Vaginal Health & Conditions

What Is Vaginal Odor? Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention

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Updated on May 16, 2023
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Vaginal odor is any unpleasant odor that comes from the vagina. A healthy vagina has natural bacteria that form a layer of protection called a “biofilm” that protects your body. These healthy bacteria may have a slight odor and discharge, but changes to either may indicate a shift to unhealthy bacteria or yeast.

The smell of your vagina may vary during your menstrual cycle, pregnancy, or menopause. You may also experience stronger smells after sexual intercourse or exercise.

 An intense odor, however, could be due to an infection that needs treatment.

Signs and Symptoms of Vaginal Odor

Temporary vaginal odor is common and often goes away on its own.

 Vaginal odor is considered normal if you don’t have other symptoms. But if the odor is persistent and you’re experiencing burning, itching, discharge, or irritation, it’s a good idea to see your doctor for a vaginal exam.

Causes and Risk Factors of Vaginal Odor

Again, it’s normal for your vagina to have a slight smell. But pay attention to any changes in smell, as well as changes in your discharge or if you develop irritation, burning, or itching. Some causes of vaginal odor may include:

  • Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) This infection is caused by a shift from healthy to unhealthy bacteria in the vagina. Symptoms may include a strong, fishy odor and a thin, gray discharge. It’s the most common vaginal condition in women ages 15 to 44.

  • Trichomoniasis A sexually transmitted infection (STI), trichomoniasis can cause vaginal odor. Other STIs, such as gonorrhea and chlamydia, typically aren’t accompanied by a strong smell but may be the culprit.

  • A Forgotten or Stuck Tampon A very strong vaginal odor can occur if you forget to take a tampon out or if one is stuck inside you. It is not possible for a tampon to get lost inside you. It can, however, be compressed at the top of your vagina. If you’re unable to remove the tampon yourself, it’s best to have your doctor extract it and check for infection.

  • Douching Douching is a method of washing the inside of the vagina using water that’s usually mixed with other fluids, commonly vinegar, baking soda, or iodine. The effect it has is much different from washing yourself in the bath or shower, which is perfectly healthy. Doctors don’t recommend douching because it can increase your risk for many health problems, including STIs, and even interfere with conception. Douching removes healthy bacteria that the vagina needs to keep balanced and can actually make the problem worse in the long run. In addition, douching can promote overgrowth of harmful bacteria, which can lead to yeast infections or BV.

     If you already have a vaginal infection, douching may spread the infection into your uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries, which can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, a serious infection that causes infertility in 1 in 10 women who have it.

  • Poor Hygiene Not bathing or showering regularly can lead to inflammation of the vaginal area, which can cause vaginal odor.

  • Sweating The skin in the groin area is prone to sweating, which can cause vaginal odor.

  • Diet What you eat and drink influences the smell of urine, and there’s some evidence that what you eat can affect your vaginal odor. If your vagina smells off, foods with strong odor, such as garlic, could be the cause.

The smell of the vagina may change over the course of your menstrual cycle or during pregnancy, but these changes are normal.

  • Your Menstrual Cycle Your vaginal smell likely changes during different stages in your cycle.

  • Pregnancy Pregnant women are at a higher risk of having changes in vaginal smell due to hormonal changes and increased vaginal secretions.

Rare causes of vaginal odor include:

  • Rectovaginal Fistula This is a rare abnormal opening between the vagina and the rectum that allows feces to leak into the vagina, which can contribute to vaginal odor. Other symptoms include recurrent vaginal or urinary tract infections (UTIs), pain during sex, or stool in your vagina. A rectovaginal fistula may be caused by a childbirth injury; complications from a pelvic surgery, including hysterectomy; Crohn’s disease; or cancer treatment to the area.

  • Cervical or Vaginal Cancer In rare cases, abnormal vaginal odor can sometimes be a symptom of cervical or vaginal cancer. Other symptoms of possible cervical or vaginal cancer are heavy vaginal discharge that can have a strong odor.

How Is Vaginal Odor Diagnosed?

Remember: Vaginal odor that happens because of a medical condition is usually associated with other signs and symptoms, like itching, burning, irritation, or discharge. Your doctor can help assess these symptoms through a vaginal exam and diagnostic tests.

A urine test can check for pregnancy and STIs like chlamydia and gonorrhea. A urinalysis can test for a UTI, while a sample of vaginal fluid is used to diagnose trichomoniasis or BV.

