
Help, I have vaginal odor, what should I do?
Verified on 4/10/2025
Bienvenue chez Gapianne ! 👋
Ici, nous guidons les femmes vers des solutions adaptées sur toutes les questions liées à leur santé gynéco et leur bien-être intime, grâce à un parcours d’accompagnement personnalisé.
For the past few days, your vaginal discharge has had a peculiar odor. Different from the smell you know. You feel like it smells bad, that your vagina smells bad , and that you smell bad. Don't worry, it's not necessarily a lack of hygiene. There are several causes that can lead to bad vaginal odor , such as periods, taking antibiotics, or various pathologies. And unfortunately, scented intimate products and douching can't do anything about it! What should you do if you feel like your vagina smells bad? In this article, we'll give you the most likely causes and various solutions.
Is vaginal odor normal?
It is normal for your vagina and vaginal discharge ( white discharge and vaginal bleeding) to have an odor. It is not so much the organs (vagina and uterus) that give off an odor as the vaginal discharge.
For one thing, menstruating people may experience a slightly "stronger" odor during their period. Menstruation itself can actually cause odor, especially through sanitary protection where blood clumps together.
On the other hand, white discharge is the result of your vagina's natural cleansing process. Its role is to expel what disturbs the balance of the vagina: fluid remnants (semen, cervical mucus , etc.), bacteria, fungi, etc. Good and bad bacteria proliferate and balance each other in the vaginal flora.
However, the delicate balance of vaginal flora can be disrupted for various physiological reasons (antibiotics, menstruation, pregnancy, etc.), poor hygiene, or even pathological reasons (diseases, infections, etc.). This can cause unpleasant odors and discomfort.
What is normal?
It is normal to have:
- vaginal odors that vary, sometimes intensifying, diminishing at other times
- vaginal discharge that varies in quantity, color, and texture
To understand why, let's discover together the concept of vaginal pH and the natural variations that can occur within it.
The pH of the vagina
The vagina is an acidic environment thanks to its bacterial flora: in premenopausal women, a normal vaginal pH ranges from 3.8 to 4.5. Lactobacilli, streptococci, and other healthy microorganisms secrete lactic acid. This natural acidity helps regulate the bacteria present and prevents the proliferation of pathogens, which cause infections.
The pH of the vagina changes throughout a woman's life. While it is neutral before the first period, it gradually decreases to an average of 3.8 to 4.5, which it maintains until menopause. Afterward, the vagina becomes less acidic.
Natural variations in vaginal flora
The pH of the vaginal flora varies daily under the action of different factors which are natural, or not, and which can destabilize the vaginal flora and cause occasional and natural vaginal odors :
- hormonal variations: pregnancy, menopause... these moments in women's lives can cause natural variations in the vaginal flora.
- periods: pH increases during menstruation. This may explain, for example, why you feel like you have a stronger odor just before and during your period;
- More or less significant vaginal discharge: cervical mucus is linked to the menstrual cycle. It changes significantly during the menstrual cycle and this can have an impact on the pH of your vagina;
- taking antibiotics: antibiotics can destabilize the pH of the vagina;
- unprotected sex: semen increases vaginal pH for a few hours.
🍳What about food? It's a common belief that the food we eat could have an impact on our odor, particularly because of the pH of the food and its odor. However, this remains to be proven: studies don't support this.
What causes vaginal odor?
Bad odors from private parts can mostly be explained by poor hygiene and various pathologies.
Poor hygiene or bad practices
Vaginal odor can primarily be linked to poor hygiene or poor practices that weaken the vaginal flora. Here are some tips to better care for your vagina and vulva:
- Practice gentle daily cleansing
- Beware of dirty gloves and towels! If you use a washcloth to clean your vulva, change it regularly. The same goes for your towels. Like sponges, gloves and towels are breeding grounds for bacteria, and trying to clean yourself can unfortunately make the problem worse.
- Never douche: This practice of putting water directly into your vagina is particularly aggressive. It risks upsetting your vaginal flora and making the problem worse;
- Avoid scented intimate products: If you like to use wipes to clean yourself after going to the bathroom, choose wipes that are fragrance-free and sealed tightly;
- Wipe from front to back: When you go to the bathroom, always wipe from front to back, from your vulva towards your anus. This will prevent you from bringing bad bacteria back into your vagina;
- Change your sanitary protection regularly during your period: on the one hand, the blood that soaks in your pad/tampon/period underwear for a day can have unpleasant odors, on the other hand, it can lead to the appearance of bacteria and cause unpleasant odors. Change your sanitary protection regularly during your period.
