Let’s just get this off our chest: every woman has a scent. And more likely than not, every woman has been concerned about her own scent at some point or another. Vaginal odor is one of those taboo topics in womanhood. But here’s the thing – your scent is a perfect tool for revealing your vaginal health. And we all know, when your vagina isn’t healthy, nothing feels healthy. When something smells off, something probably is off. Let’s dive into all things vaginal odor.
What causes vaginal odor?
The vagina is home to numerous different bacterial species. Your bacterial flora (do not read flowers – a healthy vagina does not smell like flowers) changes constantly. However, the type and amount of bacteria are kept in check by the natural pH of your vagina. The pH of a healthy vagina is between 3.8 – 4.5. Your vaginal bacteria determines your scent. There are many different scents associated with the vagina:
- Fermented – Your vagina may smell slightly sour or tangy if there is a high presence of lactobacilli. This is a normal bacteria found not only in your vagina but also in fermented dairy products and some beers. Lactobacilli actually keep vaginal pH in check and therefore keeps the harmful bacteria out.
- Sweet – Again, also due to bacteria and this is a normal scent.
- Metallic – Blood is usually the cause of a metallic scent and it is perfectly normal as long as you have a hunch for what is causing bleeding. Sex and your period are common causes of bleeding.
- B.O. – If your vagina smells skunky, or like body odor, it is probably due to the sweat glands around the vulva. You may notice this scent after a physically or emotionally stressful event. It can also be hormonal.
- Fishy – Ah yes, the most common scent associated with vaginas. Some vaginas may have a normal underlying, slightly fishy smell which is due to bacteria. However, if the fishy vaginal odor becomes more pronounced, it may be the result of an overgrowth of anaerobic bacteria (bacterial vaginosis) or the parasite, trichomoniasis (sexually transmitted infection). When anaerobic bacteria take over, it can be quite odorous and frequently sends women to see their gynecologists.
- Rotten – If your scent is rotten or pungent, it may indicate there is something inside the vagina that is the source of the smell. It is quite common for women to forget about tampons. After a period of time, a foreign object such as a tampon can lead to a decaying scent.
Your scent can change throughout your cycle as you may experience slight fluctuations in pH that are normal with hormone changes. Similarly, your personal habits can influence your odor. For example:
