Vaginal odor, what is normal and how to get rid of the smell that is not

What normal smells like.

Normal is not odorless. Cleveland Clinic describes a healthy vagina as smelling slightly sour or tangy, a bit like sourdough, because of the Lactobacilli bacteria that keep the pH low and protective. That scent changes. It can be stronger around your period, after exercise, after sex and when you are stressed. If your smell is mild and familiar, nothing needs fixing.

Smell by smell.

Smell	Likely cause	What to do
Sour or tangy	Healthy Lactobacilli	Nothing
Metallic or coppery	Period blood	Nothing; it fades after your period
Ammonia	Urine on the skin, or dehydration	Drink water, rinse with water
Sweaty or musky	Sweat glands in the groin, stress	Shower, change clothes, breathable underwear
Fishy, stronger after sex	Bacterial vaginosis or trichomoniasis	See a clinician for a test and prescription treatment
Yeasty or bready, with itch	Possibly a yeast infection	See a clinician if it is new to you
Rotten or very foul	Forgotten tampon or other retained object	Remove it if you can; otherwise see a clinician today

Fishy.

This is the one most people search for. ACOG lists increased discharge with a strong fishy odor as the main symptom of bacterial vaginosis, often stronger during your period or after sex. The discharge is usually thin and gray or dull white. Itching is uncommon. BV is an imbalance, not a hygiene failure: the protective bacteria drop and other bacteria overgrow.

The NHS notes that BV is not classed as a sexually transmitted infection, but sex can trigger it. Trichomoniasis, which is an STI, can cause a very similar smell, and the CDC lists a thin discharge with a fishy smell among its symptoms. The two need different treatment, which is why a test matters more than a guess.

Yeasty.

A yeast infection usually announces itself with itching, burning and a thick white discharge more than with smell. When there is a smell, it is mild and bready. If you have had a confirmed yeast infection before and this is identical, a clinician may be comfortable with you using an over the counter treatment. If it is your first time, or the treatment did not work, get checked.

Ammonia.

Usually urine. A little left on the skin, or concentrated urine when you are low on fluids, can give off an ammonia note. Cleveland Clinic lists dehydration and residual urine as the likely causes. Drink more water and rinse with warm water. If you also notice burning when you pee or the urge to go often, that points to a urinary infection, not an odor problem.

Metallic.

Blood contains iron, so a coppery smell during and just after your period is expected. A metallic smell with bleeding that is not your period, or bleeding after sex, is worth a visit.

Rotten.

A strong, foul, rotting smell is a reason to check for a forgotten tampon or another retained object. Cleveland Clinic names retained tampons as a cause. If you can feel it, wash your hands and remove it. If you cannot, or you feel unwell, see a clinician that day.

What not to do.

• Douching. The CDC says douching might increase the risk of BV relapse, and no data support using it for treatment or symptom relief. It flushes out the good bacteria with the bad.
• Scented washes, wipes, sprays and deodorants. The NHS lists perfumed soaps, bubble bath, vaginal deodorants and washes among the things to avoid with BV. They irritate and they mask, which delays the real fix.
• Vaginal steaming. There is no evidence it balances anything, and a published case report describes a second degree burn after steaming.
• Home remedies inside the vagina. Garlic, vinegar, yogurt and essential oils are not tested treatments for BV, and anything that irritates the lining makes the problem harder to sort out.

What actually helps.

• A diagnosis. For a new fishy or foul smell, see a clinician. BV is common and treatable, and a clinician may prescribe an antibiotic tablet or gel.
• Water on the outside. Cleveland Clinic recommends mild, unscented soap and water on the vulva only. The vagina cleans itself.
• Breathable underwear. Cotton, changed daily, and out of damp workout clothes and swimsuits soon after.
• Water to drink. It helps with ammonia smells.

Boric acid, for recurrent BV only.

Boric acid suppositories come up in every search about odor. Here is where they fit. The CDC treatment guidelines include vaginal boric acid as one option clinicians may use for BV that keeps coming back, as part of a plan that starts with prescription treatment. It is not a first step for a smell nobody has diagnosed.

The safety rules are firm. Boric acid is toxic if swallowed and must be kept away from children and pets. It is not for use in pregnancy. It is for vaginal use only, never by mouth, and not on broken or irritated skin. Skip oral sex while you are using it. Follow the product's label and your clinician. The full rundown is in boric acid suppositories.

When to see a clinician.

See a clinician if a smell is new, strong or fishy, if it lasts more than a few days, or if it comes with a change in discharge, itching, burning, pain, fever or bleeding. Go the same day for a rotten smell you cannot explain or an object you cannot remove. If you are pregnant, tell your clinician or midwife about any change in discharge, since BV in pregnancy is treated. This page is general information, not medical advice.