Also read: Which sanitary protection should you choose? >
Vaginal yeast infection or vaginal candidiasis
Vaginal candidiasis , also known as vaginal thrush or vaginal yeast infection, is a fungal infection of the genitals of women, particularly the vagina . This infection is mainly caused by the fungus Candida albicans , although other types of yeast can also be responsible: if your doctor suspects this type of infection, they may suggest a swab to better treat you. Vaginal candidiasis is quite common and can affect women of all ages.
Besides the bad odors emanating from your vaginal discharge, other symptoms can alert you:
- Vaginal itching: This is one of the most common symptoms. Itching can be mild to severe;
- Vaginal discharge with a peculiar appearance: Your discharge is white, thick, and a little lumpy, like cottage cheese. It may sometimes be odorless or have a slight yeasty odor;
- Irritation and redness: the genital area may be red and irritated, uncomfortable;
- Pain during intercourse: Intercourse may become painful due to vaginal irritation;
- Burning sensation when urinating: This symptom is also commonly associated with cystitis (urinary tract infections): it depends on the other symptoms.
Treatment for vaginal candidiasis typically involves the use of antifungal medications, either in the form of creams, suppositories, or tablets. It is important to consult a healthcare professional for a proper diagnosis and treatment tailored to your situation. We recommend avoiding self-medication: you risk worsening the existing imbalance.
Bacterial infection or bacterial vaginosis
Bacterial vaginosis is a vaginal infection that results from an imbalance of bacteria naturally present in the vagina. Unlike vaginal candidiasis, bacterial vaginosis is characterized by an overgrowth of bacteria, primarily Gardnerella vaginalis , with a decrease in lactobacilli, the bacteria normally predominant in a healthy vagina. Bacterial vaginosis is quite common and can affect women of any age.
The main symptom of bacterial vaginosis is a strong, fishy odor from your discharge. This odor may be more pronounced after intercourse or during menstruation. In addition to these unpleasant odors, other symptoms that may suggest bacterial vaginosis include:
- Vaginal discharge with a peculiar appearance: Vaginal discharge may have a grayish tint and be liquid;
- Vaginal itching or irritation: Some women may experience itching or irritation, although this is not always the case;
Bacterial vaginosis is diagnosed by a healthcare professional after a clinical examination and, sometimes, after taking samples. Treatment often involves the use of antibiotics, such as metronidazole or clindamycin, in the form of oral tablets, creams, or vaginal suppositories.
It's important to consult a healthcare professional if you experience any suspicious symptoms, as untreated bacterial vaginosis can lead to potential complications, including an increased risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and pregnancy complications. As with vaginal candidiasis, we recommend avoiding self-medication to prevent worsening symptoms.
Trichomoniasis
Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by a single-celled parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis. This infection primarily affects the genitals, but it can also affect other parts of the body, including the urethra in men and the bladder in both sexes. Trichomoniasis is one of the most common STIs worldwide: it is primarily transmitted through unprotected sex with an infected person.
In women, one of the most characteristic symptoms of this STI is yellow-green vaginal discharge with an unpleasant odor. In addition to this symptom, which should lead you directly to a healthcare professional, other symptoms that may indicate trichomoniasis include:
- Genital itching or irritation: This may include itching or burning sensations in the vagina or vulva;
- Pain or discomfort during sexual intercourse;
- Burning sensation when urinating: This symptom is also commonly associated with cystitis (urinary tract infections): it depends on the other symptoms.
Trichomoniasis is usually diagnosed by a healthcare professional who may perform laboratory tests on a sample of genital secretions. Treatment typically involves antiparasitic medications, such as metronidazole or tinidazole. If you suspect you may have the condition, seek professional help to avoid complications and use a condom to protect your partners during sexual activity.
Risk factors
The different pathologies presented above can be caused by different behaviors and diseases.
Sexual intercourse
Unprotected sex, whether with a recurring partner or multiple partners, increases the risk of contracting a sexually transmitted infection (STI) and bacterial vaginosis. Sexually active women are therefore at higher risk of developing BV, although it can also affect women who are not sexually active.
Diabetes
People with diabetes have an increased risk of yeast infections. Women with diabetes therefore have a higher risk of developing vaginal thrush.
Hormonal imbalances
Hormones impact the vaginal flora. Hormonal imbalances, which can be linked to the menstrual cycle, illnesses (PCOS and thyroid problems), or even pregnancy and menopause, can lead to the development of conditions such as bacterial vaginosis and vaginal candidiasis.
Sanitary napkins
Sanitary napkins, especially in cases of allergy to sanitary napkins , can cause an imbalance in the vaginal flora and thus create various pathologies. This is also the case if you keep sanitary napkins for too long.
Vaginal douching
This practice, which consists of inserting a jet of water into the vagina to "clean" it, tends, on the contrary, to disrupt the vaginal flora and generate pathologies. Bacterial vaginosis and vaginal candidiasis can be caused by douching.
When to worry and what to do?
