Vaginal odor can be a very unpleasant and embarrassing issue to deal with. Unfortunately, many women develop this odor at some point in their life. Vaginal odor occurs when there is a disturbance in the number of bacteria in the vagina (an overgrowth of bacteria), which may lead to infections. The most common infection is bacterial vaginosis (BV) or vaginitis. However, some women have vaginal odor due to a sexually transmitted disease or pelvic inflammatory disease (PID
Vaginal odor may limit sexual activity in a relationship; the woman feels uncomfortable, and the man becomes a little distant. However, the vagina has a distinct smell that is not a problem. Each girl has a particular vaginal smell; it is natural. Even when you notice a recent difference in its smell, it is not necessarily an infection. That change may be linked to a specific moment of your menstrual cycle because the smell of your vagina can vary depending on the time of the cycle.
A healthy vagina always emerges a discrete odor at one time or another. It is normal that it has a certain odor sometimes. Whether this natural smell is neutral or not, it is a matter of personal judgment. In fact, some women notice their odor when there is no notable odor detected by their partners. However, if the odor changes and becomes strongly unpleasant (repugnant fishy vaginal odor), this change deserves attention because it is perhaps a sign of a serious vaginal infection. Left untreated, this condition may cause not only physiologic problems but also emotional (stress) and social problems (the person feels uncomfortable thinking the odor is detected by others).
What to do when you have vaginal odor?
Many women believe that vaginal odor are the result of a lack of personal hygiene and wash excessively their vagina unaware that they worsen the problem. While poor genital hygiene can be the cause, excessive washing is not the solution. Very often, women hampered by a strong vaginal odor should not begin to wash themselves intensively. That does not help at all. The first thing to do should be restoring the acidity and the balance of the vaginal flora naturally. That restoration cannot be done by excessive antibiotic intake; it decreases your immune system.
How to restore the balance of the vaginal flora?
The vaginal flora consists of a large number of microaerophilic bacteria. Among them, lactobacilli are considered the principal ones for their role in protecting the vagina. These micro-organisms are primarily responsible for protective acidity of the vagina. Wash the vagina too often increases its pH, which disrupts the vaginal flora and can cause vaginal infections and particularly unpleasant odors. That is, do not rush to wash your vaginal excessively when you suffer from vaginal health issues.
If the vaginal flora is disrupted, pathogenic bacteria proliferate, resulting in bacterial vaginosis. This type of proliferation tends to increase the number of bacteria normally present in the vagina causing unpleasant fishy vaginal odor.
What are the causes of vaginal odor?
Besides excessive washing, douching, tight clothes and certain chemicals (scented body washes, antibacterial soap, etc) can cause vaginal infection. Certain contraceptives and foreign body in vagina can provoke vaginal odor and other major health issues. Vaginal and anal intercourse alternation during the same session can cause vaginal infection resulting in vaginal odor. Though rare, diet can affect the smell of your vagina. In some cases of vaginal odor, eating a healthy diet (eating fruit and vegetables abundantly) can remediate the condition without any medical treatment
Useful tips
Wear clean tampon and change them regularly
Avoid Douching, it is not necessary; it can damage or destroy the normal acidity of the vagina resulting in vaginal problems.
If you suffer from ant type of vaginal infection, it is recommended to avoid wearing tight underwear and pants so that the vagina can breathe easier. Tight clothes can irritate the vagina and cause or increase vaginal odor. Wearing cotton panties is also important.
If a vaginal infection persists despite treatment, you need to see a doctor because it could be a sign of Cancer of the cervix or vagina, Bacterial Vaginosis, Chlamydia, Genital Herpes, Gonorrhea, Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs), Vaginitis, Yeast Infection, etc.
For women, after intercourse, it is important to go urinate. Urination after sex helps to remove any possible bacteria that may be outside or inside the vaginal canal that would go up in the urethra. Because once present, these microbes tend to go up into the bladder, and can cause recurrent urinary infections. Urination causes a cleansing effect, forcing the microbes outside.
STEPS YOU SHOULD TAKE.
Step 1 Visit your gynecologist or healthcare provider, in order to determine what is causing the vaginal odor. In order to stop vaginal odor, you should first see your healthcare provider for a diagnosis and to receive proper treatment for the odor. Your healthcare provider can give you the appropriate medical examinations to find out why you are having vaginal odor.
Step 2 Complete the necessary tests. Your healthcare provider begins by asking you about your current health status and medical history. She gives you a thorough medical evaluation and examines the vaginal and pelvic areas, in order to identify the reason for the odor. Your doctor must also take a sample of your vaginal discharge to send to the lab for testing. The lab tests can pinpoint the type of infection you actually have.
Step 3 Discuss the test results with your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider calls you when your results are back from the lab and he is able to inform you of your health status. Depending on the type of infection (or STD) you have, he prescribes you the appropriate medication for it. For example, if you have bacterial vaginosis or vaginitis, he may prescribe you an antibiotic such as Metronidazole “Flagyl” or Clindamycin “Cleocin,” or a vaginal cream or gel. If you are diagnosed with an STD, you may need additional medications and if you have PID, you may have to be admitted into a hospital for proper treatment.
Step 4 Talk to your healthcare provider about additional ways to eliminate vaginal odor. For example, your healthcare provider may talk to you about the importance of good feminine hygiene and following a well-balanced diet. Your healthcare provider may also suggest that you avoid douching (which can interfere with the bacteria in the vagina), use condoms when having sex and stay away from feminine hygiene sprays and fragrances.
Step 5 Take all of the medication and carefully follow the directions. It is important to take all of the prescribed medication, even if the odor goes away in a couple of days. Your treatment may last for a few days or maybe up to 2 weeks (depending on the type of infection that you have).
