HEALTH
Vaginal Odor
Let’s be frank with another; shall we? I know that many of
you think, want, and even wish that your vagina emitted smells of an enchanted
garden or some type of sweet treat out of a candy shop, but it never will
happen – at least not naturally.
Vaginas
naturally have a smell and it’s not flowery nor is it fruity. “Don't believe
him when he tells you it smells like rose petals when it's supposed to smell
like pussy,” says Eva Ensler, award-winning author of the Vagina Monologues. They’re
simply trying to clean it up. “That's what they're doing -- trying to clean it
up, make it smell like bathroom spray or a garden. All those douche sprays --
floral, berry, rain. I don't want my pussy to smell like rain.” (Eva Ensler)
Most doctors agree that your vaginal odor depends largely on
your daily activities and your diet. Jennifer
Wider, MD in Cosmopolitan’s 6 Vaginal
Odors to Put on Your Radar reveals parallel findings to Lissa
Rankin, MD in Blogher’s How Are Vaginas
Supposed To Smell. Apparently a
healthy vagina can smell musky, bleachy, tinny, or sweet while, an unhealthy vagina can smell fishy or yeasty. To elaborate:
Musky
A healthy vagina can smell musky from the surrounding sweat
glands, especially after intense workouts like an exhausting spin class or a marathon;
this is normal.
Fishy
Jennifer Wider, MD tells Cosmopolitan that, “If your vagina
gives off a strong, foul odor, it may be the sign of an infection. For example,
bacterial vaginosis is caused by an overgrowth of bacteria and upsets the
delicate PH balance of the vagina, causing an increase in discharge and a
strong fishy odor that increases after you've had sex. A foul odor with green
discharge typically indicates trichomoniasis, an STD. So, if you just don't
smell right, trust your instinct and see your doctor.”
Bleachy
A healthy vagina may smell like bleach or “chlorine-like”
after sexual intercourse; this may be a result of the lubricants you use
during intercourse, and whether or not you used a condom.
Yeasty
While it is normal for us women to have small amounts of yeast in our vagina, yeast infections occur when there's an overgrowth. Lissa
Rankin, MD tells Blogher readers that “When yeast overgrows in the vagina, you
may smell like freshly baked-bread or a good malt beer.”
Tinny
If you are menstruating or pregnant you may notice that your
vagina smells like blood or flinty-iron. Jennifer Wider, MD says that “When you
have your period, the blood can mix with the natural state of a healthy vagina
and give off a different—but normal—smell.” Furthermore, the “American Congress of Obstetrics and
Gynecology (ACOG) reports that around 9 out of every 10 women experience an
unusual vaginal odor during pregnancy. The reason, is normally harmless, and
caused solely by the immense amount of hormone secretions and overworking
sebaceous sweat glands in the vaginal area that are stimulated into a frenzy
during pregnancy.” (Natty, 2013)
Sweet
Lastly, but not least your vagina may smell sweet – not like
a sweet treat from a candy shop, but more ambrosial; this is largely due to the types of
food you eat. While, citrus fruits like oranges, pineapple, and grapefruit have
been known to sweeten the smell and taste of vaginal fluids, onions, garlic,
broccoli, and asparagus have been known to cause "unpleasant" odors
and tastes. Hence, nutrition is important to combating unpleasant vaginal odors.
NUTRITION
Probiotic Pineapple Popsicle
Dr. Lisa Masterson of the award-winning talk show
The Doctors along with her "V-Team" suggests eating a probiotic pineapple popsicle for fragrant vaginal health.
Here's what you'll need (seen above, clockwise): plain non-fat yogurt, strawberries, pineapples, and bananas. The directions are quite simple: you cut up the fruit to your liking (preferably small to medium size); next, you mix the fruit into a bowl of plain non-fat yogurt; then you place the mix into popsicle molds; lastly, freeze, eat , and enjoy. (**NOTE: You can use as much or as little of each ingrediant as you like, just be sure to use more yogurt than fruit.)
Other things you can do to minimize vaginal odor are:
– Wear clean underwear made of cotton, so that your vagina can
breathe. It is also recommended, at least by my doctor, to sometimes sleep
without underwear, so that your vagina can breathe more.
– Avoid tight clothing.
– Bathe regularly using warm water and mild soap to clean the
vaginal area. Make sure to avoid scented female products and douches to clean
the vagina.
– Change pads and tampons regularly when menstruating.
– Use barrier methods of birth control if semen causes you a
problem.
– Always wipe front to back after bowel movements.
– Avoid spicy and starchy foods as well as alcohol and
caffeinated beverages.
– As discussed, you should be sure to include fresh fruits as
well as leafy vegetables into your diet; make it a habit.
– Eat yogurt daily. Yogurt is full of live and active cultures
which can balance the delicate flora (good bacteria) of your vagina.
– Urinate and wash immediately after sex to flush bacteria from
the vaginal area.
