Ever wondered “Why does my vagina smell?” Youre not alone. Vaginal odors are totally normal. vaginas smell. All vaginas have some kind of scent down, and no matter what soap commercials tell you, it shouldnt be a light floral one.
According to research published in the New York Times, people with vaginas “are most frequently concerned that their vaginas smell like fish followed by vinegar, onions, ammonia, garlic, cheese, body odor, urine, bread, bleach, feces, sweat, metal, feet, garbage and rotten meat. “.
There is no single way a healthy vagina should smell. “Every woman has her own scent and its a totally normal part of who she is. You are most sensitive to your own natural odor, and its very unlikely that anyone else around you can smell it,” explains Dr. Vanessa Cullins, Vice President for External Medical Affairs at Planned Parenthood Federation of America.
Many people would describe their healthy vaginal odor as being musky, and despite comparisons to gardens and flowers, vaginas will never smell like a bed of roses. That said, vaginal odors outside your typical smell can be a sign that somethings amiss.
Few things can change the smell of your vaginal area: having an infection or STI, working out and sweating, your hormone levels during your period, and more. When should you see a doctor? Dr. “An unpleasant smell can be a sign of an infection that needs to be treated right away,” says Cullins. “This is especially true if it’s accompanied by an unusual discharge.” ” Your body is smart. When your vagina is trying to tell you something, dont ignore it.
Read on to learn more about seven common types of vaginal odors to look out for, explained with the help of Dr. Cullins and Dr. Debora Nucatolah, Senior Director of Medical Services, at Planned Parenthood Federation of America. (And if youre experiencing any acne down there, heres how to treat vaginal pimples. ).
It can be very strange and scary when your vagina smells like chicken noodle soup. This strange smell doesn’t happen very often, but knowing what might be causing it can help you understand and feel better.
What Causes A Chicken Noodle Soup Scent?
There are a few possible explanations for this peculiar odor
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Diet – Eating a lot of salty, seasoned, or spicy foods containing ingredients like garlic, onion, celery, and spices found in chicken noodle soup can lead to a similar scent in vaginal secretions. These foods can change the vaginal pH balance.
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BV (Bacterial Vaginosis) usually has a fishy smell, but it can sometimes have an ammonia-like smell that smells like chicken noodle soup. When bad bacteria like Prevotella bivia grow too much, they make ammonia compounds.
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Yeast Infection – Yeast infections from the overgrowth of Candida fungi can potentially emit a yeasty, bread-like smell resembling chicken noodle soup. However, this is less common.
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Normal Secretions: The vagina’s unique mix of bacteria and fluids can just give off an aroma that you think of as chicken noodle soup. Every woman has her own scent profile down there.
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Sweat—Sweat mixed with vaginal discharge and skin bacteria could make your body smell like chicken soup. This is especially true after exercise or wearing tight clothes.
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Semen – Semen can temporarily change the vaginal pH after sex, allowing certain bacteria to grow and produce a chicken noodle-esque odor. The sulfury scent of sweat may also be more noticeable.
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Hygiene Products – Douches, fragranced soaps, menstrual pads, and even lubricants can irritate the vagina and create an imbalance, leading to abnormal odor.
When To See A Doctor
You should see a doctor if the chicken noodle soup smell is accompanied by other symptoms like itching, burning, unusual discharge, pain, or anything that concerns you. While typically harmless on its own, it could indicate an infection needing treatment. Get tested for STIs and conditions like BV.
Tips To Prevent Chicken Noodle Smell
- Wear breathable cotton underwear
- Avoid excessive washing and scented products
- Don’t use douches or panty liners
- Change out of damp clothes after exercise
- Eat a balanced diet
- Take probiotics
- Practice safe sex habits
- Get regular STI testing
What’s Normal?
It’s important to remember every vagina has a distinct scent that shifts throughout the menstrual cycle. If you notice a new smell, it doesn’t necessarily mean something is wrong. However, a persistent, foul, or fishy odor warrants seeing a doctor. Monitor smells and discharge closely. Know what’s normal for your body. Don’t hesitate to get checked out – vaginal health is nothing to be embarrassed about.
