Obviously, nobody wants to have a fishy smell wafting up from the general vicinity of their vagina. But a lot of people have strange fishy vaginal smells at some point, which makes them wonder why their vagina smells like anything other than a vagina.
Even though it might not be very pleasant, smelling like fish is kind of helpful to know. This strange smell is usually a good sign that something is wrong with your genital health, says Lauren Streicher, M.D. D. , an associate professor of clinical obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, tells SELF.
These tips will help you figure out what’s going on if you have a fishy smell in your genital area.
You get a whiff of something funky coming from down under. Upon further inspection your vagina smells distinctly like prawn cocktail or fishy. Understandably, this can cause confusion and concern. But don’t panic – there are several potential reasons behind your seafood-scented situation.
In this article we’ll explore the possible causes treatments, and preventative measures for a vagina that smells like shellfish. While disconcerting, this symptom can guide you toward any underlying health issues needing attention. Let’s break down the fishy vagina mystery.
What Triggers Fishy Vaginal Odors?
A few key culprits could be contributing to your prawn-esque predicament
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Bacterial vaginosis – An overgrowth of harmful bacteria causes fishy discharge.
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Trichomoniasis – A common STI, it creates frothy, fish-scented discharge.
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Poor hygiene – Inadequate cleaning causes bacterial overgrowth.
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Foreign objects – Retained tampons, sex toys, etc can develop bacteria and smell.
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Douching – Alters vaginal pH and flora leading to infections.
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Hormonal changes – Shifting estrogen levels around puberty, menstruation, and menopause affect scent.
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Sweat and heat – Excess perspiration in the groin region mingles with vaginal secretions.
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Diet – Pungent foods like garlic can seep into vaginal mucus secretions.
Essentially, any factor that throws off the delicate balance of microorganisms in the vagina can lead to fishy odors. Let’s explore the potential culprits.
Bacterial Vaginosis
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) occurs when there is an overgrowth of harmful anaerobic bacteria in the vagina. Normal, protective lactobacillus bacteria are wiped out, allowing odor-causing bacteria to thrive. Their metabolic byproducts and decaying cell walls cause thin, gray, fishy smelling discharge. BV requires antibiotic treatment.
Trichomoniasis
Trichomoniasis is a common sexually transmitted infection caused by a protozoan parasite. Symptoms include frothy, yellow-green discharge with a strong fishy odor. Metronidazole antibiotic treatment is recommended for both partners.
Poor Hygiene
Inadequate external vaginal cleaning can allow odor-causing bacteria to accumulate, especially in skin folds and around pubic hair. Gently wash the vulva with warm water daily. Avoid aggressive scrubbing which can irritate skin and worsen problems. The vagina self-cleans, so avoid inner douching.
Retained Foreign Objects
Items like forgotten tampons, lost condoms, sex toys, and contraceptive sponges left inside the vagina can foster bacterial growth and become quite smelly. Always carefully remove objects after use and don’t leave inserted longer than directions advise.
Douching
Douching disrupts the vagina’s natural protective pH and microbial balance. This kills off good bacteria keeping things odor-free. Douching can actually provoke conditions like bacterial vaginosis and irritation which lead to worse odors. It’s best avoided entirely.
Hormonal Fluctuations
Shifting estrogen levels around puberty, menstruation, and menopause can temporarily cause changes to vaginal odor and discharge. This is normal, but persistently strong odors may warrant medical advice. Maintaining hygiene during hormonal transitions can help reduce intensity.
Diet, Sweat, and Irritation
Pungent foods, excessive perspiration in the groin, urine dribbles, and chafing from friction can also impact vaginal smell. Wearing breathable cotton underwear and avoiding irritating products can help reduce environmental odor triggers.
When To See A Doctor
While temporary or mild vaginal odors are common, see your doctor if smells are persistent and concerning. Fishy odors along with symptoms like discharge, pain, itching or rash may indicate an infection needing treatment. Don’t hesitate to discuss worrisome symptoms with your physician.
