How To Get Rid Of Smelly Discharge In South Africa
What is Vaginal Odor?
Vaginal odor is any unpleasant odor that comes from the vagina. It’s normal for your vagina to have its own unique smell, but a very strong odor may signal a problem. The smell of your vagina may vary during your menstrual cycle, pregnancy, or menopause.
How To Get Rid Of Smelly Discharge In South Africa
Home remedies for vaginal odor
If your vagina smells a little off, and that scent is NOT accompanied by other symptoms, you may be able to relieve your symptoms on your own.
Shower or bathe regularly
Get this: The off smell could just be a sign you just need a shower!
“The area can accumulate sweat, dead skin, and dirt,” says Gersh. And just as those things can affect the smell of your pits, they can affect the smell of your vagina.
Maintaining a regular hygiene practice can help avoid the accumulation of the scent that you don’t like.
But if the scent has already taken root and you don’t have time to shower, simply take a warm washcloth and wash your pubic mound and outer lips.
“Even just using your finger to swish the warm water around the vulva is adequate,” she says.
For the record: Loofahs are *not* a good substitute for washcloths. Loofahs can cause small tears to the delicate genital skin, and expose the area to possible infection.
Stop washing inside your vagina
To be clear: while you can (and should!) wash the outside of your vagina (aka the vulva), you should not start going in your hole with water, washcloth, or soap.
“It’s true that a vagina is a self-cleaning machine,” says Gersh. “The natural make-up of bacteria inside the vaginal canal is designed to keep the canal healthy and clean — and that bacteria doesn’t need any help from you to operate optimally.”
Washing inside the vaginal canal isn’t just unnecessary, it’s downright dangerous. Washing inside the vaginal canal — especially with fragrant soaps — can upset your vagina’s natural bacterial make-up and pH.
And when your vagina’s natural bacterial make-up gets disrupted? You put yourself at risk of developing infections like bacterial vaginosis (BV) which (negatively) impact your vaginal odor.
Check for recent product swaps
Did you recently change your detergent? Start using a different body wash? Switch up your toilet paper brand? All of these things can impact your vagina, according to Gersh.
“Take some time to think through what things have changed in your routine,” she says. “What soaps you’ve been using, the type of underwear you’ve been wearing, and how tight your clothes are could all be the culprit.”
Switching up your sexual lubricants, sex toy cleaner, and type of condom (or other barrier methods) could also be the culprit.
Stay hydrated
Nope, we’re not talking about booze. We’re talking about the good ‘ole fashion clear stuff: water.
Drinking plenty of water is good for more than just your skin. It can help your vagina’s overall health, too, by encouraging healthy sweating and fluid release, says Deysach. The more you know!
Eat a balanced diet
As a general rule, a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins, will elicit a softer scent compared to greasy, fast foods.
As Gersh puts it, “A balanced diet makes for a healthy body, and that includes your vagina.”
Just be warned: “Some very strong-smelling foods like asparagus, garlic, and onions can result in a stronger smelling cooch,” says Deysach.
So, if you’ve been eating a whole lot of asparagus, garlic, and onions recently, simply cutting out those foods could return your vagina to its natural scent.
Prescription treatments for vaginal odor
“There are no prescription medications to treat just vaginal odor,” says Gersh. Read that again!
However, an unusual vaginal odor is a by-product of vaginal bacterial disruption, infection, or hormonal disruption, she says, all of which can be treated with medication.
For example, a bacterial sexually transmitted infection like gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trichomoniasis — all of which can impact vaginal scent — can all be cleared up with a prescription antibiotic, she says.
Antibiotics can also be prescribed for other kinds of infections, such as BV, urinary tract infections (UTIs), and yeast infections.
“And for people with menopause who are experiencing changes and odors and other symptoms associated with hormonal changes, you can prescribe localized or oral hormone replacement medications that help,” she says.
How to prevent vaginal odor
Whether you’ve just eliminated the unusual scent, or are simply looking for ways to prevent future funk, these tips can help.
