What causes the bad smell in the intimate part of the woman? | Attitudefem

If you've ever been a little shy about how strong your vagina smells, just know that you're not alone. However, your scent is probably pretty typical, meaning there's no real smell if you wash regularly.

"Every woman has her own distinctive scent, so it's important to pay attention to how the scent changes over time," said Dr. Nita Landry, a gynecologist in Los Angeles. If you start noticing that you smell more than usual, it could mean something is up.

Here are some possible causes of vaginal odor:

Bacterial infections

If you have a "fishy" odor, it could be a bacterial infection or vaginosis, explains Dr. Nita Landry. Fortunately, they can be treated with antibiotics.

"There may be excess vaginal discharge, a fishy odor, vaginal burning and maybe pain," she said. "But bacterial vaginosis, which is not sexually transmitted, is usually associated with a white vaginal discharge with or without vaginal irritation." Basically, an infection occurs when the bacterial balance in the vagina is thrown off and there are too many bad bacteria taking over.

fungal infections

A fungal infection could also be to blame for any odor. "Yeast infections, which can be treated with over-the-counter creams or a pill prescribed by your doctor, are often accompanied by cottage cheese-like discharge, as well as vaginal itching, irritation, and redness."

Yeast infections occur when there is an imbalance of normal bacteria in the vagina, and when that balance is off, the pH changes and vaginal odor can occur," says Dr. Alyssa Dweck, a gynecologist in New York City. .

something is stuck there

A woman's worst nightmare, right? Well, it can happen. If your vagina smells like rotting meat, it's a clue that she "probably forgot something in there," says Dr. Nita.

"Women often forget tampons in the vagina. That's dangerous because forgotten tampons can cause toxic shock syndrome, a life-threatening condition," she adds. Some more symptoms of toxic shock syndrome include high fever, rash on the palms and soles of the feet, redness of the mouth and eyes, headache, low blood pressure, and even vomiting or diarrhea.

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If you think there is a foreign object like a tampon or sex toy, and you can't remove it, call your doctor right away. "Don't be embarrassed! We remove forgotten objects all the time," says the doctor.

You are using condoms or lubricant

It's perfectly normal to smell a bit after using condoms or lube, just so you're prepared. The smell resembles chlorine or bleach.

"Your condoms or lubricants may be causing the odor, some people are more sensitive to certain ingredients," says Dr. Dweck. For example, "some women are sensitive to glycerin in certain lubricants, which can create yeast," she said.

Just a heads up: You can smell after sex, even when you're not using condoms or lube. "Exposure to semen can have an odor."

you are sweating a lot

"You may be sweating a little more than normal," says Dr. Nita. To avoid a musky odor, "use a little warm water to wash the outside of your vagina and in the crevices and folds," she suggests. "Also, during the day you should wear cotton-lined underwear. At night, consider ditching your underwear, as it allows the vagina to breathe better," she added.

Sexually transmitted diseases

Sexually transmitted diseases, such as gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, and chlamydia, can also be associated with a musky vaginal odor.

Depending on the disease, some things may change. "Many cause vaginal discharge, which could be green or have an odor, it could be irritating and itchy, it could cause irregular bleeding or bleeding during sex, or it could cause an unpleasant discharge that smells bad but isn't bloody."

For all three of the above STDs, there will be a fishy odor. For trichomoniasis, there might even be "frothy bubbly discharge, pain and difficulty urinating, pain or abnormal bleeding," says Dr. Dweck.

Pay special attention to gonorrhea and chlamydia, since "half of people have symptoms, such as odorous discharge, and half of people may not have any symptoms at all," Dweck said, so it's necessary to periodic checkups.