How to Reduce Feminine Odor

Written by Rose Kivi

14 August, 2017

It is not uncommon to worry if other people can smell your vaginal odor, but the concern is usually unwarranted. TeensHealth, a service provided by the Nemours Foundation, assures women " that under normal circumstances, no one ever smells any odors from a girl's vagina." A healthy vagina's scent is usually mild, although some women naturally produce a stronger odor than others 1. If you are experiencing strong vaginal odors, visit your gynecologist to rule out any health problems. With a clean bill of health, you can follow routine hygiene and vaginal care practices to keep odors to a minimum.

Is This an Emergency?

If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.

Shower everyday to remove sweat and bacteria from your skin. Wash your vulva--the external areas of your vagina--daily with mild soap and water or skip the soap and instead use water alone. Soap can cause vaginal irritation in some women, leading to increased feminine odor. Water alone is sufficient to clean the vulva effectively, according to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, or ACOG.

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Avoid using feminine deodorant sprays, scented tampons, feminine wipes, scented toilet paper and douches. These products can increase feminine odor by causing vaginal irritation, bacterial vaginosis and yeast infections. Douching changes the pH levels of the vagina, making it less friendly to the good bacteria that ward off infections. ACOG advises women to refrain from douching to "reduce the risk of getting vaginitis."

Wear cotton underwear. Cotton is a breathable material and allows air to penetrate the fabric, which reduces feminine odor by keeping the vagina dry. Change your underwear once a day, more often if desired. Wear a nightgown and go pantiless at night to give your vagina an extra boost of fresh air.

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Reduce vaginal odor by trimming or removing pubic hair. Sweat and urine can get trapped in pubic hair, creating undesirable odors.

Reduce odor related to excess sweating by sprinkling a little cornstarch in your underwear. Cornstarch is mild, unscented and absorbs sweat.

Change your tampons and sanitary pads every three hours to reduce odor related to menstrual blood.

Tips

Feminine odor, amount of vaginal discharge and consistency of vaginal discharge naturally fluctuate throughout a woman's menstrual cycle. The University of Maryland Medical center notes "emotional stress, ovulation and pregnancy" are normal causes of increased vaginal discharge.

Warnings

Seek treatment from a licensed medical professional if you have unusual vaginal odors, discharge or other abnormal symptoms. Gray, green, lumpy, fishy smelling, unusually strong smelling, or unusual amounts of vaginal discharge can be a sign of a sexually transmitted disease (STD), a bacterial infection or a fungal infection. Vaginal irritation, itchiness, burning and irritation are also possible symptoms of infection, STD or other health problems, including cancer.