What is the normal smell of the vagina?

Vaginal odor is common due to a combination of vaginal secretions, sweat, and external factors like clothing and personal hygiene. A slight vaginal odor is usually nothing to worry about. Normal vaginal discharge is clear or white. Its consistency can change throughout the menstrual cycle. 

Here is how vaginal odor and discharge change during different stages of your life.

Period – metallic or coppery odor.

Menstrual blood pH is alkaline (around 7.4), while your normal vaginal pH is acidic (between 3.8 and 5). Thus, during periods, your vaginal pH increases allowing odor-causing bacteria to grow. Usually, the pH goes back to normal after the menstruation is over and the odor is gone.

Ovulation – sweet or bittersweet odor. 

Around the time of ovulation (the middle of the menstrual cycle), estrogen levels peak. This hormone triggers the cervix to produce more cervical mucus – clear, stretchy, and slippery discharge. It has a slightly different smell than what you might notice at other times of the month. 

Pregnancy – metallic or salty odor (and taste). 

Vaginal odor during pregnancy changes due to hormonal shifts, particularly, in progesterone and human chorionic. These shifts can affect the balance of bacteria in the vagina. Plus, an increase in vaginal discharge (leukorrhea) may occur during pregnancy. This discharge is thin, white, milky, and mild-smelling. It’s the body’s way of cleaning and maintaining a healthy environment in the vagina. This increase in moisture can also cause a subtle change in vaginal odor.

Postpartum – musty, metallic, sour, or earthy odor.

For several weeks after delivery, women experience a discharge called lochia – a mix of blood, mucus, and uterine tissue. This type of discharge after birth often has a metallic or earthy odor due to the blood and other cellular components. The drop in estrogen levels increases the pH and leads to changes in bacterial composition, which also affects vaginal odor.

Menopause – tangy or more pungent odor.

One of estrogen’s functions is to promote the growth of lactobacilli — beneficial bacteria that help keep the vaginal pH slightly acidic and prevent the growth of harmful microorganisms. During menopause estrogen levels decline, which leads to reduced lactobacilli, altering the vaginal pH and bacterial balance. 

Some postmenopausal women may also experience urinary incontinence (small amounts of urine leakage), which adds to the odor. These factors contribute to a stronger vaginal smell after menopause. Read the full post about Body Odor And Menopause.

All of the above are normal, but if the odor is fishy, ammoniac, or yeast-like, it is strong and persistent, you notice unusual discharge and itching, it might signal about bacterial imbalances or infections.

We get it, despite these odors being natural, you still want to smell fresh down there. Keep reading to find the solution.

What causes unusual vaginal odor?

When discharge smells bad, becomes unusually thick or thin, or changes color, it could indicate an infection or bacterial imbalance.

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) happens when there are too much of certain bacteria in the vagina (like Gardnerella vaginalis, Prevotella species, Mobiluncus species, etc.). 

The most common symptoms of BV are an increased amount of white, grey, or green discharge with a fishy smell and itching, swelling, burning, and pain during urination and intercourse. 

Symptoms become more pronounced after sex or a period when the pH increases.

Yeast infection (candidiasis) is caused by an overgrowth of the fungus Candida, which is naturally present in the vagina in small amounts. When there’s an imbalance in the vaginal environment, this fungus can proliferate, leading to an infection. 

Yeast infection causes thick white vaginal discharge that is compared to the consistency of cottage cheese. Yeast infection smell is a mild bread-like or yeast-like odor. Itching, burning, and swelling are also typical for yeast infections.

The symptoms described above may also signal about more serious issues. These conditions require medical treatment. If you experience any of these symptoms, please, talk to your healthcare provider.

How do I get rid of the odor down there?

Similar symptoms may occur while a general bacterial imbalance – stronger odor, itching, irritation.

Besides, after the course of medical treatment for yeast infection or BV, some women notice that they still have itching, burning during urination, after sex, and unpleasant odor. In this case definitely talk to your doctor, run tests, and maybe you will need to have another round of meds.

But in general, these slight symptoms may occur, even when your test results are rather okay. With meds, you suppressed the bacteria that caused the symptoms, but your treatment also killed some of the beneficial bacteria (Lactobacillus), which lead to bacterial imbalance. 

Regardless of the causes of the odor, be it BV, yeast infections, or a slight bacterial overgrowth, it’s your job to support the good bacteria and help your intimate flora to rebalance:

1. Support acidic vaginal pH.
2. Help beneficial bacteria grow.
3. Limit the growth of opportunistic bacteria. 

To achieve all three, we’ve made Intimate SERUM with lactoferrin, xylitol, prebiotics, and postbiotics. This combination of ingredients quickly neutralizes the odor by feeding beneficial bacteria and stopping the growth of opportunistic ones. It has an acidic pH of 4.3, which is beneficial for vaginal health.

SERUM is fragrance-free, so it won’t just cover the odor, it will fix the core of the problem within 10-14 days. 

Intimate SERUM makes discharge smell better and it also tastes sweet.

Use it as needed, during or after periods, menopause, after sex, etc. This Intimate SERUM is unisex, so anyone can benefit from it.

How to keep your vagina clean and smelling good?

In the case of your vagina, the less – the better. Here are some things you need to STOP doing to support your healthy vaginal flora and smell fresh down there naturally. 

Overcleaning. The more you wash, the less bacteria you leave behind. When using soaps, you remove both good and bad bacteria. And the bad ones need less time to grow, as a result, they overgrow the good bacteria. 

We (and, actually, most gynecologists too) recommend using just water. But if you feel like you need additional support, opt for mild washes without harsh surfactants, like this WASH. Learn more about How To Choose An Intimate Wash.

Who hasn’t heard about the risks of douching? Add yet, some still do it. Douching disrupts the natural balance of beneficial bacteria in the vagina, increasing the risk of bacterial vaginosis, yeast infections, and UTIs. It strips the vagina of its natural protective mucus, also leading to increased susceptibility to STIs. The vagina is a self-cleaning organ, your “help” can make it worse. 

Feminine sprays contain fragrances, harsh preservatives, sometimes even alcohol, and other irritating and allergenic chemicals. These ingredients disrupt the vagina’s natural pH balance, leading to itching, burning, or inflammation of the sensitive vaginal and vulvar tissues. Moreover,  feminine sprays lack clinical testing for long-term effects on intimate health.

Wet wipes also contain chemicals, that disrupt the vagina’s natural pH balance, increasing the likelihood of infections,  irritation, and allergic reactions in the vaginal and vulvar area. Frequent use of wet wipes can alter the skin’s natural protective barriers, leading to dryness and sensitivity. Learn more about Why You Should Avoid Using Wet Wipes. 

Don’t cover the problem, make your vagina smell better naturally with Intimate SERUM. 

Summary:

1. Slight vaginal odor and discharge are normal. The change in odor can take place during menstruation, ovulation, pregnancy, postpartum, or menopause due to changes in pH and hormone levels.  

2. Infections like BV or yeast infections are caused by an overgrowth of certain bacteria and often involve medical treatment after which the intimate flora will still be out of balance and will need additional support.

3. To smell fresh down there support your vaginal flora with Intimate SERUM, avoid overcleaning, douching, using wet wipes and feminine sprays.