#vaginal odor

[certifiedsexed]

I know every vagina has a scent but are there certain scents that should raise some concern? If that makes sense.

That makes sense!

If it smells strong and completely different than normal, that can be something to look out for! [Not like you're on your period but different in a way it's never smelled before.] Especially if it lasts for days or it's accompanied by "strange" discharge.

If it smells like fish, or poop, those are definitely Red Flags. Occasionally your vagina might smell especially sweet or sour and that can be a sign of a yeast infection but that's not a guarantee, sometimes vaginas regularly smell like that.

This is an article with some info on general vaginal odor, if you're interested.

Hope this helps! Lemme know, especially if you have anymore questions. <3

[blooming-inthedark]

The rise in new products for vaginal odor/health are alarming. It’s 90% BS.

Vaginas aren’t supposed to smell like tropical berries and rain.

Bathing regularly with mild soap, going to the gyno, and drinking water is the key.

Nobody talks about dirty peen and bad sex hygiene as the cause of a lot of pH imbalances. As well as sticking things up there that shouldn’t be there, and using products loaded with we don’t know what, in addition to a candy like fragrance.

But sure. Keep spending your money on this other stuff if you’d like.

[thescrumblingmidwife]

kind of awkward ask but is it normal for the vulva/vagina to smell sort of vinegary? everyone talks about a ‘fishy’ smell as being concerning but idk I feel like nothing should be having an unpleasant smell down there at all

Hi Anon,

I am loving all these "awkward" questions that are just, like Tuesday for me. This is an easy one!

The vagina should have a smell. It is a human body part. Name another human body part that doesn't have a smell. Like, maybe your eyeball? Your skin, hair, ears, mouth, armpits - these all have a smell, and I doubt you'd call it "pleasant." It just is. We don't attach value and shame to the normal odours of other human body parts anywhere near to the degree we do with the vagina. (Yes, western culture does hate body odour generally, but the expectation isn't that you don't have it, just that you do something about it in public).

Let's just start with a quick -

ANATOMY LESSON - HEALTHY VAGINAL BIOME

Like most other parts of the human body, the vagina does not exist in a vacuum. It is a living biome with healthy bacteria and yeasts that live inside of it and are beneficial. Healthy vaginal secretions have a pH range of 3.8-5.0, which is mildly acidic. What else is acidic? Vinegar! That mild vinegar scent you mention is likely just the normal acidity of the secretions doing their thing, protecting that V.

A malodorous (literally - "bad odour") scent comes about when the normal flora is disrupted and you have an overgrowth of "bad" bacteria or yeast. This can come from douching, antibiotic use, intercourse, etc. It can also happen with infection with a sexually transmitted organism. It's not a mildly tangy or musky smell.

---

Now, Anon, you mention an "unpleasant" smell. That's a subjective term, and whether or not vaginal scent in general (or the scent of an individual's healthy vagina) is pleasant to any one person is a subjective matter. Is it possible you just don't much enjoy the scent of vagina? Sure! Vagina is not everyone's cup of tea, as many gay men will attest. It may be something you can come to enjoy, or not. You may discover that you find the scent of some vaginas pleasant and others less so. The important thing is to avoid attaching shame to the idea of vaginal scent, regardless of whether you find it pleasant.

Let's go back to the comparison to body odour. You may be thinking, "Well, OK. I get BO in my armpits, but I use soap and deodorant to stop it." There are a couple of important reasons why this analogy doesn't work.

Overall body odour is detectable by other people generally. Vaginal odour is not. Outside of very exceptional circumstances, your normal vaginal scent is just not going to be detectable by people around you. If someone is intimate with you to the point where they can detect your scent, you deserve respectful treatment and communication, and this person should understand that vaginal odour is normal.

There are no safe vaginal equivalents to deodorant or soap. As I've discussed before, the vagina does not need cleaning. In fact, introducing soap, douches, or fragrances can throw off your normal flora and cause problems and irritation.

LET'S NORMALIZE VAGINAS HAVING A SCENT! It's so normal! Everyone should be taught this, not just people who have vaginas. Anyone wanting to get anywhere NEAR a vagina should know and embrace this.

[mental-mona]

In this article, we’ll decode what’s normal, what’s not when it comes to vaginal odor and when it’s time to loop in your provider.

[teapleaserimmuneboost]

Some Tips To Boost Our Immunity

During these days of the pandemic, we should always try to boost our immunity. It will help us to survive. Besides, right now, immunity is something that will protect us from the adverse effects of this pandemic. Well, there are numerous ways to boost immune system. Hence, to help you out, we are about to discuss some tips that will help you to strengthen your immunity system. So, here are some of the tips that you need to follow if you are thinking of enhancing your immune system.

