Causes And Treatment Of Bad Vaginal Odours. In this article, you will read about various vaginal odours, causes of vaginal odour, and prevention for vaginal odour.
Does the vagina smell “normal”? A healthy vagina would smell sour because its pH is acidic. The perception of a bad odour emanating from the vagina is therefore a sign of a problem. Here, I have discussed various vaginal odours and their treatment.
Causes And Treatment Of Bad Vaginal Odours
Fishy smell – Bacterial vaginosis:
It is an infection caused by the bacterium Gardnerella vaginalis. A rotten fishy odour is characteristic of vaginosis which results from an imbalance in the vaginal flora. This infection is also accompanied by irritation of the vulva and vaginal discharge reports the gynaecologist. The bad smell is linked to a gas produced by the bacteria present in the vagina.
Treatment of Bacterial vaginosis:
Vaginosis can be treated with an antibiotic treatment belonging to the imidazole family, either in granules as a single dose or in tablets for a week. Local antibiotic medicine, in the form of eggs, may also be prescribed. Flagyl® is most often used.
The risk of recurrence is high in the case of vaginosis, a preventive treatment by vaginal or oral route based on prebiotics and probiotics can be prescribed to avoid it. Probiotics are lactobacilli that restore the balance in the vaginal flora. Probiotics are nutrients such as lactic acid or glycogen that promote the growth of lactobacilli.
Smell of plaster and itching – Trichomoniasis:
Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that can cause the vagina to smell like fresh plaster. It is often associated with chlamydia infection and is accompanied by neon yellow discharge, irritation, and itching.
Trichomoniasis is treated with imidazole antibiotics.
Bad smell after sex:
Vaginal secretions can have a peculiar smell after sex. This is due to the clotting of sperm deep inside the vagina. When it flows out of the vagina, it smells different from the “normal” smell of the vagina. Don’t worry, this smell is temporary and disappears on its own.
The pH of semen is alkaline, while that of the vagina is acidic. When the two mix internally, it can slightly alter the natural pH of the vagina and promote the development or recurrence of vaginosis.
Stagnant period blood:
During menstruation, when blood remains in the vagina, it can lead to unpleasant odours. Again, this is only temporary. Everything goes back to normal after the end of the period. But if the blood is present for too long or is too abundant, then it increases the pH of the vagina, opening the door to vaginosis.
Urinary leakage:
Urine is very fragrant, especially when it stagnates in panties or panty liners. Non-accidental urinary incontinence (following a cough, a sneeze, a giggle, etc.), which is therefore manifested by drip leaks, is often responsible for bad smells. You shouldn’t hesitate to talk to your doctor about it because there are solutions to remedy it.
Excessive sweating:
This especially concerns overweight women. When it is hot, perspiration can macerate in the skin folds of the crotch and cause foul intimate odours. To avoid them, preferably wear cotton underwear (an absorbent material), skirts or dresses and be sure to dry the area between the two buttocks after washing.
Forgotten Tampon:
A forgotten tampon in the vagina can cause a strong unpleasant odour. This appears when the tampon has been present for several days. It can happen when a woman forgets to remove her tampon at the end of her period, when the flow is very light or when the string of the tampon is no longer visible outside the vagina after sexual intercourse. If you forget a tampon in the vagina, a consultation with a gynaecologist is necessary to remove it and medicines are prescribed to disinfect the inside of the vagina.
Be careful, prolonged wearing of the tampon is a risk factor for toxic shock syndrome, a rare but serious infection caused by staphylococcus aureus, a bacterium present in the vagina of some women. Remember that a tampon should not be worn for more than 6 hours in a row, because the stagnant blood in the vaginal mucosa creates a favourable environment for this bacterium to pass through the body, which can cause a serious infection and is sometimes fatal.
featured image source: shopify.com