Preventing Prawn Cocktail Pungency
You can help avoid fishy vaginal odors through these simple strategies:
- Practice safe sex with condoms to prevent STIs.
- Avoid douching which can disrupt protective vaginal flora.
- Change tampons, pads, liners frequently – at least every 4 to 8 hours.
- Never use scented feminine products – they can cause irritation.
- Wipe front to back after using the toilet to prevent fecal bacteria spread.
- Avoid prolonged use of damp swimsuits or exercise clothing.
- Wear breathable cotton underwear.
- Avoid shaving around the bikini area to prevent irritation and ingrown hairs.
- Limit foods linked to odor like garlic, onions, spices, caffeine.
- Stay hydrated to keep optimal vaginal mucus production.
Seeing your gynecologist annually can also help spot any developing issues early. But if symptoms like fishy odor persist in between, don’t delay getting checked out.
Why Does My Vagina Smell Like Fish? Key Causes
Finding out your vagina suddenly smells like a fish market can be very disturbing and confusing. But there are some common explanations behind this phenomenon:
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Bacterial vaginosis – Imbalance between good and bad bacteria causes fishy odor discharge.
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Trichomoniasis – Sexually transmitted infection with a protozoan parasite leads to foul, fish-scented secretions.
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Foreign object – Forgetting a tampon or barrier contraceptive inside can lead to severe bacteria overgrowth and odor.
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Poor hygiene – Not cleaning the external vaginal area adequately allows smells to accumulate.
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Hormonal changes – Shifting estrogen around puberty, periods, or menopause temporarily alters scent.
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Irritation – Friction, sweating, tight clothing introduces bacteria and causes odor.
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Douching – Altering the vagina’s natural pH disrupts protective bacteria allowing bad bacteria to thrive.
In most cases, prompt diagnosis and treatment of any infection alongside good hygiene can help resolve transient fishiness. But recurrent issues may need further medical care.
What Can I Do About Fishy Vaginal Odors?
If your vagina perplexingly smells like a prawn cocktail, here are some tips to help:
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See your gynecologist – rule out infections like bacterial vaginosis requiring antibiotic treatment
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Avoid douching – disrupts the vagina’s natural protective microbial balance
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Use condoms – prevent STIs and semen from impacting vaginal pH
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Practice vaginal hygiene – gently cleanse vulva daily with warm water
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Change pads/tampons frequently – at least every 4-8 hours
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Wear breathable cotton underwear – prevents moisture buildup
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Rinse off after sex – prevents lingering semen odors
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Limit foods that impact odor – garlic, onions, spices, caffeine
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Stay hydrated – keeps optimal vaginal mucus production
With some diligence about hygiene and prompt treatment of any infections, you can usually resolve transient fishy vagina odors. But recurrent issues may need further diagnosis and care by your gynecologist.
Why Does My Vagina Smell Like Fish? Possible Reasons
You get a whiff of something fishy coming from your nether regions. Understandably, this can be very confusing and concerning when your vagina smells like rotting seafood. There are a few possible explanations:
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Bacterial vaginosis – An overgrowth of harmful anaerobic bacteria causes thin, gray discharge with fishy odor.
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Trichomoniasis – Sexually transmitted infection with a parasite creates yellow-green, frothy discharge that smells strongly fishy.
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Foreign object – Forgetting a tampon or barrier device inside allows bacteria buildup and nasty odor.
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Poor hygiene – Not washing the outer vagina adequately causes odor-causing bacteria to proliferate.
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Douching – Altering the vagina’s normal pH disrupts healthy bacteria and allows odorous bacteria to overgrow.
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Hormonal changes – Shifting estrogen around menstrual cycles and ovulation impacts vaginal discharge and scent.
So in most cases, fishy vaginal odor results from infections, retained items, or practices that disturb normal vaginal microbiology. Proper diagnosis, hygiene and avoiding douching can help resolve transient fishy smells.
