Ever wondered “Why does my vagina smell?” You’re not alone. Vaginal odors are totally normal. vaginas smell. All vaginas have some kind of scent down, and no matter what soap commercials tell you, it shouldn’t be a light floral one.
According to research published in the New York Times, people with vaginas “are most frequently concerned that their vaginas smell like fish followed by vinegar, onions, ammonia, garlic, cheese, body odor, urine, bread, bleach, feces, sweat, metal, feet, garbage and rotten meat.”
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There is no single way a healthy vagina should smell. “Every woman has her own scent and it’s a totally normal part of who she is. You are most sensitive to your own natural odor, and it’s very unlikely that anyone else around you can smell it,” explains Dr. Vanessa Cullins, Vice President for External Medical Affairs at Planned Parenthood Federation of America.
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Many people would describe their healthy vaginal odor as being musky, and despite comparisons to gardens and flowers, vaginas will never smell like a bed of roses. That said, vaginal odors outside your typical smell can be a sign that something’s amiss.
There are a few factors that can lead to changes in vaginal odor: infections or STIs, exercising and sweating, hormone levels during your menstrual cycle, and more. When should you see a doctor? Dr. Cullins says, “an unpleasantly smelly odor can be a sign of an infection that needs to be treated right away, especially if it’s accompanied by an unusual discharge.” Your body is smart. When your vagina is trying to tell you something, don’t ignore it.
Read on to learn more about seven common types of vaginal odors to look out for, explained with the help of Dr. Cullins and Dr. Debora Nucatolah, Senior Director of Medical Services, at Planned Parenthood Federation of America. (And if you’re experiencing any acne down there, here’s how to treat vaginal pimples.)
1. A Fishy Vagina Smell
Possible Cause: Bacterial Vaginosis
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“There are many different kinds of bacteria growing in your vagina,” explains Dr. Cullins. “These bacteria are completely normal and keep the vagina healthy. However, bacterial vaginosis (BV for short) is caused by an imbalance of different kinds of vaginal bacteria. Sometimes BV has no symptoms at all; other times, symptoms may include a thick, frothy discharge that’s usually white or grey, a strong fishy odor (especially after sex or washing with soap), and itching.”
Treatment: Your gynecologist can prescribe antibiotics to restore your vagina’s pH balance. In the meantime, avoid douches and scented products (including tampons), which are known to disrupt your vagina’s pH balance.
2. Your Vagina Smells Like Onions or Garlic
Possible cause: Natural Body Odor
“If you’ve eaten a lot of onions or garlic, you can excrete an onion or garlic smell in your urine, and your vaginal discharge may change temporarily in smell, as well,” explains Dr. Nucatolah says. “Within 24 to 48 hours of eating these pungent foods, your discharge, vagina, and urine should return to their normal smell. In [people with vaginas], the opening called the urethra from the bladder to outside the vulva, the vaginal opening, and the anus are all separate openings but they are located close together. Sometimes you may think it is your vulva or vagina that smells but it may be your urine or feces or anus. The best thing to do is to wash with soap and water, and then try to decide where the smell is actually coming from.”
Source: https://t-tees.com
Category: WHY
