How can I get rid of the odor in my vagina?!
Question: I know the question is kind of blunt, but I have vaginal odor that I'd like to get rid of. I wash using summer eve daily, but the odor is still there. I went to the gynecologist and I do not have a yeast infection or and STD. She told me just to wash better, but that hasn't worked. Any suggestions?
Answers: I know the question is kind of blunt, but I have vaginal odor that I'd like to get rid of. I wash using summer eve daily, but the odor is still there. I went to the gynecologist and I do not have a yeast infection or and STD. She told me just to wash better, but that hasn't worked. Any suggestions?
Your vagina will only ever smell bad if you have an infection such as a yeast infection or bacterial vaginosis - you say you have been tested for yeast infections and STD's but how about a swab for all vaginal infections?
If you are clear of vaginal infections then you do not have a problem, what you are smelling is normal vaginal smell, your vagina is supposed to smell unfortanatly there are still a lot of tabbos surrounding the female body and often women are made to feel bad about their bodies, this includes negativity towards the smell of their vagina.
Has anyone else mentioned that you smell, and if they have can they be trusted to give you an honest and educated responce?
I'd recomend not asking a boyfriend as some men can be horribly ignorant to women's bodies, instead ask a close female friend or family member to see if they can smell anything bad from you, I obviously don't mean to get them down to your groin, just in general.
Remeber also that you are more likely to smell your own vagina because it is literally right under your nose, just because you can smell it does not mean that anyone else can, also remember that your vagina smells differently throughout your menstrual cycle.
Stop using summers eve!!
Your vagina is self-cleaning, it has discharge to clean out excess bacteria and dead skin cells from your vagina, your vagina also has a very delicate pH balance to help keep a healthy balance of bacteria and yeast that are naturally present in your vagina, because of this your vagina is very clean in fact it is cleaner than your mouth.
All your vagina ever needs to stay clean is plain water and a wipe with your hands to wash away any dead skin sells or discharge from around your vulva. Using anything other than water can affect your vaginal pH, this will make you smell because in affecting this you are also affecting the balance within your vagina so the 'bad' bacteria can take over from 'good' and yeast will also increase, this may not always show up as a full-blown infection but the imbalance can cause a bad odor.
So do not use soap, washes, sprays, wipes, talcs or even so called 'feminine washes' around your vagina because it will mess up vaginal pH that will cause smell and infections - yes, Summers Eve and similar products will make out that they are safe for your vagina, and that they are needed to stop you from smelling, they do this to sell you their product, you don't need it. As well as affecting pH all the washing products mentioned above can also kill bacteria, that means the good bacteria as well as the bad - soap cannot tell the difference, it gets rid of all bacteria. This also goes for douching that will not only cause this problem but can also cause more of a problem by flushing out 'good' bacteria from your vagina and force 'bad' bacteria further into your vagina, as well as increase your risk of STD's.
I would also suggest watching out for the following;
- Baths, if you go in the bath avoid bubble baths, keep washing your hair until the end of the bath to avoid as much soap getting into your vagina.
- Underwear, avoid synthetics and tight underwear as these can stop air getting to your groin resulting in a moist warm area for bacteria and yeast.
- Clothes detergent, chemicals on your underwear can affect vaginal health too, see if changing detergent makes a difference to your problem.
- Tampons, these are very bad for vaginal health giving bacteria a place to multiply and stopping vaginal cleaning, instead try using menstrual cups.
- Pads, if you use pads or pantiliners avoid commercial brands as they contain chemicals and synthetics, instead try cotton or cloth brands.
- Sex, semen is a different pH to your vagina, often women find that certain partners can trigger off infections or bad smells without reason.
- Menstruation, menstrual blood is a different pH to your vagina and is nutritious for bacteria, so keep extra clean during this time.
If you do find you smell worse after sex or menstruation then try using tea tree oil. If you use a menstrual cup it can be put straight into the cup, otherwise either use a bowl with tea tree oil and water to dunk yourself into or sit over the toilet and pour it over your vulva while you wipe it clean. Although do not use this too often, it is a home treatment for infections and will not harm you but it is best not to use this too often as this too can eventually have a negative affect on your vaginal health if used too much.
She is right by saying wash better but not because you are unclean instead it is down to how you are washing. If she was any good at her job she should have told you all of this herself, it may be worth seeking out a new gynecologist, or at least a second opinion to make sure there is no infection.
Remember still too watch out for infection, if you are using hormonal birth control it will suppress your normal cycle so it can cause problems with recognising difference in vaginal secretions, but if not on hormonal birth control you should be able to see a difference in discharge between normal discharge and an infection.
douche then air out, ask dr to check your ph balance.
using douche is your problem, you have destroyed the healthy balance in your vagina. Suggest that you stop douching altogether, wash only the exterior, your vagina is lined with glands that produce a thin mucous that cleans it automatically. If you have some odor, guess what, you are supposed to have some, it's the feminine scent, get used to it. But if you keep douching you will eventually end up with either a yeast infection or bacterial vaginosis. Drink two liters of water a day, this thins your secretions even more and reduces the "odor", and eat yogurt, or take a probiotic to restore a healthy balance in your vagina.
douches are not good!
washing with soap is the worst thing you can do. it messes with the natural bacteria on other things. my doctor told me to use light, really light mild soap and not to much.
sometimes it can be what you eat and drink to like to much coffee or soda can cause funny smells and stuff. try drinking more water, all that stuff worked for me.
the_ only , is right. I had a lot of problems, and my reg. Dr. kept telling me to douche. Then I went to see a OBGYN. Dr. and she told me not to douche because it was washing away all of the good bacterias. She said if I couldn't stand the smell after a period to douche one time after each period or take a bath instead of a shower so it will help wash it out. I took baths instead of douching, it worked for me.
A vaginal gel call rephresh is good for things like that.
sometimes rubbing a tuna steak on it cancels out the odour resulting in a lovely smelling fanny x
use body spray.