Vaginal Odor: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Vaginal odor can be caused by a number of factors. Common causes include bacterial vaginosis, yeast infection, and trichomoniasis. If you notice a vaginal odor that is not associated with any symptoms, you should consult your doctor for a professional diagnosis and treatment.

The best way to cure vaginal odor is to prevent it in the first place. Avoid sharing your vaginal hygiene products with other people, and never use those products if you have already washed them. You can also prevent vaginal odor by using a spermicide or latex condom and avoiding sexual contact during ovulation.

If you’ve found yourself with a bad odor while pregnant, there are things you can do to help reduce this. The first step is to stop having sex (or at least stop having sex that may cause birth defects). If you haven’t been able to practice abstinence, consider wearing panty liners or a sponge for your period (or try douching) when you need to go into labor, as these will help prevent a smelly visit from the doctor. However, don’t use tampons or any pads during pregnancy – they will trap the gases produced by the baby throughout labor, which can cause stinky gas.

Symptoms of Vaginal odor

Vaginal odor is often unpleasant and can be very noticeable. Even if you are experiencing some other symptoms that may seem unrelated to vaginal odor, it may not be obvious at first. Symptoms of vaginal odor include:

Unpleasant smell, even when used correctly (i.e., use a spermicide or latex condom in your vagina to prevent pregnancy)

A foul odor from the vagina or vaginal area that can be smelly even during the night (and sometimes during the day) when you do not have your period; this is called “intermenstrual vaginal odor” (otherwise known as PMS). You can also notice this smell when you experience ovulation which occurs right after menstruation (sometimes called a premenstrual “smell”). Vaginal intermenstrual smell often causes people to avoid sex in anticipation of their period. The problem is, that many women still have sex during ovulation despite knowing about it! This will cause a buildup of the right hormones which causes some women to feel they have “morning” cramps during their period.

The odor sometimes becomes more noticeable when you get your period (or when you experience ovulation that occurs right after menstruation). This is when the smell from bacteria in your vagina begins to grow stronger, and even when you do not have your period.

Symptoms of vaginal odor are often noticeable, but it is not always obvious. This can be especially true if a woman has no previous exposure to smelling her own vagina; for example, if she did not shower regularly before getting married or even just started dating someone. It is possible that some people are born with a genetic defect that causes them to have a bad vaginal odor (which can also include bad body odor). Vaginal odor is hereditary and may also run in families. If you think you may be suffering from this problem, talk with your doctor about it. Some women who were exposed to certain environmental toxins, such as toxic heavy metals in the water, may notice that their vagina smells after becoming pregnant.

An unpleasant vaginal odor can indicate vaginosis

Fishy vaginal odor, greyish watery discharge, burning sensation during urination, and itching around the vagina are signs of bacterial vaginosis. This condition can also occur without obvious symptoms. It is not serious but still requires treatment.

Vaginosis is caused by an imbalance of “good” and “bad” bacteria that are normally present in the vagina. Douching, using scented products in or around the vagina, and having a new sexual partner can increase the risk of developing bacterial vaginosis. This condition is not categorized as a sexually transmitted infection (STI), but it does increase the probability of getting them.

Sometimes, vaginosis passes after a few days without any treatment. If the symptoms do not go away, it’s best to consult your doctor.

Vaginal odor can also be a sign of a UTI. These infections are usually caused by the bacteria found in the urine or bladder (the urethra is what leads urine into your bladder). It may be easier to notice a bad odor from your urine than to smell it from your vagina. This could explain why some women who suffer from UTIs do not have any obvious symptoms or odor until after they begin to urinate (i.e., when their urinary tract begins to become irritated). The first signs of infection should include some vaginal burning and pain during sex (or a feeling like there is something stuck down there) and increased urgency when urinating. If you think you may be suffering from this problem, ask your doctor if you need an exam or antibiotics for treatment.

Some medical conditions can cause vaginal odor as well, including:

1 . Pelvic inflammatory disease

This condition is caused by an infection of the cervix (the opening to the uterus) or the lower part of the vagina. Symptoms include burning during urination, vaginal pain, and pain with intercourse. Pelvic inflammatory disease can be treated with antibiotics or surgery.

2. Bacterial vaginosis

This is an infection of the vagina that also causes a foul odor. It may be more noticeable during ovulation when a woman’s estrogen levels are at their highest (this may also be a sign that your period will be coming soon). Symptoms include vaginal itching, burning, and sometimes discharge which can sometimes smell like fish or ammonia; increased vaginal bleeding; swollen glands under your arms; and light-colored mucus in your vagina and vulva (which may cause black staining on underwear). It is treatable with either antibiotics or a cream called “Clindamycin Vaginal Cream” which is made by Johnson & Johnson.

3 . Lichen sclerosus et atrophicus

This condition is a scarring of the skin around your vagina and anus, which can cause your genital tissue to become thinner. If this happens, you may see “pizza slice” like indentations in your vaginal or anal area as well as darker areas. It usually occurs in women in their 30’s and 40’s. Symptoms include burning during urination, vaginal itching, abnormal bleeding (including blood and/or dark-colored fluid), pain with sex (especially intercourse), and sometimes an increased sense of smell or change in vaginal odor.

4 . HPV infection

These infections are caused by the human papillomavirus which is a virus that infects cells found on the surface of the vagina; this can also cause cervical cancer when it enters the cells lining your cervix. This infection can lead to a wart-like growth on the surface of the vagina (usually after you have sex) and is very common. It often goes away on its own, but if it doesn’t, your doctor can treat it with a cream called “Vagisil” made by 3M.

5. Pelvic organ prolapse

This is when parts of your vagina start to move out of place and may cause pain during sex and bleeding between periods (in the case of the uterus). Pelvic organ prolapse can be treated with surgery. Other problems that may occur as a result of this include vaginal tissue falling back into place (which makes everything smaller), or an infection that occurs around the bladder or vagina that requires treatment with antibiotics. If this is going to happen, you should ask for it before an exam at your doctor’s office; he or she will know how to do this when they find out about this problem from you.