What Causes Vaginal Odor In Women?
OdorIf you are one of the many women who suffer from smelly vagina odor, don't be alarmed. While vaginal odor can be an extremely unpleasant and upsetting problem for a woman, it is important to keep in mind that every woman will suffer from this feminine condition at least once in their lifetime and are usually a result of certain causes.
In many cases, bad feminine odor is not cause by poor hygiene. You can be in good medical condition with no underpinning infection and you may still have a strong unpleasant genital odor.
There are a number of different reasons in which you can have vaginal odor. Some of these reasons are excessive sweating, douching, wearing of tight clothes or use perfumes or inappropriate lubrication inside the vagina.
Other possible reasons for women to have smelly vagina odor may be caused by discharges occurring during the menstruation cycle or after having unprotected sex, or even by things as seemingly insignificant as stress. Though uncommon, sometimes diet can also affect the genital pH factor causing the vagina to smell bad.
However, if you suddenly notice a strong vaginal odor that smell fishy, it may be due to a vaginal infection caused by an overgrowth of bacteria called Gardnerella vaginalis in the vagina. Women who suffer from this form of infection may also experience an increase in the amount of vaginal discharge that appears white, gray or yellowish.
Other medical causes for having bad vagina smell can also include cancer of the cervix, uterine or bowel, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and sexually transmitted diseases.
To minimize or eliminate vaginal odor, it is very important that you avoid wearing tight clothes and underwear. Cotton underwear are the best choice for avoiding vagina odor. In addition, make sure you wash your vagina daily with warm water and unscented soap. Avoid using scented soaps or body wash since they can actually irritate and worsen the problem. Using a scented douche or excessive douching to wash the vagina may also be the cause of your problem.
As well as hygiene factors, watch what you eat. Avoid eating heavily spiced food or consuming large amounts of alcohol which can build up the amount of yeast in your vagina causing a foul odor. Drink more water and having lots of fresh fruits that are known antioxidants such as prunes, blueberries, oranges, banana, spinach and beets to keep the vagina flushed of bacteria and other contaminants.
If you are concerned about smelly vagina, take comfort in knowing that you don't have to. Learn to get rid of vaginal odor once and for all... and start feeling fresh, sexy, confident again today!