Why Does My Vagina Smell Like Fish? Possible Causes
Being greeted by a fishy odor coming from your vagina can be very disconcerting. There are a few possible explanations for this troubling symptom:
- Bacterial vaginosis – An imbalance between
What’s the most common cause of fishy vaginal odor?
If you have a distinctly fishy smell emanating from your vagina, it’s highly likely that the cause is bacterial vaginosis (BV), Dr. Streicher says. BV is an infection that develops when the natural balance between the healthy and unhealthy bacteria that normally populate your vagina is thrown off by an overgrowth of bad bacteria, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
If you have BV, you’re in good company—it is the most common vaginal infection in women between the ages of 15 and 44, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It also mostly affects sexually active people. Although we don’t know how, exactly, sex contributes to developing BV, it is known that having a new sex partner or multiple sex partners can disturb the bacterial balance in the vagina and place you at an increased risk for BV, the CDC explains.
The U.S. says that white or gray vaginal discharge with a fishy smell is a common sign of BV, even though some people with the condition don’t have any symptoms. S. National Library of Medicine. The Office on Women’s Health (OWH) says the fishy smell might be strongest after sex, and the discharge that comes with it might be foamy or watery. Other symptoms include itchiness in and outside the vagina and burning when you urinate, per the U. S. National Library of Medicine.
Fortunately, BV is simple to diagnose and treat. Along with a physical exam, your doctor will take a sample of vaginal discharge to check for harmful bacteria indicating BV, the OWH explains. Treatment is straightforward: Prescription antibiotics in the form of a pill or vaginal cream, per the U.S. National Library of Medicine. (And while any sex partners with penises don’t have to worry about getting BV, sex partners who have vaginas do, according to the OWH. They should see a doctor in case they also have it.)
You can do a few things in the meantime to help ease any more pain or irritation in your vaginal area. The U.S. says these are: staying out of hot tubs; using unscented pads or tampons when you have your period (fragrance can be irritating); and wearing cotton underwear that lets air flow. S. National Library of Medicine. Another big one: Don’t wash inside your vagina. It’s a self-cleaning organ. (Thanks, discharge!) You can wash your vulva with mild, gentle soap, but don’t put any kind of soap into your vagina—it can make things worse.
Rarely, a fishy smell may indicate something else.
It’s unlikely but possible that a fishy smell is a symptom of something besides BV. The main possibility is trichomoniasis, a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by a parasite. The Mayo Clinic says it can cause a bad-smelling, white, gray, yellow, or green discharge from the genital area, as well as itching, redness, burning, and pain when you pee or have sex. Ob/gyn Jessica Shepherd, M. D. , director of minimally invasive gynecology at the University of Illinois at Chicago, tells SELF that a fishy smell isn’t necessary to diagnose trichomoniasis, but it could be there. “You can have an odor, but it’s not typical,” Dr. Shepherd says. “But if you do have an odor, it could be fishy. “Like BV, trichomoniasis is usually found by testing a sample of vaginal fluid and is treated with antibiotics,” says the Mayo Clinic. Most Popular.
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is another possible but less likely cause of the fishy smell. PID is an infection that usually happens when sexually transmitted bacteria (often from an untreated STI) move from your vagina to your uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries, Christine Greves, M. D. she works as a surgeon at the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies and an ob/gyn at the Orlando Health Center of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She tells SELF
Although PID usually causes no signs or symptoms, besides a fishy vaginal odor, it can sometimes lead to pelvic pain, bleeding during or after sex or between your period, a fever, pain when you pee, heavy vaginal discharge with a foul odor, and even trouble getting pregnant due to scarring of your reproductive organs, the Mayo Clinic says. PID diagnosis involves a pelvic exam, a testing of vaginal discharge and cervical cultures, or urine tests, per the Mayo Clinic. Treatment usually consists of a combination of antibiotics, although in rare instances, more serious cases might require hospitalization and further treatment, according to the Mayo Clinic.
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