Having vaginal discharge odour can be completely normal – most women experience it. Vaginal discharge is the fluid or mucus that keeps the vagina clean and moist and protects it from infection.
Usually, the very first discharge occurs during puberty and then follows us throughout our lives. The amount often decreases with age and varies in quantity during different periods of life. During pregnancy for example, it is not uncommon to have abundant vaginal discharge.
You can also experience changes in your vaginal discharge during different phases of your menstrual cycle.
Although vaginal discharge may have an odour, it shouldn’t be strong and unpleasant. If you notice a fishy or foul scent to your discharge and it’s accompanied by changes in texture or color, it might be a sign of an infection. But do not self-diagnose – see a GP if you're worried.
01 How should vaginal discharge smell?
Everyone has a unique odour to their discharge, and you will hear all sorts of descriptions bandied about – musky, slightly sour, biscuit-like, musty – but only you will know what your natural odour is. In general, vaginal discharge should have a mild odour or be odourless - this is normal. If your discharge has an unpleasant, intense scent such as bread or fish, it could be a sign of infection or other health problems. If you are in doubt about the odour or other characteristics of your discharge, it is worth consulting your doctor.
02 Types of vaginal discharge odour and what they mean
The healthy vagina typically has a mildly acidic pH, which is consistent with a natural odour. However, while a healthy vagina may exhibit a variety of odours, the sudden appearance of discharge with odour may indicate the presence of an infection or other health problems. Vaginal odours and their possible causes:
Tangy or Fermented:
- Cause: The presence of Lactobacilli maintains an acidic pH, protecting against the overgrowth of bad bacteria.
- Comparison: Like fermented food, such as sour beer.
Coppery like a Penny:
- Cause: Often caused by blood, e.g. during menstruation or after intercourse.
- Comparison: Metallic odour, resulting from the presence of iron in the blood.
Sweet:
- Cause: Changes in the bacterial ecosystem of the vagina.
- Comparison: Sweet scent, but not as intense as freshly baked biscuits.
Chemical:
- Cause: May be due to urine infection or bacterial vaginitis.
- Comparison: Reminiscent of bleach or ammonia.
Earthy or Body Odour Scent:
- Cause: Associated with emotional stress and sweat gland reaction.
- Comparison: Discharge odour reminiscent of body odour.
Fishy:
- Cause: Associated with bacterial vaginitis.
- Comparison: Odour resembling decaying fish, caused by amines.
In case of persistent vaginal odour, especially when accompanied by other symptoms, it is advisable to consult a doctor.
03 What causes discharge odour?
There are a number of possible causes of vaginal discharge odour to consider, mostly occurring through changes in vaginal pH and through viruses, fungi and bacteria. Simple habit or lifestyle change may make all the difference. Here are a few suggested causes of odour to your vaginal discharge:
1. It’s your natural odour
All vaginal discharge will have a scent of some sort, but the exact aroma is unique – just as our sense of smell is unique and individual. Besides that, there is a huge variation in what each person finds acceptable.
If your discharge has a mild, musty odour that varies a bit with your monthly cycle, it is probably just your normal scent. You might not even notice it some days, while in the days around your period you might find that your discharge has an almost metallic odour, as a small amount of blood may be mixed in with it.
2. External factors
Some reasons for discharge odour can be quite unexpected, like your diet. Foods such as garlic, onion, and asparagus can cause a less pleasant odour.
Medication that you may have started taking or even vitamin pills can reportedly have an influence on the discharge odour, too.
Other factors such as lubricants and condoms can also pass on some of their chemical/rubber scent and change the odour of your discharge slightly.
Still, none of these should give you a strong discharge odour, so if you do experience it, we advise that you seek medical advice.
3. An infection
A Bacterial Infection: The most common cause of fishy discharge odour is a bacterial infection – Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) – which can change the balance of normal bacteria in your vagina. In technical terms, it means that your vagina contains too much anaerobic bacteria (the bad guys), and it has outgrown the Lactobacilli bacteria (the good guys) so they can no longer function as they are meant to. The bad guys are basically the ones affecting the odour, so all of a sudden, with them dominating, you find you have strong, grey discharge or light green discharge with a scent.
A Sexually Transmitted Infection: The same odour can also signify a sexually transmitted infection, such as trichomoniasis, although it doesn’t always give off an odour. Yeast infections, on the other hand, can give off a slight yeasty odour but are generally fairly mild.
If you are experiencing either a bacterial infection or an STI, you may display symptoms in addition to a fishy odour, including yellow discharge, as well as pain, swelling or itching around the vagina or inner thighs, pain during sex or when going to the toilet, and an increase in the amount of discharge.
If you’ve just ticked most of these boxes, make an appointment with the doctor or sexual health clinic as soon as possible. They will be able to offer you a treatment to get rid of the infection, often in a matter of days.
4. Hormonal changes
Hormonal changes in the body can affect the scent of vaginal discharge. For example, during and after menopause, the odour may change. Also, pregnancy changes the scent of the discharge, but it should not affect the odour. If a white or a clear discharge accompanied by a strong odour occurs during pregnancy, for example, then you should contact your doctor as soon as possible.
5. Tumours of the cervix or uterus
Cancer of the cervix or uterus can cause changes in vaginal discharge, such as an increased amount or unusual consistency, the presence of blood, an unpleasant odour, an altered colour of the discharge (for example light green discharge with odour) or the presence of mucus. However, these symptoms may also be associated with other health problems. It is advisable to consult a doctor if there are worrying changes.
6. Stress
The mechanism of action of stress is complex and linked to the endocrine and neuroendocrine responses of the body. Long-term stress can affect the functioning of the endocrine and immune systems, which can in turn lead to changes in vaginal discharge. It can affect the composition of the vaginal microflora. Changes in the bacterial balance of the vagina can lead to an excessive proliferation of unfavourable bacteria, which can result in the production of an unpleasant discharge odour.
As a result, prolonged stress can create favourable conditions for the onset of various vaginal health problems, including changes in discharge. Therefore, taking measures to cope with stress and maintain mental and physical balance is important. However, if you are experiencing unpleasant symptoms related to vaginal discharge, it is always advisable to consult your doctor for appropriate assessment and treatment.
04 How to prevent discharge odour?
There are certain steps you can take to ensure you maintain a healthy balance in your vagina and to help you avoid having to seek out treatment for strong discharge odours. Things to consider are:
- Keep yourself clean, shower (rather than bathe) regularly with warm water and mild or unperfumed soaps. Avoid douching, as that can clear out the good bacteria as well as the bad – or push any bad stuff further inside you. The vagina is ultimately self-cleaning, so messing with it too much can unsettle its natural balance
- Be mindful of your clothing styles and textures. Cotton lets your skin breathe better than synthetic materials and looser clothing allows air to circulate, unlike tight clothing
- Maintain general overall physical health through a good diet and plenty of hydration (i.e. drink lots of water). You know the saying “healthy body, healthy mind”? Well, in this case, it is “healthy body, healthy vagina”!
05 When to see a doctor
Anyone experiencing unusual discharge from any part of the body should consult a doctor.
Often the cause of such symptoms is an infection. Depending on the type of infection, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics, antifungal or antiviral medications. In the case of sexually transmitted infections, the person's sexual partners may also require treatment.
It is a good idea to make simple lifestyle changes and limit yourself to just water when washing your body.
However, if you find that the odour becomes more bothersome or there are other symptoms, it is worth consulting your doctor.
06 Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Why do I have a strong vaginal odour?
A strong scent can be caused by a variety of factors, such as infections, hormonal changes, intense training or diet. If the odour is worrying, it is important to consult your doctor to rule out infection or other more serious health problems.
Can liners help control discharge odour?
Depending on where you are in your menstrual cycle, your vaginal discharge amount, odour and texture can change. Using panty liners can help your vaginal area feel dry, fresh and help control unpleasant vaginal odours. Always has panty liners that absorb fluids and keep you fresh all day long. Tip! Try Always Daily Protect Long with extra length and width for extra protection.