It is normal for all girls who have reached puberty to experience vaginal odor. We have the natural odor and then the type caused by common bodily actions. Take menstruation, normally if the vagina is not kept clean at the time of the monthly cycle, the stale blood left for a period of time will bring odor. Then we have urine, another reason for vaginal odor. Not rinsing or cleaning the vagina after using the bathroom, any drips stick to the pubic hair, making a mess and staining the panties that will smell.

Sanitary pads and tampons should be changed regularly. If you are concerned about how it smells downstairs, instead of the suggested cleaning once a day, wash 2-3 times if necessary. In hot weather, change panties frequently, as heat can be problematic on and around the genitals. A buildup of sweat will make the genitals wet, sticky, and smelly. Choose cotton panties or briefs to wear as it is a breathable fabric. Cotton over nylon and other materials allow the vagina to breathe. Trimming, pubic hair like coarse hair is a big draw for urine, blood, and sweat to stick to.

If you are concerned about the smell, especially the smell that menstruation brings and the expense of keeping changing pads, look for a more cost-effective way and use reusable cotton pads or menstrual cups.

The vagina is not an organ in the body known to cause discomfort in this way because it has a self-cleaning mechanism. Regardless of whether the organ is odorless or not, the vagina smells, well the area around it can, and you have the 3 reasons above to prove it.

Particular vaginal infections bring odor that is embarrassing. Take bacterial vaginosis typically known for a fishy-smelling vaginal discharge. And then you have the one that causes it, again kind of embarrassing if you’re around people. BV occurs when bacteria and parasites enter the vagina. Although the vagina is a self-cleaning organ, bacteria and parasites still manage to settle inside it, so you need to take steps to prevent this from happening.

Hygiene is important to keep odor to a minimum. The vagina has a natural smell that is supposedly erotic and very exciting for the opposite sex, however, too strong a smell can be unpleasant.

Genital skin is sensitive, so be careful with certain feminine products. The cleaning of the vulva does not need more than a rinse with water. If you are in the process of treating an infection at home, talk to your pharmaceutical chemist about the safest products to use, as many over the counter products contain chemicals. Chemicals strip away natural oils and if used on the vulva the skin can become dry and irritated. Skin in this state is now more prone to infection. Specific chemicals that come into contact with the vagina can cause a urinary tract infection if they are near the urethra.

Chemical soaps, bath gels, or others are known to alter the natural pH of the vagina and cause an overgrowth of anaerobic bacteria, genital mycoplasmas, and Gardnerella vaginalis, with reduced or absent lactobacilli. Avoid heavily scented products, or gels or antiseptics, which can upset the balance of healthy bacteria.

It is not necessary to rub the vagina vigorously. Just like you would wash your hands and face is the way.

Washing the folds around the clitoris is not difficult but definitely necessary. Using your fingers, separate the labia from the clitoris and gently rub, but do not rub, the skin on either side of the clitoris. Don’t forget to clean the perineum, this is the area between the vagina and the anus.

Unless a particular medication has been prescribed or recommended by a doctor or pharmacist to treat an infection that has caused vaginal odor, do not use it. Also, any condition that produces a bad odor should be determined by a doctor and not a friend to make sure you are treating the correct problem. It happens all too often among women who thought they had a yeast infection only to find out they had a sexually transmitted disease. Effective treatment of infections only occurs if the correct infection is diagnosed and the appropriate cream lotion or tablets are used.

Fishy smell, changes in discharge, texture, pain when urinating or vaginal bleeding when you do not have your period are symptoms that advise you to see a doctor.