Did you know that it’s completely normal for your vagina to smell?! Your vagina is an organ of your female reproductive system! Your vaginal odor will always have a smell, but there are things that can influence its smell too. In this post, we’ll go over those things that can influence vaginal odors, vaginal health probiotics, how to get rid of vaginal odor (abnormal ones), vaginal health foods, vaginal odor during pregnancy, and the truth about vaginal odor products.
Is Vaginal Odor Normal?
Most of the time, there is no need to be concerned about vaginal odor.
Like other parts of our bodies, vaginas have an odor to them.
Still, the longer one goes without showering, the more opportunity there is for bacteria, sweat, and discharge to make normal odors stronger.
Vaginas are full of bacteria, but not all of the bacteria is bad! Actually, most of it is good! The good bacteria in the vagina prevent the bad bacteria from overgrowing and taking over, which could lead to an infection.
This is called our vaginal flora, which refers to all of the bacteria in the vagina.
Additionally, things like sex, working out, or other physical or emotional stress can also influence your vaginal odor.
Various Vaginal Odors and What They Mean
“But how do I know if my vaginal odor is normal or not?“
Let’s dive into the different smells you might notice and when you should be concerned.
musty smell
A slightly musty smell is normal (*phew*).
This is usually caused by sweat, dead skin, heat, and is common in pubic hair.
If the musty smell is becoming stronger than usual, you probably just need a shower and to rinse your vulva (the external female reproductive organs; not inside the vagina) with only water to lessen the smell.
With the vaginal flora, the vagina is a self-cleansing organ. So, feel free to use soap on pubic hair and upper legs, but try to keep it off of your vulva.
Fishy odor
A fishy odor can also be normal when it’s mild and if it only lasts a couple of days.
This smell usually means that there is a bacteria over-growth in the vagina, but your body can usually take of this on its own.
However, if the smell becomes stronger, lasts longer than a few days, and there is unusual discharge, then you might have an infection that needs some more attention from your midwife or primary care provider.
Bread, beer, or sour smell
Bread, beer, or sour smells is a sign of yeast.
Yeast such as Candida Albicans is the most common fungus to cause vaginal yeast infections and it actually lives in the vagina almost all of the time.
The issues only arise if the yeast begins to overgrow.
When yeast overgrows it creates the symptoms of a yeast infection including thick discharge, itching, swelling, and redness in and around the vagina.
During pregnancy, studies have found that 20-30% of women develop a yeast infection.
Check out Yeast Infection with Pregnancy: Symptoms and Treatments.
onions and garlic
If you have strong food smells like onions and garlic, this can be caused by eating a lot of those foods.
Additionally, it might seem like those smells are coming from your vagina, but most of the time the odor is actually coming from your urine and you are smelling it after going to the bathroom.
In this case, your urine should return to a normal smell after a day or two.
Bleach smell
A bleach smells is common after you have sex, because semen has a bleach-like smell to it, so you’ll likely smell it especially as it starts to discharge onto your underwear afterwards.
This isn’t a worrisome smell. Plus, keep in mind that a condom or lubricant can change the smell too.
ammonia scent
Ammonia is a strong and sharp smell, close to very strong or old urine, or a windex-type smell.
This small can be a sign of bacterial vaginosis or a urinary tract infection, therefore, you should reach out to your midwife or primary care provider right away.
If you are prone to urinary tract infections, remember to urinate right after sex and drink plenty of fluids daily.
The use of spermicides, cervical caps, and diaphragms is also a risk factor for bacterial vaginosis.
metal-like, iron, or blood smell
The smell of metal, iron, or blood is most likely just that!
Your menstrual fluid contains many red blood cells which carry lots of iron.
Simply, rinse your labia and vulva as desired to take the smells away. But keep in mind, whenever the menstrual fluid comes out again, the smell will return until the end of your bleeding.
Check out The Complete Guide to Your Menstrual Cycle to learn the phases and hormones of your monthly cycle (with graphics)!
rotten meat odor
The smell of rotten meat coming from your vagina is usually caused by something that was accidentally left in your vagina on accident.
