Vaginal odor can be an embarrassing and distressing problem. A variety of dietary fixes have been recommended as home remedies, like cranberry juice or certain types of tea, but there is not enough evidence to support that these work. As always, before starting any new treatments, consult with your doctor first.
Normal Bacteria
A healthy body has many bacteria naturally living as a part of it. For example, most people have heard about the bacteria in the gut that help digest food. A woman's vagina also has certain bacteria that can normally be found there. Bacterial overgrowth in the vagina, called bacterial vaginosis or BV, occurs when there are too many of certain types of bacteria and the normal balance of mico-organisms in the vagina changes. This is the most common cause of a characteristic fishy vaginal odor.
Causes of Vaginal Odor
According to MayoClinic.com, vaginal odor may also be caused by some sexually transmitted diseases like chlamydia or gonorrhea, or a yeast infection. More rarely, vaginal odor may be caused by a forgotten tampon or even cancer. Vaginal odor that lasts more than a few days or causes concern should be seen to by a physician.
Diet and Vaginal Odor
Some people believe that diet can affect vaginal odor. For example, an Ayurvedic site recommends eating yogurt, avoiding refined sugars, and drinking cranberry juice. They also recommend tea made from fenugreek seeds. Fenugreek has a strong maple syrup-like flavor.
Maple Tea for Vaginal Odor
No evidence regarding a link between drinking maple tea and vaginal odor could be found. Certainly, drinking maple tea is not a widely recommended home remedy. However, a tea made from fenugreek seeds, which produces a maple-like smell and taste, has been suggested as an alternative medical treatment. Neither maple tea or tea made from fenugreek seeds have been scientifically proven to treat bacterial vaginosis or cure vaginal odor.
Talk To Your Doctor
Although vaginal odor might be a sensitive subject to discuss with your doctor, being open and honest can be important to ruling out a serious diagnosis like an STD or cancer that may be causing it. Discuss any home remedies, like herbal supplements or teas, that you might be taking to self-treat. Avoid douching, which might disrupt the balance of bacteria that naturally grow in a healthy vagina.
