6 Reasons And Fixes For Vaginal Odour

We’ve all been there: You head to the bathroom post-workout and bam, you’re caught off guard by vaginal odour. But does smelling not so fresh down there really even mean you have a problem?

Your vagina isn’t supposed to smell like roses, and a lot of women think that there’s something wrong with them when there isn’t, says gynaecologist Dr Lauren Streicher.

“It shouldn’t smell offensive, but there is a normal vaginal odour,” she explains. “A woman who was taught that her genitals are nasty at a young age is more apt to perceive a [bad] odour when nothing is abnormal.”

So if you smell like you always have, you’re probably just fine. However, you shouldn’t ignore a funky odour coming from down there if it seems out of the ordinary.

Not sure why things are smelling less than pleasant? Here are the most common causes of vaginal odour—and what you can do to stave off the stench.

You’re leaking pee

“When you talk about vaginal odour, the first thing you need to figure out is whether it is in fact coming from the vagina or is it really a genital odour?” says Dr Streicher. (Remember, your vagina is located inside of your body, while everything surrounding it is your vulva, or your external genitals.) “For a lot of women, it’s incontinence.” In many cases, women have just a small amount of leakage that they’re not really aware of—they only notice the odour.

Treatment: Since the root of this issue is external (urine hanging around your genitals or underwear), showering and changing clothes should do the trick. But do tell your doc if you often have trouble making it to the bathroom on time. There are meds and other interventions that can help.

You’re sweaty down there

Feeling swampy? Don’t freak out, dealing with a sweaty crotch is actually pretty normal. Most of your body is covered in eccrine glands, which produce a watery sweat that doesn’t always lead to a funky smelly. But other parts of your body—especially your armpits and groin—are home to apocrine glands, which release more of a stinky sweat, says dermatologist Dr Suzanne Friedler.

Wearing panty liners and exercising frequently can also lock in odour since heat gets trapped. Some people also deal with excessive sweating, a condition known as hyperhidrosis. It’s more common around your underarms, hands, and feet, but can also affect your crotch area.

Treatment: Ditch the panty liners, look for underwear made of breathable cotton, and try to change immediately after your workout (Certain brands even have sweat-wicking properties, like these from Hanes.) Trimming your pubic hair also helps since it can trap odour, especially during the warmer months.

You’re harbouring a missing tampon

It sounds wild, but Dr Streicher says that lots of women insert a tampon and forget to take it out. Maybe you’re at the end of your period but put one in “just in case,” and then it slips your mind because your time of the month was ending. You could have mindlessly inserted a new tampon without taking the first one out. Assuming it’s lingered in there for a while, the smell will be really strong, says Dr Streicher.

Treatment: You guessed it—you need to get the tampon out. Your doctor can easily remove it, or you can take a crack at it yourself: Lie flat on your back and put two fingers deep into your vagina. “Women can probably get it out themselves, but most of the time they don’t even know it’s there,” says Dr Streicher.

The bacteria in your vagina are out of whack

“The most common cause of vaginal odour is an imbalance in the normal flora in the vagina,” which causes a fishy odour, irritation, and thin to no vaginal discharge, says Dr Streicher. These unpleasant bacteria can take over anytime, but it’s most apt to happen after your period or sex, because both blood and semen can throw off your natural pH.

What about yeast infections? Those might cause a slight yeasty scent, but odour is rarely the main complaint. Itching and thick, white discharge are more common.

Treatment: If it turns into a full-blown infection (known as bacterial vaginosis), you’ll need antibiotics. But in many cases, you can catch the problem before it calls for meds. Dr Streicher tells patients to try RepHresh Vaginal Gel, which works to correct the pH balance in your vagina. You should notice a major improvement after two treatments, she says. If you don’t, it’s time to call your doctor (and probably get a prescription).

Bacterial vaginosis

According to obstetrician-gynaecologist Dr Jerome Chelliah, bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common type of vaginitis (or inflammation of the vagina) and something most women will experience in their lifetime. “BV is caused by a change in the vaginal microbiome,” he says, noting that it’s caused when the dominant vaginal bacteria (the lactobacilli) are replaced by an overgrowth of anaerobic bacteria, causing a change in vaginal pH. “This pH change is responsible for causing BV symptoms, including vaginal discharge, odour, and irritation.”

Symptoms of BV can be worsened by sexual activity, douching, and the use of certain types of fragrances and detergents which can cause a change to vaginal pH and contribute to the onset of BV.

Treatment: Your doctor will diagnose your BV using something called a wet mount. This type of test includes collecting a sample from the vagina to examine under a microscope. If abnormal cells are discovered Dr Chelliah says you’ll be prescribed a course of antibiotics. If you don’t see improvement with those medications, he says there are alternative medications that may be used.

Cervical cancer

Cervical cancer is a cancer of the uterine cervix, which is the entrance to the uterus. And sometimes, it can cause vaginal odour. Dr Chelliah says it’s the fourth most common cancer among women globally and often goes undetected because many people remain asymptomatic. “Routine screening with a pap smear, or pap test, is therefore very important for cancer prevention,” he says. “If cervical cancer progresses, an individual may experience symptoms such vaginal bleeding (especially after sex), vaginal discharge, and possibly vaginal odour.”

While that can sound scary, you shouldn’t get too worried just yet: vaginal odour isn’t a common cervical cancer symptom.

Treatment: If you’re worried that your symptoms are pointing toward cervical cancer you can visit your doctor for an evaluation. They’ll examine you and conduct a pap test. “If abnormal cells are detected, a colposcopy, or a procedure to examine the cervix under a special microscope, is performed,” Dr Chelliah says. “A biopsy (a sampling of a small piece of tissue) is obtained during a colposcopy and is sent to the lab for further evaluation and diagnosis of cervical cancer.”

If the lab results uncover cervical cancer your doctor will work with you to determine the best course of action, which Dr Chelliah says can include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, depending on how far the cancer has progressed.

How to get rid of vaginal odour

Remember, your vagina doesn’t need to smell like a floral arrangement, but if the odour down there is out of the ordinary, unusual, or just one of several other symptoms it’s best to address the underlying problem that’s causing the smell.

For all other odour issues, Dr Chelliah says making a few minor lifestyle changes may be all it takes to get your vagina’s scent back up to snuff. “Research has also shown that food can have an impact on vaginal odour,” he says. Sadly, some of your favourites—like coffee, onions, garlic, strong spices, dairy, and excessive meat—can alter vaginal scent.

What about specialised cleansers?

Douching with products specially designed to flush or cleanse your vagina can also negatively impact the scent of your vagina, despite promises to do the opposite. Beyond the reasons listed above, your vagina actually does a really good job of balancing out your pH and bacteria all on its own so unless the smell is bothering you, you’re likely better off leaving the specialised cleansers off the shelf and allowing your body to do its thing.