The good news is that it will quickly resolve as soon as the thing is removed.
The object may be a forgotten tampon or something similar.
However, if you can’t identify what has been left behind, make an appointment with your midwife or OB to locate the item before you get sick.
Vaginal Odor Products
There are many vaginal odor/cleaning products on the market.
But did you know that you should never use these on your vulva or inside of your vagina?
Even your most clean, non-toxic soap should not go on your vulva or inside of your vagina!
Firstly, this is because your vagina is a self-cleansing organ of your reproductive system, with an entire microbiological ecosystem that is dangerous to disrupt.
Secondly, it’s dangerous to disrupt the vulva’s ecosystem and pH as well.
How to Clean and Care For Your Vagina
If you use any type of soap or vaginal cleaning products, you are disrupting your reproductive system’s natural maintenance, pH, and the good bacteria levels.
When this occurs you are more likely to experience bacterial vaginosis (a bacterial infection of the vagina and vulva), or a vaginal yeast infection.
Therefore, all you need to do is rinse your vulva with water whenever you take a shower!
Vaginal Odors: Balancing Your Vaginal Flora
To balance your vaginal flora, focus on balancing your microbiome.
The microbiome refers to the balance of good and bad microorganisms in your body.
Did you know that your gut microbiome is home to about 70% of your immune system? [1]
Therefore, ensuring you regularly ingest probiotics, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral foods, you can greatly support your immune system and microbiome, minimizing your risk of getting a vaginal yeast infection!
Probiotic foods:
- Pickled veggies
- Yogurt
- Kefir
- Tempeh
- Kimchi
- Miso
- Kombucha
- Traditional buttermilk
- Natto
- Some types of cheeses, such as, gouda, mozzarella, cheddar, and cottage cheese
Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory foods: [2, 3, 4]
- Ginger
- Garlic
- Turmeric
- Honey
- Moringa
- Cinnamon
- Cranberry
- Onions
- Sage
- Oregano
- Clove
- Thyme
Anti-viral foods: [4]
- Licorice root
- Black pepper
- Spirulina
- Mushrooms
Vaginal Odors: pH Balancing
The pH of the vagina is naturally acidic.
The probiotics (good bacteria) in the vagina keep it at a healthy pH of around 4.
Anytime there is a rise in pH (towards alkalinity) or a fall in probiotics, the vagina is vulnerable to an overgrowth of bad bacteria or fungus like yeast.
Some things that can throw the pH and bacteria out of balance balance include:
- Bleached cotton (in underwear, tampons, pads, or pantyliners)
- Vaginal cleaning products or body soap getting on your vulva or inside of your vagina
- Poor gut health due to lots of processed food or antibiotics
- Hormone imbalances caused by stress, illness, or endocrine disrupting chemicals
- Sexual barriers and lubricants (and sometimes semen itself!)
Questions or Comments on “Vaginal Odors: What’s Normal and What’s Not”?
As you can see, nothing in our bodies occurs in a vacuum – our entire bodies, with their various systems are in communication and influencing each other all of the time.
By paying attention to our bodies and learning how to support them through our own tangible means, we deepen our mind and body connection. Holistic women’s health for the win!
If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below👇🏻
Talk soon, mama!
– Katelyn Lauren
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References:
[1] UCLA Health: If you want to boost your immune system, look to the gut
[2] Quinto, E. J., Caro, I., Villalobos-Delgado, L. H., Mateo, J., De-Mateo-Silleras, B., & Redondo-Del-Río, M. P. (2019). Food Safety through Natural Antimicrobials. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland), 8(4), 208. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics8040208
[3] Liu, Q., Meng, X., Li, Y., Zhao, C. N., Tang, G. Y., & Li, H. B. (2017). Antibacterial and Antifungal Activities of Spices. International journal of molecular sciences, 18(6), 1283. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms18061283
[4] Rahman, M. M., Mosaddik, A., & Alam, A. K. (2021). Traditional foods with their constituent’s antiviral and immune system modulating properties. Heliyon, 7(1), e05957. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e05957
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