The most common causes of unpleasant vaginal odor are: Bacterial vaginosis (BV): An infection that's caused by an imbalance in your vagina's flora. BV is responsible for the fishy smell most commonly associated with unpleasant vaginal odors. The fishy smell may be especially strong after sex.
Trimethylaminuria (TMAU) is an uncommon condition that causes an unpleasant, fishy smell. It's also called "fish odour syndrome". Sometimes it's caused by faulty genes that a person inherits from their parents, but this isn't always the case. There's currently no cure, but there are things that can help.
It's unlikely but possible that a fishy smell is a symptom of something besides BV. The main possibility is trichomoniasis, a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by a parasite.
Common causes of a fishy odour include poor hygiene, gingivitis, bacterial vaginosis and urinary tract infections. Advanced kidney or liver disease may also cause this condition. In the patient described here, a less common cause was found.
According to Odors Away, baking something sweet, like cookies or the perfect dessert to complement your fish entree, can replace the fishy smell with something new—and much more pleasant.
'The vagina has a natural bacterial flora that's there to keep a good balance,' explains Dr Rosén. It's because of this natural bacteria that the cervical mucus in the vagina always has a smell. You may also experience changes throughout your menstrual cycle as the pH balance in your vagina changes.
Menstrual cycle. Sometimes, a fishy vaginal odor crops up just before the start of your period, due to changing bacteria and acidity levels. During menstruation, the blood (which has an elevated pH) and uterine lining mix with vaginal microflora, subtly altering the smell.
It's a common misconception that fish should smell, well, fishy. Fresh fish has a neutral odor, and that fishy aroma only grows as the salmon sits in the refrigerator. If you open the package and it smells very strongly (especially if it has a sour or ammonia smell), it's time to toss it out.
At times, BV will go away without treatment. However, treatment can help avoid the increased chance of some serious health risks associated with BV, including: Getting or transmitting HIV; Delivering your baby too early if you have BV while pregnant; and.
Trimethylaminuria (trī-meth'il-am-i-nyūr'ē-ă) (TMAU) is a very rare condition that makes your sweat, breath, saliva and pee smell like rotten fish or rotten eggs. Some people have TMAU due to defective genes passed down from their parents that affect their metabolism.
Your vagina may give foul-smelling signs of stress
Stress hormones can also cause an increase in the amount of vaginal discharge. This may be a foul-smelling discharge if a woman has caught an infection.
It's totally normal for healthy girls and women to have a unique odor. Many women become concerned that other people can detect the odor around their vulva and vagina. In reality, women are most sensitive to their own odor, and it's very unlikely that others who don't have intimate contact with them can smell it.
Bacterial infections, like bacterial vaginosis (BV), often occur during pregnancy. It's caused by a bacterial imbalance in your vagina [14]. Although 50% of those diagnosed are symptom-less, other women experience an unpleasant smell ("fishy"), and unusual vaginal discharge [15].
“It's a yeasty smell,” says Dr. Streicher. “It's not leave-the-room bad, but it has a characteristic scent.” The pH of your vagina doesn't actually change when you have a yeast issue—it's just that yeast has an odor. So if your discharge smells bad but not fishy, it could be a yeast infection.
The best way to keep your private parts smelling OK is to take regular showers or baths, wash the outside of your vulva or penis with warm water and a little soap, and wear clean, dry underwear. Other than that, there's no need to use douches or special washes.
Urinary Tract Infections UTIs and dehydration can sometimes cause urine to smell, which can in turn create an odor (sometimes likened to the smell of bleach or ammonia) in the vaginal area.
Even the smallest change can throw off a person's PH. So, the healthiest way to clean the vulva (which is the external genital area around the vaginal opening) is gently—this skin is soft and sensitive y'all! — with water and unscented soap; or even just plain water. The vagina (the internal part) is self-cleaning.
BV causes thin discharge with a fishy odor, while a yeast infection causes discharge that is thick and odorless. Doctors typically recommend antibiotic medications to treat BV and antifungal medications to treat yeast infections.
Bacterial vaginitis (BV) can produce a fishy odor that is also accompanied by increased vaginal discharge, irritation, burning and sometimes itching. It is caused by an overgrowth of anaerobic bacteria that disrupts the balance of healthy bacteria that live within the vagina.