Have you noticed that your vagina smells sweet or started smelling different than usual? Don’t worry, as unusual vaginal smells happen from time to time, whether it’s a sweet-smelling discharge or sickly smelling discharge (despite good hygiene). As embarrassing as it might be to talk about it, it’s quite normal and shouldn’t be something to feel ashamed of!
However, not all smells are normal. So when does it get serious to the point you need to see a doctor? Read on as I show you the different types of vaginal odor and what you can do about it.
So the smell of your vagina all depends on what you’re doing and your state, whether you’re menstruating, having intercourse, or if you have an infection.
Vaginas normally have a “smell,” and no amount of washing will have it disappear and that’s okay! It wouldn’t usually have a smell right after the shower, though it can smell right after a long workout. So the smell of your vagina all depends on what you’re doing and your state, whether you’re menstruating, having intercourse, or if you have an infection.
At normal state, a “normal” vagina would have a slightly sweet and pungent smell, which can also have a similar lactic acid smell that comes from yogurt.
My vagina smells like bread sometimes, similar to beer or yeast!
One of the most common issues of women is that their vagina smells sweet. Some even have a sweet-smelling vaginal discharge, which can seem worrying for them. My vagina smells like bread sometimes, similar to beer or yeast!
I was quite worried because of its smell, though also quite amused since it also reminded me of honey or cookies at times. BUT, even with this pleasant odor, there are other symptoms you may experience, such as:
If you experience these, it can mean that you have a yeast infection.
They’ll diagnose it as a yeast infection and rule out any serious causes.
Fortunately, there are over-the-counter medications you can use to treat the symptoms and infection itself. But if it’s your first time, then I highly recommend that you check with a doctor. They’ll diagnose it as a yeast infection and rule out any serious causes.
If something upsets your vagina’s chemistry, this can cause harmful bacteria to spread, hence why your vagina smells sour or fishy odors.
Sometimes, a vagina can smell fishy, which is sometimes normal. Healthy vaginas have a musky or fleshy scent typically, while it smells metallic during menstruation or intercourse. But if it gets to the point it becomes TOO fishy of an odor, it can be a sign of bacterial vaginosis.
This is a common vaginal infection, especially when you’re at childbearing age. If something upsets your vagina’s chemistry, this can cause harmful bacteria to spread, hence why your vagina smells sour or fishy odors.
Besides the fishy odor, those with BV may experience more symptoms, like:
•Itching
•Burning
•Symptoms similar to yeast infections
But usually, the fishiness is the only symptom experienced. Fortunately, you can treat the problem with pH regulators and/or prescription antibiotics.
Besides that, it’s crucial to know how to prevent BV from happening, too! You can do so by:
•Do not use douches to clean your vagina. It can clean itself naturally while douches would upset your vagina’s pH levels.
•Do NOT use any scented products around or inside your vagina, especially perfumes or scented candles.
•Limit your number of sexual patterns and practice safe sex. BV isn’t an STD, but having multiple partners may upset your vagina’s bacterial balance.
Sometimes, your vagina can also experience different odors, depending on the cause. These are the other common vaginal smells to watch out for:
1. Tangy or Fermented
So you can expect it to have similar scents to fermented foods, especially yogurt or sour beer.
It’s common for vaginas to have the tangy or sour smell. It’s healthy, coming from the good bacteria Lactobacilli. So you can expect it to have similar scents to fermented foods, especially yogurt or sour beer.
This is because the good bacteria in your vagina maintains a healthy pH level. That way, there won’t be bad bacteria overgrowth.
2. Coppery
OR, it can come from sex, since light bleeding after intercourse is normal, especially from vaginal dryness or vigorous sex.
Some women also report that they smell a metallic or coppery odor, similar to coins. Again, this isn’t anything to worry about and would rarely signify serious problems.
It can come from blood, which is due to your menstruation. OR, it can come from sex, since light bleeding after intercourse is normal, especially from vaginal dryness or vigorous sex.
Chemical smells are normal but if you experience other symptoms like discharge, burning, or itching, it’s best to see a doctor for infections or BV.
Other times, our vaginas can smell like chemicals similar to ammonia or bleach, which can mean various things. It can either come from urine (which contains urea) indicating dehydration, or bacterial vaginosis.
Chemical smells are normal but if you experience other symptoms like discharge, burning, or itching, it’s best to see a doctor for infections or BV.
Besides this, the glands also produce an odorless milky fluid.
If your vagina smells similar to body odor or marijuana, it might come from your sweat glands. Sometimes it smells like body odor because of emotional stress or anxiety.
When stressed or anxious, your apocrine glands (from your sweat glands) would respond, hence the smell around your armpits and groin. Besides this, the glands also produce an odorless milky fluid.
5. Rotten
If you forget that you placed a tampon inside, then you’ll need to learn how to take it off on your own or head on to a doctor for help.
If your vagina smells rotten like something decaying, then that’s NOT normal. It might not be your vagina, but something inside it, aka a, forgot tampon. If you forget that you placed a tampon inside, then you’ll need to learn how to take it off on your own or head on to a doctor for help.
Wrapping It Up
A lot of us ladies know the irritation of having to experience vaginal odors. While it’s normal despite proper hygiene, it does get worrying, which is why you need to be aware of when it’s time to head on to the doctor. With the right tips and knowledge, you’ll know how to deal with any smells and discharge down there.
I hope this article answered your question of why your vagina smells sweet or off. So if ever you feel like it smells funky down there, identify the cause and learn how to treat it better now.
If you have any questions or want to share your own experiences with vaginal odors, then comment below. Your thoughts are much appreciated.
