Wanda the fish. That was the most humiliating name any girl could be labeled in my high school. Being punished as “Wanda” simply meant that your vagina reeked of “Tuna Of The Sea”.
It is understandable that girls, including me, would do everything possible to avoid this dehumanizing stigma.
So what do you do when your stinky abdomen betrays an otherwise healthy vagina? The first step is to make sure your vagina is in tip-top shape.
How is a vagina supposed to smell?
Throughout your menstrual cycle, it is normal to have a variety of vaginal discharges. Vaginal discharge can take the form of an infertile, slimy, and sticky discharge to a very fertile, slippery, and clear discharge that occurs near menstruation.
Abnormal discharges are accompanied by itching, obscene odors, and / or gray, yellow, or green discharges.
The second step in restoring the health of your vagina involves ruling out the possibility of vaginal conditions such as bacterial vaginosis, a yeast infection, or trichomonas vaginitis.
Bacterial vaginosis
Bacterial vaginosis (BV), although more common than yeast infections, does not receive much attention in the media.
The cause of bacterial vaginosis remains unclear, but this condition is related to sexual activity and douching. According to a study from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), a sexually transmitted virus that infects vaginal lactobacilli can cause bacterial vaginosis.
Vaginal lactobacilli are required to maintain a healthy pH and bacterial balance within the vagina. Once this balance is disrupted by a virus, the vagina no longer has a protective barrier and is more susceptible to infection.
In the 1999 UIC study, Sylvia Pavlova, senior research specialist, and Lin Tao, associate professor of oral biology, found that viruses can cause bacterial vaginosis. Also, bacterial vaginosis could be transmitted sexually.
If left untreated, bacterial vaginosis can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, tubal pregnancy, or preterm labor if you are pregnant.
Only your doctor can diagnose bacterial vaginosis. Your doctor will prescribe oral antibiotics or vaginal antibiotic inserts to treat bacterial vaginosis.
What to look for and smell:
Increased vaginal discharge. Fishy vaginal odor and white or gray milky discharge.
Yeast infection
If you’ve used antibiotics, been pregnant, have diabetes, or wear tight clothing, you’ve likely experienced vaginal yeast overgrowth. Candida albicans yeast overgrowth is largely to blame for causing yeast infections.
Most women find their yeast infection treatment in over-the-counter preparations at pharmacies. At other times, you can alleviate the yeast infection by moderating your sugar intake and supplementing your diet with more foods that contain Lactobacillus (L.).
Dr. Tori Hudson, A Woman’s Time Medical Director, recommends that you eat foods containing at least three of the following forms of Lactobacillus when treating a yeast infection naturally: L. acidophilus, L. fermentum. L. plantarum, L. bulgaricus, L. casei or L. rhamnosus.
While a research war is still raging on the effectiveness of Lactobacillus against yeast infections, women still notice improvements in their vaginal infections after supplementing their diet with this probiotic.
What to look for and smell:
Symptoms include a white cottage cheese-like discharge, itching, redness, and irritation.
Trichomonas vaginitis
Trichomonas vaginitis is the third leading cause of vaginal infections.
Commonly called “prostitute”, I mean “trick”, Trichomonas vaginitis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by a small single-celled parasite. Like bacterial vaginosis, trichomonas vaginitis can be transmitted through intercourse.
Your doctor would need to do a test to diagnose trichomonas vaginitis. He will prescribe antibiotics for treatment.
What to look for and smell:
Increased amount of vaginal discharge. Possible itching. Itching and redness accompanied by a greenish-yellow discharge.
You know what’s ironic about this smelly vagina thing?
Is that if you have bacterial vaginosis or trichomonas vaginitis, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics, but after using the antibiotics, your chances of getting a yeast infection skyrocket. Who designed this health scenario anyway?
Before you curse, Wanda, let me offer you these vaginal health tips for you to use at your own discretion:
- The vagina needs to breathe, so let it go. Wear pantyhose less often. Instead, wear knee-high or thigh-high stockings.
- Wear cotton underwear instead of synthetic underwear.
- Use condoms during sex. Although the theory that sex can cause a vaginal infection remains controversial, using a condom is preventive until the infection clears.
- Add a teaspoon of boric acid or half a cup of hydrogen peroxide to two quarts of warm water. (In order for the boric acid to mix well, you need to make sure the water is warm.) Use the boric acid or hydrogen peroxide shower for two weeks and stop. Boric acid and hydrogen peroxide should increase the amount of lactic acid inside the vagina. This increased amount of lactic acid within the vagina helps to restore the proper bacterial balance within the vagina and reduces the chances of reinfection.
- Eat less sugar so you don’t feed the yeast.
- Consult a doctor if you still have questions. Mayo Clinic’s “HealthSource” newsletter for women warned women not to hastily self-diagnose vaginal problems and label all smelly vaginal problems a “yeast infection.” This may not allow that to be the case.
Ok, I hope you smell better now and if you have doubts, check it out.