 If left untreated, infections can be extremely dangerous and cause permanent damage, so never try to treat them on your own without proper diagnosis.
Although rare, a rectovaginal fistula can be diagnosed through a vaginal exam and a rectal exam.

 If the fistula cannot be identified, imaging studies such as an ultrasound, CT scan, or an MRI may be performed.

 While some rectovaginal fistulas close on their own, most require surgery. It’s best to see your doctor as soon as possible if you suspect you may have a rectovaginal fistula.

If cancer is suspected — though this is rarely the cause of vaginal odor — your doctor will likely perform a Pap test to screen cervical or vaginal cells for cancer. An abnormal Pap test could require additional diagnostic testing.

Your doctor could also help you determine if medications, sweat, hormones, hygiene, or another lifestyle factor may be causing abnormal vaginal odor.

Duration of Vaginal Odor

Duration of an abnormal vaginal odor depends on the cause. Once the underlying cause is completely treated, the odor should go away.

Treatments and Medication Options for Vaginal Odor

Remedies for your vaginal odor will depend on the cause. Your doctor can help determine which medications or natural remedies can help treat an underlying condition.

Medication Options

You may need to see your doctor for treatments that target a specific issue, especially an infection.

If you have an infection such as bacterial vaginosis or trichomoniasis, your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic such as:

  • clindamycin (Cleocin Hcl)
  • metronidazole (Flagyl)
  • tinidazole (Tindamax)
You’ll also need to abstain from sex until the infection is completely gone — usually about a week after treatment ends.

Alternative and Complementary Therapies

  • Probiotics Some research has shown that probiotic supplements and foods, including yogurt, may help maintain healthy vaginal pH balance and speed up some women’s recovery from BV, though more research on the subject is needed.

  • Herbal Supplements Some herbal supplements claim to reduce vaginal odor or treat symptoms associated with root causes of vaginal odor, such as BV. Supplements can be an effective part of treatment, however, it’s important to note that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t regulate and review supplements for safety and effectiveness as it does with pharmaceuticals, so you should use caution with any supplements or natural remedies. It’s also illegal for any supplement to be marketed in the United States as a cure or treatment for a specific health condition.

     To make sure you don’t accidentally make a condition worse, don’t take any dietary supplement without first discussing it with your doctor, as it could interact with other medications or supplements you’re already taking.

Certain lifestyle modifications can help keep the vaginal area clean and reduce your risk of odor:

  • Wear cotton underwear and loose clothing to prevent moisture buildup and increase airflow to the area.

  • Change clothes and shower promptly after exercising or other sweaty activities.
  • Practice good hygiene, washing with warm water and nonirritating soap.

  • Avoid douching.

Prevention of Vaginal Odor

In general, you can control mild vaginal odor by implementing some of the tips mentioned below:

  • Quit smoking.
  • Lose weight.
  • try vitamin C vaginal suppositories.
  • Wear cotton underwear and loose clothing to prevent moisture buildup and increase airflow to the area.
  • Change clothes and shower promptly after exercise.
  • Practice good hygiene by washing your vaginal area with warm water and nonirritating soap.
  • Avoid foods that might increase the odor.
  • Wipe front to back after urinating or making a bowel movement to prevent spreading bacteria from your anus to your vagina.
  • Use condoms during sex, and carefully clean sex toys to prevent the spread of STIs.
  • Avoid douching and feminine sprays or deodorants, which can lead to irritation.

Complications of Vaginal Odor

In about a third of cases, an unusual vaginal smell goes away on its own.

But if the odor is a symptom of an underlying condition that needs to be treated, complications could arise (not from the odor itself, but from whatever is causing the odor). Odor is often the result of an infection that requires antibiotics.

Research and Statistics: Who Has Vaginal Odor?

Any woman can experience unusual vaginal odor.


As noted above, a common cause of abnormal odor is bacterial vaginosis, which is the most common vaginal condition in women under age 45.

 An estimated 21.2 million women between ages 14 and 49 are affected by it, as are 25 percent of pregnant women in the United States.

Related Conditions and Causes of Vaginal Odor

A number of conditions can change the bacterial balance in the vaginal area, leading to unusual odor. These include:

  • Bacterial Vaginosis As noted above, this common vaginal infection can cause a foul-smelling discharge.
  • Menopause The decrease in estrogen that occurs during menopause can lead to changes in the vaginal environment and cause the growth of “bad” bacteria and increased discharge. If the discharge has a strong odor, it’s worth checking in with your doctor.

