A little worried about the Lady-part down there?

A bevy of ladies are not confident about having sex because they feel pain during intercourse but that’s not the only reason. A number of ladies deal with vaginal odour which is capable of lowering any lady’s self-esteem. Although a vagina can smell differently at different stages of a woman’s cycle and age, there are healthy and unhealthy odours the vagina is capable of wafting.

Infections and other health issues can alter the unique smell of a healthy vagina. Also, food, personal hygiene, current health status, and the environment are among the factors that can determine or alter the smell of the vagina. Some people have taken to products that can “Improve” the vaginal odour but a chunk of these products are not safe or medically recommended. This is because using some products can increase the bad odour that comes out of the vagina.

It’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for! We shall explore the medically approved methods of managing virginal odour, highlight major health concerns and get that confidence back!

Different Types of vaginal odour

It is imperative you know and understands the type of smell coming out of your vagina, so you can differentiate between a healthy and unhealthy odour.

If your vagina has a mild and musky smell, it is normal and healthy. But the odour may change during pregnancy, menopause, and menstruation.

Now, let’s delve into the types of odours of the vagina.

Sweet or beer-like vaginal odour

The likely cause of the sweet, honey-like, or cookie smell is an overgrowth of yeast. If this is the case, the vagina will likely smell like bread, flour, or beer. There are instances where the smell is sour.

Symptoms of yeast infection include itching, burning, and a feeling of dryness. Some women have discharges that look like cottage cheese in this instance, and symptoms are likely going to get worse with time.

The good news is that you can treat the aforementioned conditions with medication. But it is imperative for women with these conditions to seek medical attention from a doctor to check for other possible causes.

In order to prevent yeast overgrowth, you may carry out strategies that can prevent vaginosis.

The other strategies you may adopt to prevent yeast overgrowth include

• Take antibiotics on the recommendation of a doctor – antibiotics may kill some bacteria that are beneficial to the vagina, therefore causing vaginal yeast growth.
• Avoid oral sex with people who have thrust in their mouths. Thrust can be transmitted via oral sex.
• Ensure the area around the vagina is always relatively dry. Yeast likes to inhabit environments that are moist. Use a clean towel to wipe off the water after bathing and avoid sitting with wet underwear.

Fishy vaginal odour

The fishy odour of the vaginal is quite irritable and this is a result of the uncontrolled growth of harmful bacteria.

Bacterial vaginosis is prevalent among women that are between the age of 15-44.

Symptoms of bacterial vaginosis include a burning sensation, and itching, which is somewhat similar to yeast infection. However, the fishy odour is the most common symptom of bacterial vaginosis.

Certain antibiotics have been used to treat this infection – personal hygiene can as well prevent it further.

• To avoid this odour, Avoid Douches because of its tendency to affect the pH balance of the vagina.
• Avoid flavoured and scented products around the vagina: Products like tampons with scents have tendencies to alter the chemistry of the vagina.
• Practising safe sex and avoiding multiple sexual partners can reduce the effect of infection. Bacterial vaginosis is not sexually transmitted but several sexual partners can cause vagina imbalance which can cause bacterial vaginosis.

Other odours

After the menstrual cycle of a woman, she’d likely see a change in the smell of her vagina. during menopause, this may leave the vagina dry.

It is possible for Sexually transmitted infections to change the smell of the vagina, trichomoniasis.

The practice of using scented soap or wash to enhance vaginal smell can be detrimental to the lady part. It is advisable to see a physician in the case of changes to the vaginal.

Other ways of tackling vaginal odour include the following:

1. Adopt Good Hygiene Measures

Practising personal vaginal hygiene will likely ameliorate the effect of vaginal odour. One good hygiene for the vagina is wiping from front to back, which prevents faecal matter and bacteria from finding their way to the vagina. Other tips include washing underwear with products that are not scented; washing the vulva with clean water; using different underwear daily or in the instance of sweat; peeing immediately after sex; bathing at least twice a day; avoiding using soap with fragrances on the vulva, and wipe down the vagina area with a washcloth between showers.

Do not insert soap into the vagina as it can cause infection leading to an unpleasant odour.

2. Consume probiotics

Probiotics are live yeast and bacteria that are good for the body. There are several bacteria in the body, some of them are good and others bad. However, probiotics are beneficial to the vagina because they support healthy bacteria in the body.

They can also prevent infections caused by yeast in the vagina, therefore reducing the risk of vaginal odour.

3. Avoid wearing tight-fitting clothing

The vagina needs to breathe, so frequently using tight-fitted clothes can trap fluid, discharge, semen ( in the case of sex), and sweat in the vagina area.

By all means, wear clothing that allows airflow all over the body. Tight-fitted clothes can encourage the spread of faecal matter, which in turn causes odours and infections. Thong underwear is a typical example of tight-fitted clothing.

Cotton does not hold moisture, so it is the best for people battling vaginal odour. This piece of clothing will not allow bacteria to build up in the vagina.

4. Care for the vagina after sex

Vaginal odour is not sexually transmitted but there are instances when the fishy odour sets in after sexual intercourse.

It is possible for the vagina fluid to interact with the semen which causes the vagina to smell. Some lubricants are also responsible for vaginal odour because they alter the pH level.

To avoid vaginal odour if you frequently have sex, do the following;

• Use condom
• Use clean water to rinse and wash the vulva. Avoid douching.
• Do not use lubricants that are scented or flavoured.

5: Use internal menstruation products

Some women experience an alteration in their vaginal odour during menstruation. This could be a result of hormonal changes that can result in a smell like ammonia or iron.

It is possible for some menstrual products to hold odour and propagate the effect. If you’re experiencing odour during menstruation, you may want to try internal products.

Infection can also arise from sitting on pads that are wet, so it is imperative that you change menstrual products often.

6. Cut sugar and boost hydration

Too much sugar encourages the growth of yeast, which may improve the strength of the smell from bad to worse.

Currently, there’s no research that points to the use of certain foods to change the smell of the vagina. Regardless, there are wide claims that apple, watermelon, and celery could help alter the smell of the vagina.

Also, hydration helps prevent the growth of bacteria, which means females should drink plenty of water.

Conclusion

A vagina can smell differently at different stages of a woman’s cycle and age. There are healthy and unhealthy odours the vagina is capable of wafting. Infections and other health issues can alter the unique smell of a healthy vagina. Some products that can “improve” the vaginal odour are not safe or medically recommended.