Bacterial Vaginosis

Ok. Let me say a few words about vaginal odor.  It’s perfectly normal for a woman’s vagina to have a mild odor, but if the odor becomes offensive, unusually strong or persistently ‘fishy’ then it’s likely there is some form of infection or bacterial imbalance that’s causing it, in which case it’s a good idea to visit your Doctor. Its the advice I always seem to give but there really is never any harm in getting yourself checked out and it can really put your mind at rest.

The main causes of bad vaginal odor are sexually transmitted diseases and overgrowth or imbalance of microorganisms, such as bacteria or yeast, which normally reside harmoniously in the vagina. The bacterial imbalance is known as Bacterial Vaginosis.

The things that tend to cause bacterial imbalances such as Bacterial Vaginosis and other infections such as Thrush, are generally perfumed personal hygiene products like shower gels, bubble baths, soaps, moisturizers and sprays. Often the smell is accompanied by itching, stinging or burning, as well as increased or altered vaginal discharge, and if this is the case then you definitely need to see your gynecologist to ensure you’re treated quickly with antibiotics.

In most cases Bacterial Vaginosis and other bacterial imbalances don’t lead to any further complications and can be easily treated. It’s not unusual and there’s no reason to be embarrassed, especially as a bad smell is NOT a sign of bad hygiene like many assume.

Sexual Transmitted diseases also need to be treated fast, especially as many of these could lead to complications that affect things such as fertility, so it’s highly recommended to get check out even if there’s only a slight chance that you may be affected by this.

Generally antibiotics clears up every possible cause of nasty vaginal odor, but there are a few tips to follow to ensure you are doing everything you can to avoid infection:

1.    Avoid douching as this disrupts the bacterial balance of the vagina
2.    Change your tampons regularly when menstruating
3.    Avoid wearing tight-fitting underwear, and if possible only wear cotton
4.    Urinate after sexual intercourse
5.    Unless both partners have been checked for STD’s then wear a condom at all times during sexual activity

Products specifically designed for feminine hygiene are your best option, as are antibiotics, but there are also a few natural remedies you could try, like natural yoghurt. The bacteria in yoghurt has been said to help restore the balance of the bacteria in the vagina. Manuka Honey also has many antibacterial uses, so adding this to the yoghurt is also a remedy you could try. Remember to wash these off with clean water after ten minutes and should you experience any adverse side effects then go straight to the doctor. Lastly, a healthy diet and lots of water can help to restore the healthy balance of bacteria in the vagina, and often drinking plenty of water can solve the problem and ease the symptoms without any other action being taken.

Remember as well that should the condition persist you definitely need to see your doctor to ensure complications don’t arise, and also to rule out the possibility of other much more serious issues such as cervical cancer.

This entry was posted on Monday, June 6th, 2011 at 5:45 pm and is filed under vaginal odor. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.