Your Vagina Smells Like Onions or Garlic
Possible cause: Natural Body Odor
“If you eat a lot of onions or garlic, you may pass an onion or garlic smell in your urine, and the smell of your vaginal discharge may change for a short time,” says Dr. Nucatolah says. “Within 24 to 48 hours of eating these pungent foods, your discharge, vagina, and urine should return to their normal smell. In [people with vaginas], the opening called the urethra from the bladder to outside the vulva, the vaginal opening, and the anus are all separate openings but they are located close together. Sometimes you may think it is your vulva or vagina that smells but it may be your urine or feces or anus. The best thing to do is wash with water and soap and then try to figure out where the smell is coming from. “.
Treatment: Take a shower or bath and youll say bye-bye to the B.O. smell.
A Fishy Vagina Smell
Possible Cause: Bacterial Vaginosis
“There are many different kinds of bacteria growing in your vagina,” explains Dr. Cullins. “These bacteria are completely normal and keep the vagina healthy. However, bacterial vaginosis (BV for short) is caused by an imbalance of different kinds of vaginal bacteria. Sometimes BV has no symptoms at all. Other times, itching, a strong fishy smell (especially after sex or washing with soap), and a thick, foamy discharge that is usually white or gray are signs. “.
Treatment: Your gynecologist can prescribe antibiotics to restore your vaginas pH balance. In the meantime, avoid douches and scented products (including tampons), which are known to disrupt your vaginas pH balance.
What Your Pee Smells Tell You About Your Health #shorts
FAQ
Why does down there smell like chicken soup?
A sulfury, chicken-like odor is also linked to sweat’s interaction with skin bacteria. This may be more noticeable after sex because you’ve just got hot and sweaty.
Why do I smell like chicken broth down there?
People with lupus often notice unusual urine smells like chicken broth, ammonia, or fruity odors. Your urine’s smell can indicate important health concerns, as lupus nephritis affects nearly half of adults with lupus and can damage the kidneys’ ability to filter waste properly.
What should a healthy vagina smell like?
A healthy vagina typically has a mild, slightly musky or tangy scent, often described as a “vagina smell”. It’s not supposed to smell like flowers or perfume.
Why does my body odor smell like vegetable soup?
Your favorite nutritional veggies and sides may also be causing some unexpected odor. Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts and cauliflower release sulfuric acid. This scent is intensified by sweat, breath or gas.
What causes unpleasant vaginal odor?
An imbalance in your vaginal bacterial levels can lead to infection and inflammation, a condition called vaginitis. Most types of vaginitis that cause bad vaginal smells also cause other symptoms, such as an abnormal vaginal discharge. The most common causes of unpleasant vaginal odor are:
Does garlic affect vaginal odor?
It’s possible that onions, garlic, and other strong-smelling foods can change the smell of your sweat, which can also change the smell of your vaginal area for up to two days.
What does a strong vaginal odor mean?
A strong vaginal odor may be a sign of vaginitis, or it may be a temporary smell related to your hygiene, lifestyle or other changes. Take note of whether you have other symptoms. If the odor is related to an infection, you’ll usually notice other changes, like vaginal itching, burning and discharge.
Why does my vagina have a tangy odor?
A woman of childbearing age has slightly acidic vaginal PH, so it’s normal for it to smell sour. However, a healthy vagina can have a variety of odors. This video file cannot be played. (Error Code: 102630) Your vagina is home to billions of bacteria.
Why does my vagina smell fishy?
You’re not alone if you’ve smelled a fishy odor emanating from your vagina. “That’s the most common thing people report,” Dr. Sophocles says. A fishy odor may be due to bacterial vaginosis (BV), which occurs when there’s an overgrowth of one form of bacteria in the vagina Dr. Katz says.
Is vaginal odor bad?
Vaginal odor is, for the most part, a normal experience and it isn’t necessarily bad — nor is it always a sign of a serious health concern, even if you can smell yourself through your pants. There are many common vaginal odors you may be concerned about right now; click on any to learn more about what causes it — and what to do: