Most of us are aware of the principle that our vagina is self-cleansing. However, at some point or the other, we all have wondered why our vaginas smell like this? But do you know that almost the same smell comes from everyone's vagina? The smell of the vagina changes with time. Other factors like periods, pregnancy, sex, discharge, and medications contribute to this smell.
Yes, we all want our vaginas to smell good; but unfortunately, this is not always the case. The way your vagina smells depends on many things like your diet, sugar intake and of course, hygiene.
A healthy vagina has some foul odour but its smell varies. When you are on your period, you may get a metallic smell because there is iron in the blood. While the smell is normal most of the time, there are times when the vagina smells unusual and this can be a sign of an underlying health problem. Only then you should consult a doctor and follow the prescribed treatment.
As we have just shared, most of the vaginal odour is normal and not associated with any health ailment, but sometimes the smell can bother you. So, we spoke to Dr Pooja C Thukral, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist, Cloudnine Group of Hospitals, Faridabad, and asked her to share some tips to treat vaginal odour.
Vaginal smell
Talking about the smell of the vagina, our expert said, 'The vagina produces some amount of discharge which is good for keeping it lubricated and is also one of the ways the vagina flushes out old cells. The amount of discharge varies with time. What are the different cycles a woman goes through? For example, in the middle of the cycle, the vagina usually becomes sticky. We are all aware of the smell of our discharge. Sometimes, when the discharge smells foul or has a very strong odour, it can indicate some sort of infection and then it is a good idea to see your doctor.'
Wear cotton undergarments
Sometimes you may want to wear synthetic panties, but most of the time, experts recommend cotton undergarments. Invest in well-branded cotton panties as they absorb the perspiration generated in the perineal area thus avoiding any bad odour.
Change your panties
Dr Thukral further added that it is a good idea to change your panty two to three times a day whenever you feel that the panty has become wet. If you are travelling and changing undergarments frequently is not possible for you, then you can use panty liners.
Use essential oil
You can add a few drops of essential oil to the bath water while taking a bath. You don't need to apply oil to the vaginal area, but taking a water bath will help you with the aroma. To clean your vagina, it is best to use warm water and mild soap, if necessary.
We hope these expert tips will help you get rid of vaginal odour. If you continue to experience a foul smell from your vagina, our doctors suggest you see an expert. This could be a sign of infection for which medical help may be needed.
Image Credit: Freepik & Shutterstock
DISCLAIMER
Your skin and body are as different as you are. We endeavour to bring you correct, safe and expert-verified information through our articles and social media handles, but still, you must consult your doctor before trying any home remedy, hack or fitness tip
