Attention editors: There was a lot of research on body odor and halitosis (bad breath), but not much on vaginal odor, even though it’s a very common problem for women who go to the doctor. Â.
We care a lot about accuracy and teaching that is based on science at Evvy. That’s why we always include links to studies from reputable journals and groups like the CDC in all of our content. However, there isn’t a lot of research on vaginal odor, so this article refers to other sources, such as WebMD and interviews with doctors. This only makes us want to close the health gap between men and women by leading the way in vaginal health research that gives people the accurate body information they deserve. Â.
Vaginas are meant to smell like vaginas. Not like scented intimate wash products, pineapple juice, fruit salad, or a rosebush. Â.
Most likely, you already know what “normal” smells like in your vagina. However, this may change a little as your period goes through the motions. Â.
But, sometimes things can smell a bitâ¦off. Maybe stronger, unusual, or abnormally foul. There are other people like you who have quickly gone to the web and typed in “Why does my vagina smell like rotten eggs?” or “death” (yes, really). Â.
Some of the most searched-for vaginal “smells” (and some less common ones) are listed below, along with the types of vaginal infections, environmental factors, and hormonal changes that they’re linked to.
You wake up and notice an unusual scent coming from down below. At first you think you must be imagining things but after a quick sniff, there’s no denying it – your vagina smells like bacon! As alarming as this may be, there are some simple explanations for that meaty aroma.
What Causes Bacon Scent?
The vagina has a complex chemical makeup that can fluctuate and cause changes in odor. Here are some potential reasons your vagina smells like bacon:
Diet
Foods like red meat onions garlic, spices, and asparagus can affect the way your vaginal secretions smell. The aromas from these foods can get excreted through sweat glands around the vulva. Eating bacon itself or other pork products can make your vagina take on a bacon-esque scent.
Bacterial Vaginosis
Bacterial vaginosis is an overgrowth of unhealthy bacteria in the vagina. One of the main symptoms is a fishy odor, but sometimes this can present more like the smell of bacon. The infection causes a shift in pH levels, allowing the bad bacteria to take over.
Foreign Object
Sometimes a forgotten tampon or condom can get lodged in the vaginal canal, causing unpleasant odors. This provides a breeding ground for bacteria. If you suspect a foreign object may be trapped, see a doctor immediately. Don’t try to remove it yourself as this can cause further issues.
Sweat and Hygiene
The vulva contains apocrine sweat glands, which produce perspiration in response to stress The bacteria on your skin mixes with this sweat and creates body odor. Infrequent bathing and wearing tight clothes that don’t allow for ventilation can make this worse The smell often resembles a foot odor.
Trichomoniasis
Trichomoniasis is a common sexually transmitted infection. Up to 70% of people with trich don’t show symptoms, but those who do report a strong, fishy vaginal odor. Sometimes this presents more like a bacon smell. It requires prescription antibiotics to treat.
Smoking or Vaping
Smoking anything exposes the vagina to many harmful chemicals. These can change the odor and make it smell more offensive. Tobacco, marijuana, and e-cigarettes have all been reported to cause increased vaginal odor.
When to See a Doctor
You should make an appointment with your gynecologist if:
-
The bacon smell is persistent and doesn’t go away after a few days.
-
The odor is accompanied by itching, burning, or abnormal discharge.
-
You think you may have a forgotten tampon, condom, or other object lodged in your vagina.
-
You have recently had unprotected sex with a new partner.
-
You have any signs of infection like pain, swelling, redness, bleeding, fever, or chills.
Your doctor can examine the vagina, diagnose any underlying issue, and provide the proper treatment. Don’t hesitate to discuss any concerns about vaginal health.
Tips to Eliminate Bacon Smell
Here are some self-care tips to help get rid of that unpleasant bacon odor:
-
Avoid smoking and secondhand smoke exposure.
-
Improve hygiene by washing the vulva daily with a gentle, unscented cleanser.
-
Change out of sweaty clothes as soon as possible.
-
Wear cotton underwear and loose, breathable fabrics.
-
Limit foods like red meat, onions, and garlic that can cause odor.
-
Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water each day.
-
Take probiotics to promote healthy vaginal pH and bacteria.
-
Never douche or use fragranced products meant to mask odor. These can cause further irritation.
When to Worry
While bacon smell can be alarming, in many cases, it resolves on its own. Contact your doctor if the odor persists longer than one week, seems to be getting worse, or you have other symptoms of infection. Foul, rotten smells are also not normal and warrant medical care.
