Vaginal odors

 Many women suffer from vaginal odors that are caused from bacteria. Typically if your vagina has a fishy smell, you have a condition known as bacterial vaginosis. If your vagina has a foul, fishy odor this is caused from an imbalance in the bacteria that is found in your vagina.

You may also have a foul smell from your vagina if you have a yeast infection. The smell may also become worse after sexual intercourse or during your period. There is a myth that eating more citrus foods will help to reduce the smell however clinical tests have been unable to back this theory (many people believe citrus can also change the taste of a man's semen).

The problem (besides the smell) with vaginal odors is that you don't have any other symptoms so you may not think there is a problem. Most people will not experience painful itching and burning of the vagina although some women do notice a watery discharge. If you do nothing about bacterial vaginosis, you could be at risk for a serious infection. Typically bacterial vaginois will infect the fallopian tubes, the uterus, and the ovaries. If these areas are infected, you may have a harder time conceiving children and it may be difficult to engage in sexual intercourse. The infection may get worse to the point that you have to have surgery to remove your uterus.

Many women will get bacterial vaginosis from using antiseptic wipes on their vagina or bathing in antiseptic water. Avoid putting unclean things into your vagina like vibrators or dildos that have not been properly sterilized. If you have sexual intercourse with a partner, ask them to wash their hands and genitals before engaging in intercourse to reduce the risk of infection. Be careful about taking bubble baths because this can cause bacterial infections to occur.

Your diet can also impact bacterial vaginosis. The body needs certain foods and when you follow fad diets, you are starving the body of these nutrients. If you have problems with recurring bacterial vaginosis, try eating yogurt daily. Yogurt helps to control the bacteria in the vagina. If you are a smoker, quit as soon as possible. Smoking restricts the blood from delivering proper nutrients to the body and the vagina may be starved of nutrients that help to maintain a proper balance of the bacteria.

 Seek medical attention if you have bacterial vaginosis because it could become serious. You will need to take antibiotics for at least 10 days to kill off the high levels of bacteria and help them return to normal. Usually you will need to take Metronidazole which will cure the problem, but may leave an unpleasant taste in the mouth and it may leave you feeling nauseous. If you have a bad infection you may need to take Metronidazole in addition to inserting medication into the vagina. 90% of women that use Metronidazole have success with killing bacterial vaginosis and the vaginal odor disappears within a few days.

The bad part about getting bacterial vaginosis is that you have a 50% chance of getting it again. The good thing is you will already know what the signs and symptoms are so you can seek medical treatment sooner and get the medication you need to return the bacterial levels to normal. You can do a few things to help prevent it from reoccurring like eating yogurt daily, using tampons with applicators, quitting smoking, and keeping other contraceptives and sexual toys clean before inserting them into the vagina. Always seek treatment if you get bacterial vaginosis when you are pregnant, it can lead to premature birth.