 ●       Work out regularly

 We don't need to tell you that working out regularly is good for our health. To be specific, it is good for both our physical and mental health. Apart from that it also plays a significant role in boosting our immunity. You have to make sure that your overall circulation is improving. If you can do that, you will enjoy a healthy immune system. Also, exercise makes your body fight precisely against various infections, which are responsible for destroying our immunity. Also, while doing exercise, you can consume the immune system booster drink. It will further strengthen your immunity.

 ●       Follow a healthy diet

 Another common thing that we are recommending you to do is to follow a healthy diet. Make sure that your diet comprises Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, and Vitamin E. These vitamins are responsible for improving your immunity. Well, a healthy diet comprises a good amount of micronutrients. And the micronutrients play a significant role in boosting your immune system. Besides, your diet will help you to get rid of other issues such as vaginal odor and others. Try to get the vitamins from natural sources instead of supplements. It will ensure that your body is absorbing vitamins precisely.

 ●       Drink plenty of water

 We all know that drinking water can never go wrong. Drinking a surplus amount of water will not only keep you healthy, but it also plays a significant role in improving your immunity. There is a vital fluid that flows through our body named lymph that comprises infection-fighting immune cells. The fundamental ingredient of lymph is water. If you stay dehydrated, it will slow down the improvement of lymph and that leads to an impaired immune system. You may think that you are not losing water as you are not sweating. But, you should know you are already losing a good amount of water while breathing. Hence, drink plenty of water.

 So, these are the ways by which you can boost your immunity. If you can follow these points, you will be able to stay healthy. You can keep your distance from various treatments such as Bacterial vaginosis treatment. To be precise, you don't have to invest time and money in treatment.

[whoneedssexed]

Is it normal to like how my vagina smells? I don't think it smells sweet or anything, just normal??? I'm pretty sure that's a cringy thing to think though .

You should like your scent to a certain degree - it’s one of the first ways we can tell when something is wrong, knowing when the scent is actually bad; if it smells good, that’s typically good news for your vaginal health.

But, it’s certainly normal to like it beyond that! Sometimes I like my own scent too. It’s good for your self image/body image too, to know and feel like you’re attractive in any way, including that you smell good.

Anyone who says otherwise likely has some body shaming issues they gotta work out.

- mod BP

[sapphic-sex-ed]

I know this is stupid but what's the difference between having a strong scent vs a bad smell?

Totally a valid question! Some people just naturally have a stronger smell than others and that’s perfectly fine. When you want to maybe get it looked at is when you start getting a fishy type of smell down there, which usually means you have some sort of infection. Otherwise, if the smell is strong and it’s always been strong, you’re usually fine. Although of course keep an eye out for other changes like discharge, pain during intercourse, itching, etc. Also if you notice it getting stronger than it normally is. These things may also mean you have an STI if you’re sexually active.

Either way, don’t do something like douche or use a spray/soap that claims to take care of the odor. Your vagina does a good job of cleaning itself and any of those things may irritate it further. If you’re that concerned about your scent and have ruled out an infection or STI, however, there are other things to pay attention to such as the tightness of your pants and or underwear, the laundry detergent you use, or the amount of sugar in your diet.

(PS Sorry about the weird spacing, I’m on mobile)

~Mod Kris

[sapphic-sex-ed]

okay so this is kinda gross, but once in a while (and i mean like maybe once a month) my vagina starts to smell really bad and I'm really wet. I've tried showering and cleaning down there with water, but it comes back. It's been happening for as long I can remember, but i passed it off as nothing, but I can't get it to go away rn !! please help

Hello! I Have a vag and was wondering if you know why it occasionally ‘feels’ really wet down there for extended periods of time? Nothing to do with arousal, just… ??

If the period of being wet happens quite regularly once a month, the most probable cause is the ovulation. 

The genital area has a normal smell that becomes stronger after a woman passes puberty. It may be a bit stronger during ovulation due to hormonal changes and an increase in volume of vaginal secretions; right around ovulation, normal vaginal mucus is clear, slippery, and stretchy like an egg white.

Menstruation can get a bit iffy if pads are left on too long, since blood and tissue age badly when exposed to air at body temperature, but I’m assuming that’s not what you’re referring to. Menstruation usually happens a couple of weeks after ovulation.

The other time vaginal secretions can become malodorous is for a day or two after unprotected sex, since semen has a higher pH. When deposited in the vagina, it can create a fishy odor which typically goes away on its own as the vaginal pH goes back down to normal.

Finally, overgrowth of certain bacteria, such as bacterial vaginosis, can cause a fishy smell. Persistent bad smells not due to sex or menses should be checked out by a doctor, especially if the woman also has pain or an abnormal vaginal discharge. But if you notice the smell comes and goes every month with no abnormal discharge, and it’s just a stronger version of your normal scent, it’s not likely to be anything wrong.

On a related note: douching is not recommended. It changes the vagina’s normal flora and can mask abnormal discharge that might call for medical treatment.

-mod Fiora