Most women experience feminine issues
from time to time. Unfortunately, the fact that they’re common doesn’t make
them any less embarrassing. Feminine odor is especially frustrating, because it
can leave you feeling unclean and gross, even if that’s not the case. There are
lots of causes for feminine odor, but here are the top five culprits.
Bacterial
vaginosis
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) sounds like a
big scary term, but it’s actually very common. In fact, BV is the most common
cause of váginal odor, according to the Mayo Clinic.
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Every vágina is filled with naturally
occurring bacteria, and BV is simply an overgrowth of that bacteria. According
to Mary M. Galenberg, M.D., OB-GYN for the Mayo Clinic, most women in their
reproductive years will experience at least one case of BV. The cause is
unknown, but unprotected s3x and frequent douching can put you at a higher
risk. Other symptoms include itching, soreness and discharge.
Some cases of BV will go away on their
own, but Planned Parenthood recommends that all women with BV symptoms visit
their doctor for treatment to prevent rare but serious complications. Treatment
for BV is usually as simple as a course of antibiotics.
Yeast
infection
A yeast infection is also very common
(and very uncomfortable!). They present much like BV, with the addition of a
thick, white discharge. Yeast infections don’t require antibiotics and instead
can be treated with one- or three-course váginal anti-fungal treatments. Your
doctor may also recommend a one-time oral anti-fungal treatment.
Symptoms
of a yeast infection
Treatment for yeast infections has
become very simple and can even be purchased over-the-counter. Most of these
treatments tend to get messy, so it’s better to use them overnight.
Galenberg recommends you visit your
doctor if you are experiencing these symptoms but have never been diagnosed
with a yeast infection, as well as if treatment doesn’t resolve the symptoms or
you get four or more infections in one year.
Séxually
transmitted diseases
Some STDs can cause feminine odor, the
most common being chlamydia and gonorrhea. Both diseases are common and easy to
treat, but can cause serious complications if they go untreated. Unfortunately,
both are also often undiagnosed because they may or may not produce symptoms.
The most common symptoms of chlamydia and gonorrhea include painful urination
and puss-like discharge, although an unpleasant odor is often present as well.
See your doctor immediately if you are experiencing any of these symptoms and
avoid risk by abstaining or using protection during séx.
Pelvic
Inflammatory Disease
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
occurs when bacteria (usually séxually transmitted) travel through the vágina
into the uterus. It is often a late-stage result of an undiagnosed STD, such as
chlamydia. PID usually isn’t diagnosed until you experience chronic pain or
have trouble getting pregnant because it often doesn’t have symptoms. If
symptoms of PID do present, they may include pelvic pain, odor, heavy
discharge, fever, fatigue, painful intárcourse or painful urination.
PID can often be treated with
antibiotics, though it may leave behind scar tissue that has lasting effects.
According to Galenberg, lasting effects might include chronic pain, infertility
or ectopic pregnancies.
Poor
feminine hygiene
It’s possible that the cause for your
feminine odor may be nothing more than poor hygiene. We’ve got a lot of
complicated parts down there, and caring for them isn’t always easy. Make sure
you’re covering all your bases to keep your lady parts fresh and clean.
First and foremost, make sure you’re
washing thoroughly every day. Women have oil and sweat glands in the váginal
area that, while completely natural, can cause odor if not attended to. Use
mild, fragrance-free soaps, because anything else can upset that sensitive area
and lead to even more troubles. Make sure you wipe from front to back after
using the restroom and wear clean underwear every day, even if you don’t have
time to shower.
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Must-haves for women’s health
There are a lot of products out there
that claim to help with odor and keep our parts “presentable,” but stay away
from them. Dou ches, sprays, cloths and creams all claim to help women achieve
some sort of super-cleanliness, but they actually cause more problems than they
solve. Douches remove some of the bacteria that work to keep your vágina
healthy, and scented products have been known to cause irritation.
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