'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.
It's normal and healthy to have clear or white discharge (that may be slightly yellow when it dries) that has a certain smell, even a strong smell. Some days you may have more of it than others.
Fishy. If your vaginal odor is running foul, like the smell of dead fish, it may be a sign of a more serious condition: Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) is one possibility. BV is a bacterial infection that occurs when your healthy lactobacilli get out of balance and grow too much.
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.
'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.
Symptoms of bacterial vaginosis
This discharge will usually be white or grey, thin or watery and have a strong, unpleasant fishy smell. This can be more noticeable during and after sex, and during periods.
Bathe or shower daily and pat your genital area dry. Don't douche. Avoid feminine hygiene sprays, colored or perfumed toilet paper, deodorant pads or tampons, and bubble bath.
Douching upsets the vagina's healthy balance of bacteria. It can lead to an overgrowth of anaerobic bacteria, causing bacterial vaginosis. Natural lack of lactobacilli bacteria. If your vagina doesn't produce enough lactobacilli, you're more likely to develop bacterial vaginosis.
Discharge: The hallmark sign of BV is discharge with a “fishy” smell. Discharge from yeast infections doesn't usually have a strong smell but may look like cottage cheese.
Groin sweat contains fatty acids and proteins which feed bacteria. As the bacteria break down the nutrients in groin sweat, foul-smelling acids are left behind.
Your vagina and cervix contain glands that produce a mucus called vaginal discharge. Reasons for excess vaginal discharge include taking antibiotics, being pregnant, diabetes, birth control pills, stress, as well as infections such as yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis.
The fluid flows out of the vagina each day, cleansing old cells that have lined the vagina. This is a completely natural process—it's your body's way of keeping your vagina healthy and clean. Discharge varies from woman to woman. Some women have discharge every day, while others experience it less frequently.
To test for bacterial vaginosis at home, you take a sample of your own vaginal fluid by inserting a swab into your vagina. You seal the sample in a container, then mail it to a lab. It may take the lab a few days to a week to process the sample and get results, depending on the kit you choose.
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.