Strong vaginal odor may signal serious medical conditions. Although many of the conditions that cause vaginal odors are treatable, dismissing the odor as harmless and not seeing a doctor can be dangerous. Women with a strong vaginal odor should always contact their doctor for evaluation and advice.
Bacterial Vaginosis
Bacterial vaginosis is a mild bacterial in the vagina. The odor that accompanies bacterial vaginosis usually smells fishy, and may be worse after sexual intercourse. Besides the odor, other symptoms include vaginal discharge that may be clear or colored. Some women have this condition without any symptom, explains the American Academy of Family Physicians. Women can treat the condition with oral medications or vaginal suppositories.
Chlamydia or Gonorrhea
Chlamydia and gonorrhea also may cause a strong vaginal odor in some women. Women can prevent sexually transmitted infections like these by always using a condom during sexual intercourse. Although women can use antibiotics to effectively treat these conditions, chlamydia or gonorrhea both can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease if left untreated.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
Strong vaginal odor is also characteristic of pelvic inflammatory disease, but other symptoms include fever, unusual vaginal discharge, painful intercourse, painful urination, pain in the right upper arm and irregular menstrual bleeding. If left untreated, pelvic inflammatory disease can cause permanent damage to reproductive organs, warns the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Women who believe they may have pelvic inflammatory disease should seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Cancer
Cervical cancer and cancer of the vagina also can cause odor. The odor is typically one of the first identifiable symptoms of the disease, explains the Cleveland Clinic, along with watery or bloody vaginal discharge, abnormal vaginal bleeding and menstrual periods that are heavier or longer than normal. Women with vaginal cancer may notice a lump or mass in the vagina as well, notes the Mayo Clinic. If the cancer has spread to other tissues or organs, symptoms may include fatigue, weight loss, a dull backache, swelling in the legs, diarrhea, pain or bleeding from the rectum upon defecation, blood in the urine or painful urination. Early identification and treatment of cancer often leads to a more favorable prognosis, so women should contact a doctor as soon as possible if they are displaying any of these symptoms.
Poor Hygiene
Although the vagina is a self-cleaning organ, not practicing good hygiene can contribute to unpleasant vaginal odor. Women should shower or bathe daily, wear clean underwear and change tampons regularly to prevent strong vaginal odor from occurring. They should also avoid douching, as this may disrupt the normal acidity of the vagina that controls bacteria and might make vaginal odor worse.
