1. Musky
What it means: Your vagina is healthy! The musky smell is caused by the surrounding sweat glands. Carry on!
2. Metallic
What it means: You just had your period or contact with semen. The change of pH causes the scent. This should be temporary. (If not, see your doctor.)
3. Fishy
What it means: You might have bacterial vaginosis. It's a type of vaginal inflammation from the overgrowth of bacteria in your vagina.
Bacterial vaginosis can be caused by unprotected sex or frequent douching.
Treatment: Antibiotics. (Although bacterial vaginosis can go away without any treatment.)
4. Bread-y
What it means: You might have a yeast infection.
Yeast infections are very common. They're not usually serious, but they can bother you. Your vagina feels itchy or sore. Some women have a thick, clumpy, white, and odorless discharge when they have a yeast infection.
Treatment: Vaginal or oral medicine.
Only use non-prescription vaginal yeast infection medication without a doctor's diagnosis if you:
- are not pregnant.
- are sure you have a yeast infection.
- haven't been exposed to a sexually transmitted infection.
- are not having multiple, recurrent infections.
5. Sour or stale
What it means: Trichomoniasis. It's a sexually transmitted disease, and the most curable STD in young, sexually active women. It usually comes with a yellow green, frothy vaginal discharge. You experience painful urination, vaginal itching, and a very rare case of lower abdominal pain. (These symptoms appear within five to 28 days of exposure.)
Treatment: Antibiotics.
While you're getting treated for trich, make sure you avoid sex until your treatment is finished and the symptoms have gone.
6. Onion or garlic
What it means: You ate pungent food.
Within 24 to 48 hours of eating pungent food, your discharge should be back to normal.
Treatment: Take a bath. Wash your vagina with soap and water.
7. Sweet
What it means: You ate citric fruits!
Oranges, pineapples, and other citric fruits can sweeten the smell (and taste) of your vagina.
8. Something rotten.
What it means: You forgot to remove your tampon!
Treatment: See your doctor immediately.
Remember: The urethra, the vagina, the vulva, and the anus are close together in women. Sometimes what you smell may not even come from your vagina; you might be smelling your urine or your feces. In any case, when you've been smelling something funky, consult your doctor.
Sources: Web MD, Mayo Clinic, Teen Vogue, Bustle
From: cosmo.ph
PHOTO: Pixabay