While you shouldn't be concerned about the smell of your vaginal discharge during your period, new vaginal odors coupled with symptoms such as different white discharge, itching, irritation, burning when urinating or pain during vaginal penetration should alert you.
If you experience one or more of these symptoms in addition to a bad vaginal odor, we recommend that you consult your doctor promptly. The conditions described above are not serious, but they all need to be treated to avoid discomfort and the risk of infecting your partner(s).
How to prevent and manage bad odors?
Whether or not you have vaginal odor, here are some tips and advice to prevent and manage vaginal odor.
Prevent
The causes of vaginal odor can be linked to various internal and external causes, and it will never be possible to anticipate everything (don't beat yourself up if you are affected!). However, you can limit the risks.
Have good intimate hygiene
We talked about this a little earlier in this article. It's essential to maintain good intimate hygiene to avoid disrupting your vaginal flora. This involves:
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Wash your vulva daily: using water is sufficient, but you can use a mild intimate soap if you prefer for sensory reasons.
🌈 In our shop, you will find the gentle intimate cleansing gel from the Jho brand : we love it because it does not destabilize the pH of your flora.
🌈And for a feeling of freshness, look at Wumi: the intimate cleansing gel is perfect;
-
Change your washcloth and towel regularly: If you use a washcloth to clean your vulva, change it regularly. The same goes for your towels. Like sponges, gloves and towels are breeding grounds for bacteria, and by trying to clean yourself, you unfortunately risk making the problem worse;
-
Do not douche: This practice of putting water directly into your vagina is particularly aggressive. It risks unbalancing your vaginal flora and making the problem worse;
-
Wipe from front to back: When you go to the bathroom, always wipe from front to back, from your vulva towards your anus. This will prevent you from bringing bad bacteria back into your vagina;
Rebalance your vaginal flora with probiotics
You've heard of probiotics for rebalancing your intestinal flora. Well, you should know that there are also probiotics for your vaginal flora! They help restore balance when it's occasionally disrupted.
🌈In store, we recommend the Miyé brand probiotic intimate and intestinal flora treatment . This 1-month treatment (60 capsules) supports you and helps you restore your vaginal imbalance.
🌈We also offer MiYé's rebalancing intimate gel in our shop. Rich in probiotics, it has a soothing and rebalancing effect on your vulva thanks to the probiotics it contains.
Keep your private parts dry
When your genitals come into contact with wet material (dirty sanitary napkins, perspiration, etc.), there is a greater risk of developing fungi (vaginal candidiasis). To limit this risk:
- Change your sanitary protection regularly;
- Opt for hygienic protection that keeps you “dry”;
- Opt for loose-fitting underwear made of flowing materials, such as linen. This will allow your vulva to “breathe.”
Limit hair removal
Society has taught us the opposite, and yet: hair is clean (as long as you wash it regularly, of course). Pubic hair protects our private parts and blocks some external bacteria. To limit infections and diseases, it is therefore a good idea to avoid, or at least limit, full-body hair removal.
Have safe sex
This may seem obvious to you, but we'd like to repeat it: protect yourself with a condom when you have sex with non-regular/non-exclusive partners. Condoms are the only protection against STIs and STDs, and they will help you limit your risks.
🌈 In store, we lovethe ultra-thin latex condoms from My Lubie. Vegan and odorless, they allow you to enjoy yourself without worrying about anything other than pleasure!
Manage
Do you think your vagina is smelling bad? The first step is to consult a healthcare professional , especially if you have other symptoms. This will allow you to get a medical response to your problem. At the same time, you can implement solutions to manage unpleasant odors.
Protect your underwear
If your discharge is smelly, we highly recommend using panty liners: this will allow you to change regularly and feel better. Choose organic ones to prevent the chemicals in conventional panty liners from further disrupting your vaginal flora.
Use wipes
For a feeling of freshness, you can use wipes to dry yourself after using the bathroom. However, opt for fragrance-free wipes. While fragrance may make you feel fresher, it can disrupt your vaginal flora.
And during intercourse?
Are you planning to have sex but feel uncomfortable because of the odor coming from your vagina?
First of all, know that you are not obliged to have sex at that moment: the person you are with does not have to force you and you are not even obliged to explain why... it is up to you to see where you are in your relationship and in the discussions around these intimate subjects to know if you want to talk about it or not.
Then, if you want to maintain a sex life despite your current worries, there are several solutions:
- Take a shower just before sex: you will feel fresher and it can help you forget;
- Practice in the shower, in the bath: who said you had to be in bed to do this kind of thing? ;)
Suggest other practices:
There's more to sexuality than vaginal penetration... suggest other things!
Bienvenue chez Gapianne ! 👋
Ici, nous guidons les femmes vers des solutions adaptées sur toutes les questions liées à leur santé gynéco et leur bien-être intime, grâce à un parcours d’accompagnement personnalisé.