Vaginal Odor

Vaginal odor can pose a serious problem to all women. It is nothing more than an imbalance between the good and bad bacteria present in the vagina.  Feminine odor is not an issue of being “dirty”, as many people believe.  Feminine odor and vaginal discharge, which can be fishy smelling, is most often caused by bacterial vaginosis, sometimes just called BV.  It  is the most common, and often initial, symptom of BV.  The odor may be more noticeable after unprotected sexual contact.

Feminine Odor Causes

Vaginal odor can be caused by several factors.  The most common cause of the feminine odor is bacterial vaginosis, resulting from an overgrowth of organisms normally present in the vagina.  The unpleasant odor can be caused by non-sexually transmitted infections such as gardnerella (bacterial vaginosis).  It sometimes comes from the interaction between bacteria, vaginal secretions and semen.  In addition, feminine odor can be caused by many factors, such as, lack of feminine hygiene, Chlamydia, Genital Herpes, Gonorrhea, Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, bacterial vaginosis, yeast infections, Syphilis, and more.  Poor feminine hygiene is a common cause of odor while a less common cause would be forgetting to remove a tampon from your vagina.

Treatment, Remedies and Solutions

There are solutions to vaginal odor as well as remedies and treatments.  Most over the counter feminine odor products for treating bacterial vaginosis attempt to mask or cover up the vaginal odors by using perfumes and deodorizers.  Solutions for getting rid of gross vaginal smells or a smelly vagina are found by consulting a doctor to treat the specific cause. In addition, home remedies for odor like Femanol are also available.

Vaginal odor is a source of embarrassment for many women.  Feminine odor can be embarrassing and it can hurt your love life, your social life and your professional life.  Imagine yourself free of worrying about being embarrassed by feminine odor.  If vaginal odor persists, consult your doctor.