Guest Author - Linda Reid
A normal, healthy, clean vagina does not smell bad. Fluid produced by glands inside the vagina and cervix carries out old cells that line the vagina. This is a natural process that is your body’s way of maintaining a clean and healthy environment. This discharge is generally clear or slightly milky with little or no odour. The color and thickness of the discharge can change when you ovulate, are breastfeeding, or sexually excited. However, when the health of the vagina has been compromised by bacterial overgrowth or a disorder of the reproductive system, often, unpleasant smells result.
Yeast Infections (Candidal vulvovaginitis)
Yeast infections are a common cause of vaginal odour. An overgrowth of yeast organisms is indicated by intense itching, vulval tenderness, pain during intercourse and an abundance of a white or cream colored, cottage cheese-like discharge with a slight odour. While not life-threatening, yeast infections are very uncomfortable and sometimes difficult to get rid of.
Bacterial Infections
Bacterial infections are another common cause of vaginal odour. There are multiple kinds of bacteria that live in the vagina and when their numbers become excessive a foul-smelling discharge results. The causes of vaginal bacterial infections are not fully understood, but wiping incorrectly after urination or defecation, a change in a sexual partner or multiple sexual partners, cigarette smoking, and vaginal douching have all been proposed as possibilities. As there are many types of bacteria that may cause infection, examination by your physician is the only way to determine which antibiotic will work.
Foreign Objects.
Foreign objects inside the vagina will eventually cause a very unpleasant odour. Forgotten tampons are a common culprit, as are condoms, contraceptive devices and toilet paper.
Vaginal or Obstetric Fistulas
Fistulas are passages or holes that have formed between two organs, or an organ in your body and your skin. Four types of fistulas that can occur in the reproductive area are: Vesicovaginal fistula - A vaginal fistula that opens into the urinary tract; Rectovaginal fistula - A vaginal fistula that opens into the rectum; Colovaginal fistula - A vaginal fistula that opens into the colon; and Enterovaginal fistula - A vaginal fistula that opens into the small bowel. Vaginal fistulas are painless but will leak urine and feces into your vagina. If the fistula is rectovaginal, colovaginal, or enterovaginal, you most likely have foul-smelling discharge or gas coming from your vagina. Fistulas are very uncommon in developed countries but still occur in countries where women do not have access to adequate health-care, especially during childbirth.
Cancer
Vaginal, cervical and uterine cancers may cause an odour to emit from the vagina, however as this does not usually occur until late stage cancer, regular pap smears are necessary to detect these potentially fatal diseases.
Urinary Tract Infection
Bladder infections may give off an odour that you might mistake for a vaginal infection. If you urinate into a cup, wait a few minutes and the urine still smells unpleasant, it is most likely a urinary tract infection. If the odour you are concerned about is not present, it is likely a vaginal infection.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD’s)
Sexually transmitted diseases are diseases that are passed from one person to another through sexual contact. While an unusual or foul odour is sometimes associated with some STD’s, you cannot conclude that if you have an odourless vagina, you do not have an STD. Many women and girls never have symptoms of an STD. If you are having unprotected sex with multiple partners, if you are no longer with a partner of long duration and are thinking of having sex with new partners, or if you suspect your partner is having or has had sex with other people besides you, get checked, by your physician. Undetected STD’s have long-term health consequences.
Odour Sensitivity
Some women notice an odour when there is no noticeable odour detected by others. Sensitivity to odour has been reported in women with endometriosis, women who are pregnant, and women taking birth control pills.
Septic Abortion
A septic abortion occurs when tissue that has not been removed during an intentionally induced abortion or is not completely expelled during a spontaneous abortion (miscarriage), becomes infected. The symptoms may include fever, bleeding and a discharge with a foul odour. This is potentially life-threatening and medical care must be sought, immediately.
Salpingitis
Salpingitis is inflammation and infection of the fallopian tubes. Symptoms usually appear after a menstruation and include an abnormal and smelly discharge, fever, vomiting and sporadic pelvic pain.
The bottom line (no pun intended) is if it doesn’t smell right, it probably isn’t. With few exceptions, disorders that cause your vagina to smell badly enough that you are troubled by it, can’t be treated at home. You need to see your healthcare provider for a thorough examination that should include questions about your symptoms, a pelvic examination and a vaginal culture. Many disorders that cause unpleasant vaginal odours have far-reaching consequences for your reproductive health, if left untreated, so treatment is never something that should be postponed, hoping that it will go away.
