Can you think of anything more embarrassing than smelling not so fresh ‘down there’ while on a first date with the most handsome man you’ve ever laid eyes on or mid-shift at work? We didn’t think so. Vaginal odors affect most women at some point in their lives. Although usually not a cause for concern, embarrassing vaginal odors generally result from infections or changes in hormone levels. We’ll cover six common causes of vaginal odors in this blog post.
Yeast Infection
An estimated 75% of women will experience a yeast infection during their lifetime -and 45% will experience two or more. Yeast infections are very common. They occur when there is an overgrowth of bacteria in the vagina.
Symptoms of yeast infection include burning, itching, a thick, white discharge, and a foul-smelling odor. Yeast infections sometimes cure themselves, although treatment generally requires antifungal medication.
Over-the-counter yeast infection treatments can even be purchased online at https://hellowisp.com/. Not only will online prices save you money, but it is shipped directly to your home and it’s more discreet.
Visit your doctor if you’ve never experienced the aforementioned symptoms before or if you’re not sure if a yeast infection is the culprit. Your doctor can properly diagnose your condition and prescribe the best course of treatment.
Bacterial Vaginosis
Referred to as BV, bacterial Vaginosis occurs when harmful bacteria grow inside the vagina. It’s a common condition, particularly in young women in the 18 to 25 age group. BV is caused by hormonal changes, IUDs, stress, and unprotected sexual intercourse, although it is not an STD.
Women diagnosed with BV generally complain of symptoms such as burning, itching, discharge, and a foul-smelling odor. BV often causes a fishy smell in the vaginal area.
BV is uncomfortable, irritating, and embarrassing, although not dangerous. Treating BV requires a course of antibiotics usually taken by mouth for 10 days.
SexuallyTransmitted Diseases
There are more than 30 STDs that can be transmitted from one person to another during sexual intercourse. Most of them include a range of symptoms, including foul odor. Trichomoniasis, Chlamydia, and Gonorrhea are three STDs that cause foul-smelling odors.
STDs do not clear on their own; treating them requires medical intervention. Visit your doctor immediately if you suspect you’ve contracted a sexually transmitted disease. Left untreated, STDs can lead to numerous health problems and concerns.
Your doctor can properly diagnose the cause of your symptoms and provide a prescription antibiotic or other medication based on his diagnosis. If your doctor diagnoses you with an STD, he can also provide a prescription antibiotic to clear up the infection.
Hormonal Changes
Hormonal changes occur during puberty, pregnancy, menstrual cycles, and sometimes when hormones are out of whack due to thyroid problems or other medical issues.
Hormonal changes can cause symptoms including night sweats, hot flashes, irregular periods, fatigue, and foul odor.
Visit your doctor if you suspect hormonal changes have caused your symptoms. He can diagnose the condition and prescribe or recommend the best treatments.
Poor Hygiene
No matter how busy life gets, take care of your hygiene. If you do not care for your hygiene, expect body odor, including unpleasant odors from urine, feces, and sweat “down there”.
Infections can occur if you regularly neglect your hygiene.
Use the following tips to stay fresh, clean, and infection-free:
- Use deodorant or antiperspirant daily to keep odors at bay
- Shower or bathe daily. Showers keep your skin clean.
- Regularly shampoo your hair to remove, dirt, oils, and product build-up
- Brush your teeth twice per day. Brushing your teeth prevents bad breath, tooth discoloration, and decay.
- Change your underwear daily. Wearing the same underwear can lead to a buildup of sweat, germs, and bacteria, ultimately causing infections.
Foods
Yes, that tuna sandwich you ate at lunch may very well cause an unfresh scent down there, and many times, it smells fishy. Not every woman experiences unpleasant odors after eating foods like fish, asparagus, brussels sprouts, and onions, although many do. The type of food, the quantity of food, and the way your body metabolizes and breaks down food impact whether it causes fishy odors down there.
How to Fight Back Against Vaginal Odor
The information above can help keep vaginal odors away although you can take many other steps to stay fresh down there. The tips below provide even more ideas to help keep you fresh and clean.
- Use Probiotics: Probiotics is a fancy word for good bacteria. You can find probiotics in various vitamins and supplements and foods such as yogurt, pickles, and sauerkraut.
- Wear Cotton Underwear: Women can pick from cute, sexy, and comfortable underwear made from various materials, including satin, cotton, and polyester. Although other materials may look pretty, cotton is the only choice if you want to stay dry and prevent vaginal odors. Always wear cotton underwear.
- Avoid Tight Clothing: Women love tight jeans, although it’s unreciprocated. Tight clothing can trap moisture in the vaginal area. Excess moisture can lead to vaginal odors. This problem is resolved by wearing comfortable, loose-fitting clothes.
- Talk to Your Doctor: Don’t hesitate to talk to your doctor about vaginal odors, especially those accompanied by itching, discharge, or other symptoms. This could be a sign of an underlying health problem that requires medical intervention.
You can find a variety of vaginal washes designed to clean the sensitive areas of a woman’s body that work great to minimize odors. Choose hypoallergenic, scent-free products. Vaginal sprays also help maintain freshness and mask odors.
Vaginal odor generally isn’t a cause for concern, although it may indicate an underlying health problem. The information above should help clear up any vaginal odor currently bothering you. If vaginal odors concern you or do not go away within a few days, schedule an appointment with your doctor. He can rule out any potential medical problems and provide treatment options.
