections often need to be quelled with a round of antibiotics.
When odors present along with fever, excessive discharge or colored discharge, get to the doctor as soon as possible. These signs may indicate that you retained part of a tampon or are suffering from a more serious infection. In rare cases, cancer of the vagina or cervix may be the cause of your symptoms.
If you continue to experience problems with vaginal odors, you may need to discuss long-term treatments with your primary care physician or gynecologist.
Sometimes simple diet and lifestyle changes are enough to ameliorate the problem, but only a doctor can determine whether something more serious is going on.
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