Odor originating from the vagina. It's normal to have a slight vaginal odor,t with stronger and more subtle variations of individually-unique smell appearing during different parts of menstrual cycle. Normal odor is somewhat salty, yeasty, resembling sour milk, even a little bit fishy or onion-like, more so if eating onions and garlic, meat and drinking coffee.
But, a strong vaginal odor — for instance, a strong "fishy" smell — might be abnormal and could indicate a problem. Other odors could be acidic, like vinegar, ammonia, garlic, cheese, body odor, urine, bread, bleach, feces, sweat, metal, feet, garbage, and rotten meat.
An abnormal vaginal odor is usually associated with other vaginal signs and symptoms such as itching, burning, irritation or discharge.
Common causes of abnormal vaginal odor include Bacterial vaginosis, secondary TMAU (around periods), Poor hygiene, Retained or forgotten tampon, Trichomoniasis. Less commonly, abnormal vaginal odor may result from rectovaginal fistula, cervical or vaginal cancer
But, a strong vaginal odor — for instance, a strong "fishy" smell — might be abnormal and could indicate a problem. Other odors could be acidic, like vinegar, ammonia, garlic, cheese, body odor, urine, bread, bleach, feces, sweat, metal, feet, garbage, and rotten meat.
An abnormal vaginal odor is usually associated with other vaginal signs and symptoms such as itching, burning, irritation or discharge.
Common causes of abnormal vaginal odor include Bacterial vaginosis, secondary TMAU (around periods), Poor hygiene, Retained or forgotten tampon, Trichomoniasis. Less commonly, abnormal vaginal odor may result from rectovaginal fistula, cervical or vaginal cancer
Bacterial vaginosis is characterized as a disorder of the vaginal microbiome, when normally dominant Lactobacillus species are depleted and replaced with largely anaerobic organisms that can cause an unpleasant “fishy” odor. Currently there are no therapies available to prevent recurrence of bacterial vaginosis, but there are experimental treatments including LACTIN-V expected to treat and prevent recurrences of both UTI and BV.
