Types of Vaginal Odor

It’s very common for vaginas to produce a tangy or sour aroma comparable to the smell of fermented foods. These are perfectly healthy adjectives to describe the vaginal odor created by your normal (good) bacterial flora. The presence of these Lactobacilli, which are the same strain of bacteria found in fermented foods like yogurt and sourdough bread, are what make the vagina smell this way. Lactobacilli help keep your vagina healthy by producing lactic acid, hydrogen peroxide, and other substances to keep harmful bacteria at bay. They help maintain your vaginal pH levels by keeping it on the acidic side – between 3.8 and 4.5 for non-menopausal women and between 4.5 and 6 for those in menopause – to ward off the overgrowth of yeast and other harmful bacteria.

If you’re smelling a coppery smell, it could be tied to blood. Blood contains iron, which is responsible for the metallic smell. So, if you’re on your period, that could be the cause of the copper odor. Even if it’s not your period, you could be experiencing light bleeding from sex and that could be the culprit. A copper smell is no cause for alarm, unless you’re also experiencing itching, burning, and/or suspicious discharge. If you notice this smell but you’re not menstruating (or just finished menstruating) or you did not recently have sex, you may want to speak to your gynecologist. It’s not common, but it could indicate abnormal internal vaginal bleeding.

If your vaginal odor comes off smelling a little like tangy gingerbread, your normal bacteria may be in a bit of flux, affecting your pH balance and, therefore your aroma.

Experiencing a chlorine or bleach-like scent after sex is nothing to worry about. It’s most likely due to the particular lubricant or condoms you’re using. Try an unscented lube or a different brand of condoms if it the smell really bothers you. A chemically vaginal odor could be attributed to a bit of urine in your underwear or around your vulva. But please note, it could also be the sign of a bacterial infection. If the smell persists for more than a few days, visit your gynecologist to determine if you have BV.

Strong-smelling, pungent foods like onions and garlic can make your vagina smell like them, too. That’s because the food’s scent gets excreted by sweat glands all over your body, including your vulva, and could also be present in your vaginal fluids. Your pee could also come into play with certain food like asparagus, which is known to give urine a strong smell. Since your urethra is so close to your vagina, the smell of the urine could contribute to vaginal odor.

If your vaginal odor is running foul, like the smell of dead fish, it may be Bacterial Vaginosis. Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) is one possibility. BV is a bacterial infection that occurs when your healthy lactobacilli get out of balance and grow too much. Symptoms include thin vaginal discharge that has a strong fishy smell. You might also experience a white or gray discharge, burning when you urinate, and itching around the outside of the vagina if you have BV. BV is treated with either antibiotics or pH vaginal regulators such as GYNALAC.

Yeast infections are caused when a yeast called candida overgrows and overtakes the normal vaginal flora. Yeast infections usually occur when lubrications, spermicides, antibiotic use, or even pregnancy allow the normal amount of yeast in the area to overgrow. Since warm and wet environments are a good place for yeast to grow, you can also get yeast infections from working out and sitting in your sweaty underwear or wearing a wet bathing suit. The vaginal discharge looks like cottage cheese. It can be so thick that you might notice a thick white coating in and around your vagina. Most yeast infections can be cured with OTC anti-fungal medications. If this smell persists and you have other risk factors associated with diabetes, it is recommended you see your healthcare practitioner.

Trichomoniasis is an infection caused by a protozoan, a microscopic, one-cell animal called a trichomona, which is a sexually transmitted infection that can cause an unpleasantly sour or stale (sometimes fishy) smelly discharge. Women with trichomoniasis may notice genital itching, burning, redness or soreness; urinary discomfort; and a clear, white, yellowish, or greenish vaginal discharge. Trichomoniasis is treatable with antibiotics.

If a tampon has been forgotten for days or even longer, the smell is extremely foul (putrid) and should prompt you to see a healthcare provider to make sure all of the tampon is found and removed, and to determine whether you need further treatment. In addition to a very bad-smelling vaginal discharge that’s yellow, green, pink, gray, or brown, you may experience additional symptoms. These include fever, vaginal itching, pain urinating, pain around your pelvis or abdomen, redness around the genital area, and vaginal swelling.