08/03/2021
LADIES, DO YOU HAVE A BAD ODOUR ‘DOWN THERE’?
Ladies and gentlemen, the smell of va**nas will vary, depending on what phase a woman’s menstrual cycle is in. Vaginal odour is often due to a combination of va**nal secretions, sweat, urine, faeces, and even creams. Good ge***al health, however, is the simplest, most effective way of preventing foul va**nal smell
Causes of va**na odour
Unless you are on your period, it is normal to produce clear or white mucus-like secretions from your va**na. This mucus is what we typically call “va**nal discharge.” The presence of va**nal discharge is not necessarily bad as its production is affected by a myriad of factors, including hormonal changes. For example, when you are ovulating, your discharge is usually thicker and quite stretchy.
This is normal.
It is when the colour, smell, or quantity of your discharge changes — along with other symptoms, such as ge***al itching, soreness, or swelling – that you should be concerned about.
While you may feel the wetness in your ge***al area, healthful va**nal discharge should not have a strong smell or colour.
Bad va**nal odour is typically from an inflammation of the va**nal area. This often occurs because of poor hygiene and infection in or around the va**na.
Infections that can cause va**nal malodour to include:
• Bacterial vaginosis – This causes a fishy smell and is the most common cause of the foul va**nal smell.
• Trichomoniasis - A s*xually transmitted infection, this causes a frothy, foul-smelling discharge.
• Pelvic Inflammatory Disease – This is associated with foul-smelling, brownish va**nal discharge and abnormal va**nal bleeding.
• Candidiasis – This issue is very common in women and gives off a “yeasty” smell.
Other causes of bad va**nal smells that are non-infectious include:
• Poor ge***al hygiene
• Foreign bodies, such as forgotten tampons, diaphragms, sponges or even bits of condoms
• Fistulas (abnormal passageways) linking the va**na with the re**um or bladder. This may occur following childbirth, injury, or surgery.
• Excessive sweating is a very common cause in overweight or obese individuals.
• Chronic constipation or bloating, leading to the passage of smelly farts
• Urinary and faecal incontinence
• Vulval or cervical cancer
What To Do?
If you’re concerned about an abnormal or long-standing va**nal odour, please see your physician, especially if you have other signs and symptoms, such as itching, burning, irritation, or weird discharge.
To prevent having a malodourous va**na, here are a few tips to help everyone:
• Wash your ge***al area. Even though the va**na will clean itself inside your body with natural secretions, during your regular baths or showers, use a very small amount of mild, unscented soap and lots of water to wash the area. It’s better to not use perfumed soaps, gels, and antiseptics as these can affect the healthy balance of bacteria and pH levels in the va**na and cause irritation, which may lead to inflammation.
During your period, wash the area more than once a day. Also, wash after in*******se – I don’t mean after each “round” but do not make it a habit to wait hours after s*xual activity to clean up.
It’s also important to note that keeping the perineal area (between the va**na and a**s) clean is essential too.
• Avoid douching. All healthy va**nas contain nature-approved bacteria and yeast. The normal acidity of your va**na helps to keep these bacteria and yeast in check. A do**he flushes water up into the va**na and then out, clearing all va**nal secretions. All douching does is washes out the va**na – including all the healthy stuff – thus affecting the natural balance of your va**na.
• Practice safe s*x. In this era of all sorts of s*xually transmitted infections, this point cannot be overstressed!
Organisms that cause chlamydia, gonorrhoea, ge***al herpes, ge***al warts, syphilis, and HIV are all transmitted through s*x.
Abstinence is still the only full-proof way to avoid these infections. Where you cannot abstain, if you are unmarried, ensure you have only one partner with whom you are having protected in*******se. A simple trick to abstinence is telling your prospective s*xual partner that you both need to get tested and certified to ensure that you are both clear of any infections before any rolling in the hay can take place! Trust me, this sends the majority of them scurrying in the opposite direction…lol.
• Other tips include:
- Avoiding tight underwear that can lead to sweating around your ge***als.
- Changing your underwear regularly.
- Embarking on a weight loss program if relevant for you.
- Forgoing scented wipes and va**nal deodorants as they can disrupt the va**na’s healthy, natural balance. If indeed Almighty Creator had intended for the va**na to smell like roses, He would have made them smell so.
While we cannot smell like roses and lavender down there, don’t be that lady whom people avoid sitting beside because of the odour emanating from your nether region. If you already deal with this issue, you can be on your way to a fresher smelling you just by practising the above tips.
Please note that the guidelines here are not a substitute for a visit to your physician if you have concerns about your discharge and smell.
Stay healthy, ladies!
And happy international women's day
Ehioze Ogieze cares.