  • STIs (sexually transmitted infections)
  • Urinary Tract Infections UTIs and dehydration can sometimes cause urine to smell, which can in turn create an odor (sometimes likened to the smell of bleach or ammonia) in the vaginal area.

The Takeaway

  • Healthy vaginas have a slight odor due to natural bacteria, but an intense and persistent vaginal odor accompanied by other symptoms may be a sign of a medical condition. These could include bacterial vaginosis, trichomoniasis, other STDs, an imbalance of bacteria from douching, and changes during menses.
  • See your doctor if you notice any changes in vaginal odor alongside discharge, burning, irritation, or itching.
  • In general, practicing good hygiene, wearing cotton underwear, and refraining from douching can help keep vaginal bacteria balanced.

Common Questions & Answers

How can I get rid of vaginal odor?
Wearing cotton underwear and loose clothing, as well as changing clothes right after exercise, can help. If the odor is due to an infection like bacterial vaginosis, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics.
It’s normal for vaginas to have an odor, which can change if you’re menstruating, pregnant, or going through menopause. Sex and exercise will also change the smell. Strong odors, however, may be due to an infection or other medical issue.
Fishy odor is usually caused by bacterial vaginosis, which is a common vaginal infection. If you have BV, you may also notice a thin white or gray discharge.
Wearing cotton underwear and loose clothing prevents the moisture buildup that leads to odors. Washing the vaginal area with warm water and gentle soap, and wiping front to back after going to the bathroom, can also help. Using condoms may also prevent odor-causing STIs.
Vaginal odor can be caused by diet, sweating, menstruation, or pregnancy. It can sometimes also be caused by infections like bacterial vaginosis or trichomoniasis.

Resources We Trust

EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Unveiling the Role of Gardnerella Vaginalis in Polymicrobial Bacterial Vaginosis Biofilms: The Impact of Other Vaginal Pathogens Living as Neighbors. The ISME Journal.
  2. Vaginal Odor: Causes. Mayo Clinic.
  3. Vaginal Odor. Cleveland Clinic.
  4. Vaginal Odor: When to See a Doctor. Mayo Clinic.
  5. Bacterial Vaginosis — CDC Basic Fact Sheet. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  6. What If I Forget to Remove My Tampon? NHS.
  7. Douching. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.
  8. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID). American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
  9. Vaginal Odor. Cleveland Clinic.
  10. Rectovaginal Fistula: Symptoms and Causes. Mayo Clinic.
  11. Trichomoniasis: Diagnosis and Treatment. Mayo Clinic.
  12. Rectovaginal Fistulas. Clinics in Colon and Rectal Surgery.
  13. Rectovaginal Fistula. Loma Linda University Health.
  14. Tests for Cervical Cancer. American Cancer Society.
  15. Bacterial Vaginosis: Diagnosis and Treatment. Mayo Clinic.
  16. Alleviation of Vulvovaginitis Symptoms: Can Probiotics Lead the Treatment Plan? Beneficial Microbes.
  17. Questions and Answers on Dietary Supplements. U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
  18. Common Herbal Dietary Supplement–Drug Interactions. American Family Physician.
  19. Bacterial Vaginosis — Aftercare. Mount Sinai.
  20. Vulvovaginal Health. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
  21. Bacterial Vaginosis — CDC Basic Fact Sheet. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  22. Is This Normal? Harvard Health Publishing.
Additional Sources
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John Paul McHugh, MD

Medical Reviewer

John Paul McHugh, MD, is an obstetrician-gynecologist and lifestyle medicine specialist in southern California. He has always placed wellness at the center of his work, in both delivering babies and improving practice standards. Dr. McHugh believes that bringing lifestyle medicine to the center of health and wellness empowers patients to make the change they seek and enjoy the benefits of true wellness.

He is a graduate of Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a fellow of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. He served as a department chair at Scripps Mercy Hospital in San Diego and is now the chair-elect for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists for California.

He has published several articles in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine and served as a peer reviewer for many articles. He contributed to the first textbook of lifestyle medicine in women's health: Improving Women's Health Across the Lifespan.

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Kaitlin Sullivan

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Kaitlin Sullivan reports on health, science, and the environment from Colorado. She has a master's in health and science journalism from the City University of New York.
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