Vaginal odor and vaginal scent are two different concepts. There's no such thing as a scentless vagina, but there is a difference between your body's healthy, natural scents and odors that are sour, fishy or unpleasant. The latter usually only occur when you have an infection or irritation. Antibiotics and lifestyle changes can cure the odor you have, and these tips can prevent you from suffering from the condition in the future.
Step 1
Skip the soap when you bathe or shower. The University of Iowa Health Center points out that a woman's body has cleaning and germ-fighting properties that don't need assistance from chemical cleansers. Rinse your vulva and inner labia with clean water.
Step 2
Be very choosy about the products you let touch your vagina. Avoid douches, according to nurse Barbara Williams Cosentino, as they can force bacteria up into your reproductive tract and lead to Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, infections and infertility. Allow the body to cleanse itself and only douche if your doctor prescribes it as treatment for a specific medical condition.
Step 3
Wear breathable fabrics. Leather pants, nylon hosiery or Spandex bike shorts may not let sweat and bodily fluids evaporate quickly enough. The resulting moisture creates ideal conditions for odor-causing bacteria or yeast to thrive.
Step 4
Change clothes immediately after swimming, working out or sweating a lot. Wet clothes hold moisture close to the vagina, which encourages bacteria or yeast growth. They can also irritate the sensitive membranes in your internal and external genitalia, which creates more vaginal discharge. This discharge creates more moisture and a cycle of bacterial or yeast irritation that creates foul odors.
Step 5
Use condoms with new sexual partners. New or unfamiliar partners can contribute to excess vaginal bacteria and in some women can trigger an infection. Unprotected sex also increases your risk of contracting a sexually transmitted disease, which also can cause odors.
Step 6
Get regular gynecological screenings, such as Pap exams, to make sure you're free of infections. Odor, especially fishy odor, is often caused by bacterial vaginosis, or BV, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, and BV is treated by taking antibiotics.