Otherwise, be patient and try the self-care tips above. The vagina is remarkably good at self-cleaning and restoring balance. If bacon smell happens occasionally due to diet or hormone changes, don’t fret. Focus on healthy behaviors and know when to seek help if needed. With the right care, your vagina will be back to its normal scent.
Bleach or ammonia vaginal odor
Small amounts of urine mixed with discharge, or sweat, can give vaginal odor an ammonia, or urine-like tang.Â
When using menstrual pads or tampons, traces of urine are absorbed, along with blood, which can trigger an ammonia odor, too.Â
If you notice that this odor shifts towards the smell of bleach, or cleaning products (especially after sex), some OB-GYNs suggest lubricants and condoms might be the culprit.Â
While the typical smell of bacterial vaginosis is an unpleasant, fishy one, sometimes a vaginal smell like ammonia can be linked to bacterial vaginosis (BV), especially when it’s caused by an overgrowth of Prevotella bivia. A 1997 study found that when P. It made a lot of ammonia when bivia was grown with certain nutrients, which then helped G grow. vagnialis.
More rarely, some BV infections can start because fecal microbes from the anal cavity, make their way into the vagina. These fecal microbes produce bacterial odorants that can result in foul odors like ammonia, musty, or rotten eggs. .Â
While the foods we eat arenât strongly associated with vaginal odor (again, the pineapple challenge is a scam), the sulfur compounds in asparagus that produce stealthy, unmistakable ammonia odor that you notice when you pee, can also shift your vaginal odor this way too, as traces of urine mix with vaginal secretions.Â
Where does vaginal odor come from?
Different things probably cause different vaginal smells in different people. This is because vaginal smells are caused by more than one thing. Â.
The smell of vaginal area comes from the waste products that different microbes in the vaginal microbiome make. (Want to find out what kinds of microbes might be causing your bad vaginal smell? Evvy checks for all the bacteria and fungi that live in the vaginal microbiome.) Â Â.
In fact all body odor originates from the different odors bacteria produce (known as bacterial odorants).
Certain vaginal bacteria release chemicals that are smelly, specifically chemicals called âbiogenic aminesâ. Biogenic amines can cause the vaginal pH to raise. Â.
Right now, Dialister, Prevotella, Parvimonas, Megasphaera, Peptostreptococcus, and Veillonella are suspected to be responsible for producing most of the smelly molecules, because they have the genes required to produce biogenic amines.Â
Putrescine and Cadaverine are two biogenic amines that are made by the microbes that cause BV. They smell like rotting meat or fish, which is why BV has a fishy smell.
However, biogenic amines are not the only cause of vaginal odor. Odor is created when the bacteria from the vagina mix with other fluids or bacteria nearby. Â.
Almost everything that makes up vaginal odor is in discharge, which includes microbes that are in genital sweat, menstrual blood, urine, and sometimes small amounts of feces.
For example, the microbes in flatulence (and urine), give off Hydrogen sulfide â a bacterial odorant that smells eggy, or rotten. Vaginally, this type of odor can crop up when urine secretions mix with the bacteria from the vagina and anal area.Â
You get the picture! Now, onto common vaginal odors:Â Â
What Should Your VAGINA SMELL LIKE? What Causes Vaginal Odor? What Are Treatments?
FAQ
Why does my down there smell like meat?
Why does my discharge smell like sausage?
What STD smells like infection?
What discharge smells like spoiled meat?
What causes vaginal odor?
Use condoms. Unprotected sex increases your risk of several conditions that can lead to vaginal odors. Aim to eat healthy. There’s not a clear-cut, absolute link between your diet and how your vagina smells, but Dr. Streicher says what you eat can be a factor in your vaginal odor.
What causes vaginal odor after thorough washing?
The vagina is self-cleaning, so thorough washing is not necessary and can actually be harmful. The vagina contains good bacteria that help to keep it healthy. When you wash the vagina too much, you can disrupt the balance of these bacteria, which can lead to an infection.
Why does my vagina smell fishy?
A strong unfamiliar and unpleasant odor — especially one that continues for several days and smells fishy – isn’t normal. A smelly vaginal odor may be a symptom of a health problem, especially when it accompanies other symptoms like a grayish-white vaginal discharge, burning and itching. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center.
What does bacterial vaginosis smell like?
Bacterial vaginosis can have this effect. This is the most common vaginal infection among females aged 15–44 years. Some females with bacterial vaginosis may experience other symptoms, such as itching or burning. This may feel similar to a yeast infection. For many, however, the fishy odor is the only symptom.