Take inventory of your usual scent
Before you can diagnose yourself with an off scent, you have to know what your usual scent is! So, if you don’t already make a mental note to ~observe~ the smell of your vagina, start doing so!
Gersh explains: “The most common sign that something is going on with your vagina is a change in smell.” Specifically: A change in scent that can’t be explained by where you are in your cycle.
Becoming intimately familiar with the range of the scents your vagina usually falls within will help you identify when something is off.
Choose cotton
Sorry babes, but it’s time to sub your silk and satin skivvies for cotton ones.
Cotton is far more breathable than other materials and does an excellent job wicking away sweat and fluids from your body.
Other materials can trap excess moisture, explains Gersh, which has the ability to upset your natural bacteria levels and lead to infections.
“Excess moisture can promote an overgrowth of yeast, which can change the natural bacterial make-up and ultimately disrupt your natural scent,” she says. Pass.
Cut out tight clothes
Underwear aside, “any tight clothing can trap moisture in the groin area,” says Gersh. And that moisture can have stinky, irritating side effects.
Getting plenty of oxygen between your legs is vital to good vaginal health.
So, if you’re noticing a change in odor — or want to reduce your chances of noticing a change in odor — she recommends staying away from skin-tight leggings and jeans.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why does my discharge stink so much?
Bacterial vaginosis is an overgrowth of bacteria typically present in the vagina. It’s a common vaginal condition that can cause vaginal odor. Trichomoniasis, a sexually transmitted infection, also can lead to vaginal odor. A yeast infection usually doesn’t cause vaginal odor.
Can smell myself down there?
It’s normal for your vagina to have its own unique smell, but a very strong odor may signal a problem. The smell of your vagina may vary during your menstrual cycle, pregnancy, or menopause. You may also experience stronger smells after sexual intercourse or exercise.
Can others smell my discharge?
Can other people smell it too?” Dr. Kate, a gynecologist, answers: “No, all vaginas don’t smell, or taste, the same…but they do all smell. Every woman has a different musky scent, and we tend to be very attuned to our own smell, even when no one else is aware of it.
Why can I smell my discharge through my pants?
Refraining from regular bathing can lead to dirt, sweat, and dead skin cell buildup that leads to strong smells through your clothes. You can reduce these effects by showering regularly and washing with mild soap and warm water.
How can I stop daily discharge?
Wear cotton underpants during the day. Cotton allows your genital area to “breathe.” Don’t wear underpants at night. Avoid wearing tight pants, pantyhose, swimming suits, biking shorts, or leotards for long periods. Change your laundry detergent or fabric softener if you think it may be irritating your genital area
Why do I smell down there even after I shower?
If you notice a fishy odor from your vagina or vaginal discharge, it may be caused by sweating, a bacterial infection, or even your genetics. The most common is cause is vaginitis, an infection or inflammation of the vagina. The odor of your vagina varies throughout your menstrual cycle.
How do you keep your virgin clean and smelling good?
DON’T douche or use any sprays to cover up the smell as these products can irritate your vagina. Try bathing or showering every day with a mild soap and warm water, and wear cotton underwear. If your discharge continues to have an odor, you may have bacterial vaginosis (BV).
What is the normal smell of Vagina?
Tangy or fermented
It’s very common for vaginas to produce a tangy or sour aroma. Some compare it to the smell of fermented foods. In fact, yogurt, sourdough bread, and even some sour beer contain the same type of good bacteria that dominate most healthy vaginas: Lactobacilli.
What antibiotics treat smelly discharge?
Treatment
- Metronidazole (Flagyl, Metrogel-Vaginal, others). This medicine may be taken as a pill by mouth (orally).
- Clindamycin (Cleocin, Clindesse, others). This medicine is available as a cream that you insert into your vagina.
- Tinidazole (Tindamax). This medication is taken orally.
- Secnidazole (Solosec).