In an era of overwhelming advertisements for vaginal washes, even most healthy women can’t help but wonder: Are their private parts not clean enough? Do you really have to use vaginal lotion to “cleanse and make it healthier”?
Not really! A healthy woman’s private parts have a special smell, which is not as unpleasant as advertised, and certainly not as refreshing as a flower fragrance or as warm as a milk fragrance.
A. Where does the smell of the private parts come from?
Women often find traces of secretions on their underwear, which in a healthy state are actually very clean.
The normal vaginal discharge itself has various states at different stages of the menstrual cycle and may appear clear and drawn or pasty, and can be creamy white, flaxen or slightly yellowish in color.
These vaginal discharges contain large amounts of shed cells, some mucus and some resident bacteria from the vagina itself. It is with the help of vaginal secretions and resident bacteria that the vagina maintains a clean and balanced internal environment, keeping the pH at a healthy 3.8 to 4.5.
The smell of the private parts is also produced by these secretions and bacteria and is not too unpleasant under normal circumstances. But if the smell becomes particularly pungent or strange, it may suggest that something is wrong.
What kind of odor is considered normal?
After combining the answers of several obstetricians and gynecologists, it can be said as follows.
If the odor is not particularly unpleasant and cannot be detected from a distance of 30 cm, it is normal. However, if the odor becomes noticeable, unpleasant and pungent, and is accompanied by pain, burning or itching, you need to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Note that it is as soon as possible to seek medical attention, and not because of face problems to run to buy any random lotion. Most of the lotions are not medicinal and not only have no therapeutic effect, but may upset the balance of the vagina itself, making it worse the more you wash.
It’s important to say it three times: Don’t use lotion! Don’t use lotion! Don’t use lotion!
What are the possible causes of abnormal odor?
1. Diet
The saying “people are like their food” does have some truth to it, the food you eat can sometimes really affect your body’s reaction. For example, certain strong-smelling foods can also affect the smell of the private parts, common garlic, onions, asparagus, curry, etc.
2, drugs or nutrients
Antibiotics: Abuse of drugs like antibiotics may also affect the balance of normal vaginal flora and change the smell of the private parts;
Antihistamines: It can lead to vaginal dryness and a significant decrease in secretion, which can also change the smell of the private parts to some extent;
Nutritional products: Some people take herbal medicine and fish oil nutritional supplements, and the odor of the private parts will also change.
3.Smothering and sweating
The private parts are similar to the armpits, which are hidden and humid places, and are already prone to sweating. When the sweating of the private parts increases significantly, the original normal odor will become stronger.
Although the smell in this case is not strictly “abnormal”, but after all, it makes people uncomfortable, but we should pay attention to diligent change of intimate clothing, choose breathable fabrics, do not wear too tight pants.
4. Hormonal changes
Hormone levels in women of childbearing age change monthly, and the amount and smell of vaginal secretions will also change.
Many factors that affect hormone levels can lead to changes in the smell of the private parts, such as hormone replacement therapy, birth control pills, vaginal ointments, etc.
Menopausal women experience a significant decrease in estrogen levels, leading to an increased risk of bacterial and fungal vaginitis, which is more likely to cause changes in private odor.
5. Bacterial vaginitis
A healthy vagina has many resident flora that maintain a stable internal environment, but if the balance is disturbed, harmful bacteria can begin to flourish.
The exact cause of bacterial vaginitis is not known, but it is certain that switching to a new sexual partner, having multiple sexual partners and douching the vagina can increase the risk of the disease. These actions may lead to an overgrowth of other bacteria, mainly anaerobic bacteria. These bacteria love an alkaline environment and can cause the vaginal pH to rise above 4.5.
Symptoms of bacterial vaginitis include a noticeable increase in discharge that becomes thin and may be tea-brown in color with a fishy odor. This abnormal odor may become more pronounced after sex due to the alkaline nature of semen.
Bacterial vaginitis can be treated with oral or topical antibiotics, depending on the situation, and is usually cured in 3 to 7 days.
It is important to follow the doctor’s instructions and to stop only when the doctor tells you to stop. Some patients stop the medication on their own when they feel relief, which may lead to recurrence of the disease.