"Your pussy should smell like pussy" - Talking about feminine odor

Feminine odor can happen for various reasons from infections to STIs/STDs. But, most often, society’s misconceptions about vaginal hygiene are what lead women to believe they suffer from feminine odor when they don’t. As someone who has battled with feminine odor, there are ways to prevent, treat, and live with the issue, if you’re suffering from it at all.

Infections

It is very important to know your body and pay attention to changes that occur. One of leading causes of feminine odor is infection. Infections such as bacterial vaginosis and yeast infections are caused an imbalance in your vaginal pH balance.

Your vagina must have a certain pH to keep bad bacteria out. Sometimes that pH can get out of whack for various reasons causing a yeast infection. Symptoms include pain, redness, and soreness in the vagina and vulva, white discharge, itchiness and that icky “fish” smell.

Once your pH is out of balance, it leaves your poor vagina open to the bad bacteria that cause bacterial vaginosis (BV). Very similar to yeast infections, BV causes swelling, pain, itchiness and redness in the vagina, a white/gray-ish discharge and the “fishy” odor. It can often be most noticeably after orgasms and arousal.

BV is often categorized as an STI. While your penis having partner cannot catch it, you can spread it amongst your vagina having partners. Lastly, make sure you’re not allowing bacteria from the anus to get into the vagina and cause BV.

The awesome thing about BV and yeast infections is that you can easily cure these infections! Yeast infections can be cured with over the counter medicines like Monistat or a prescribed oral tablet.

I’ve used both methods when I had a yeast infection. The prescribed oral tablet is the easiest since you take only one and voila! You’re no longer baking bread in your cooch.

For those on a budget and who like a more natural approach, tie a clove of garlic and stick in your vagina overnight. Garlic kills yeast! Your pussy might smell like garlic a little, but it’s much better than having a fishy smell. I’ve done it and I can tell you it works.

The cure for BV is a little trickier. You have to take antibiotics for about a week. It’s not that bad, but antibiotics can give you some constipation or diarrhea problems.

STIs/STDs

There are a few STIs that can cause unpleasant odor as well. Chlamydia and gonorrhea have similar symptoms of a yeast infection and BV, which include discharge, burning during urination, and that awful feminine odor.

These STIs can come in pairs since they are caused by similar bacteria; the pH imbalance caused by gonorrhea & chlamydia make your vagina a much more comfortable home for the bacteria behind BV and yeast infections. Luckily, they are easily curable by antibiotics. Antibiotics in pill and shot form are available as treatment.

Hygiene and health

Maintaining good personal hygiene is essential to preventing feminine odor. Showering or bathing daily washes away bacteria, sweat and general dirt on the vulva. Keeping the vulva clean helps maintain a good pH level in the vagina.

Sometimes our efforts to prevent feminine odor can cause it. *Dun Dun Duuuuunnnnn* Did you know that shaving can leave you vulnerable to the bacteria that cause infections. All hair is meant to be a source of warmth, protection for the skin and a buffer for delicate parts. Shaving less or trimming can cut down on frequent infections.

Extra tips

Wear cotton undies. Don’t lounge in your wet swimsuit. Use barrier methods such a condoms, dental dams and female condoms during sex to prevent the spread of STIs/STDs. Eat foods that promote good vaginal health such as garlic, plain Greek yogurt and cutting back on sugar that yeast likes to feed on. Lastly, regular gynecological check-ups are needed to prevent or treat infections and keep your vagina healthy!

You probably don’t stink

I used to use perfumed, fruity body wash and shave before I had sex, but I learned better of it.

Using body wash and soaps with heavy fragrance can irritate your vagina and wash away the good bacteria that keep your vagina healthy. So-called feminine washes and douches are just as bad. So, skip those too.

You normally won’t need to bother with cleaning your vagina because it takes care of that. If it does get out of whack, water and maybe a mild soap will do the job.

Folks with vaginas often think that vaginas should smell like flowers, but that’s not true at all. Vaginas have their own healthy smell and it isn’t flowers or fruit. So, don’t worry about your vagina not smelling like roses or a papaya. Your pussy should smell like pussy.