7 vaginal odors: What odors are there? Which odors are dangerous? See a doctor immediately.
Your vagina is home to billions of different types of bacteria. The precise composition of these bacteria changes from day to day, and sometimes even hourly. The changes are natural. These odor fluctuations are often a result of your menstrual cycle, your hygiene habits, or just who you are. Plus, considering that your groin area is home to a concentration of sweat glands, is it any wonder that your vagina has no odor?
We spoke with Dr. Mary Jane Minkin, who has over 30 years of experience working with women ‘s health . She helped us dive into all the details with medical precision, but less jargon. Here’s the medically correct advice on vaginal odor.
What are the 7 vaginal odors?
1. Sour or fermented smell
It’s normal for your vagina to smell sour or fermented. Some people compare the smell to fermented foods. Yogurt, sourdough bread, and even some sour beers contain the same type of bacteria that’s abundant in a healthy vagina: lactobacilli. “Lactobacilli bacteria make the vagina acidic,” Minkin says. “This prevents the growth of bad bacteria.”
2. Smells like copper or coins.
Many people report a coppery or metallic vaginal odor, which is often caused by blood. The most common cause of blood is menstruation. During menstruation, blood and tissue are expelled from the uterine lining and flow through the vagina. The metallic odor should not persist for too long after your period has ended.
It’s normal to experience some light bleeding after penetrative sex, which is often caused by vaginal dryness or rough sex that can leave small cuts or scrapes. To prevent this, try using a lubricant if your vagina has come into contact with semen. This can change the pH level and cause a metallic odor.
A coppery smell can be caused by a rare but serious cause of vaginal bleeding. If you have bleeding that isn’t related to your period or a persistent metallic smell along with itching and discharge, see your doctor.
3. Sweet like honey pulp
When we say sweet, we don’t mean something like a freshly baked cookie. We mean something rich and earthy. But a little sweetness isn’t anything to be concerned about. The pH of your vagina is an ever-changing ecosystem of bacteria, and sometimes this เล่นบาคาร่า UFABET เว็บตรง ค่าคอมสูง means you might smell a little sweet.
4. Strong odor similar to body odor or earthy, smoky herbal odor
You’re not alone. Many people find similarities between body odor and marijuana. While there’s no good scientific answer to this, Vice has tried to explain it. Thanks to the sweat glands in that area, at least we know why vaginas and body odor can smell similar.
Your body has two types of sweat glands: apocrine and ecrine. Ecrine glands produce sweat to cool your body, and apocrine glands respond to your emotions. These apocrine glands are concentrated in your armpits and, of course, your groin area.
When you are stressed or anxious, your apocrine glands produce a milky white fluid. This fluid is odorless on its own, but when it comes into contact with the large number of vaginal bacteria in your vaginal area, it can produce a pungent odor.
5. Chemical smell like a newly cleaned bathroom.
An odor that resembles bleach or ammonia can have a number of causes. Sometimes, this odor is a reason to see a doctor.
Urine contains a byproduct of ammonia called urea. A buildup of urine in your underwear or around your vagina can cause a chemical odor. Urine that smells strongly of ammonia is a sign of dehydration.
It’s also possible that a chemical odor is a sign of bacterial vaginosis, a common vaginal infection. “A chemical odor tends to fall into the fishy category,” Minkin says.
6. Fishy smell or like rotten fish.
You may have heard that abnormal vaginal odor is fishy. Fresh fish shouldn’t smell too fishy. The analogy to rotten fish is more appropriate. Why? Trimethylamine is the chemical compound responsible for the distinctive odor of rotten fish and some other unusual vaginal odors.
“You have bacterial vaginosis when you have too many anaerobic bacteria in your vagina,” Minkin says. “And these anaerobic organisms smell bad.” Trichomoniasis, a sexually transmitted infection that can be treated with antibiotics, is known for its fishy odor. “Trichomoniasis can have a very bad odor,” Minkin says. “It’s a much stronger fishy odor than bacterial vaginosis.”
In rare cases, a fishy smell may indicate a more serious condition.
7. A rotten smell like something decaying.
A foul odor that makes your nose turn and your face twist isn’t normal. If the smell is like something dead, it’s probably not your vagina. It could be something inside of your vagina. Accidentally leaving a tampon in your vagina for days or weeks is more common than you might think. “I can’t tell you how many tampons I’ve removed from my patients,” Minkin says. “It happens to a lot of people. It’s not something you should feel embarrassed about.” Minkin says it’s perfectly safe to remove a forgotten tampon yourself.
Minor changes in your vaginal scent are normal. Remember that your vaginal odor is related to your vaginal pH, and a number of things affect your pH.
For example, penetrative sex . Semen has a relatively high pH, so it’s normal to notice a different odor after penetrative sex. This change is usually temporary.
Menopause also affects vaginal pH. Due to a lack of estrogen, postmenopausal women “have less vaginal mucus membranes,” Minkin says. “The vaginal mucus membranes lining the vagina and nourishing the bacteria lactobacilli, so without these cells, you could have a much higher pH.” Our advice
? Don’t be afraid to get to know your vagina in all its wonderful scents. The better you understand the scents your vagina produces on a daily basis, the better prepared you’ll be if something goes wrong.
After all, your vagina does a lot of amazing things for us. It’s time to start understanding what they’re all about.