Vaginal odors can make women feel embarrassed and less assured. While some people assume this problem is the result of poor hygiene, the most common culprit is bacterial vaginosis (BV). Some vaginal odors also are caused by sexually transmitted diseases and cancers. If you are concerned about unpleasant vaginal odors, try some natural methods to resolve the issue. If these remedies fail, it could be a warning sign of something serious; in such cases, consult a doctor.
Step 1
Thoroughly wash your vaginal area with soap and water. Scrub throughout the pubic region but not inside the vagina, as this could damage delicate tissues. Although it might sound like a contradiction, consider using fragrance-free soap. Fragrances initially can help mask unpleasant smells, but some fragrance chemicals can contribute to the problem.
Step 2
Stop douching. Using a douche gets rid of healthy bacteria and other organisms that are essential to maintaining a healthy vagina. Douching also can disrupt the vagina's acidic balance, and fragrances in some douches actually contribute negatively to the smell of your vagina. While douching may provide short-term odor relief, over the long run it could exacerbate your odor woes and damage your vaginal tissues.
Step 3
Eat organic foods, particularly fruits and fruit juices. Although medical science has not yet determined whether there is a connection, some health food promoters contend the toxins that enter your body through pollution, pesticides on food and other chemicals can create an unhealthy pH balance in our system that can alter the odor of your vagina. Adopt this diet for a week and see if it makes a difference.
Step 4
If the previous measures do not work, visit a doctor to have the cause diagnosed. You likely have a condition such as BV, which requires treatment with antibiotics. However, the foul odor could be a warning sign of something more serious, such as cervical cancer.
