What is the best way to keep my vagina clean and fresh?

Practices like vaginal douching—washing out the inside of the vagina with a liquid solution—can do way more harm than good because they disrupt the vagina’s bacterial ecosystem.

Pee after sex. This can help wash out any harmful bacteria waiting in the wings.

First, remember that you may not have to.

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Stay hydrated, keep your vaginal area clean (taking care not to clean inside your vaginal canal and to avoid soapy or scented products), use a gentle detergent, wear comfortable underwear, and keep an eye on it.

Ever since I got pregnant I feel like my vagina has a weird smell. A stronger smell. It's not fishy, so I know there's no infection but I've never had my vagina smell like this before. My husband doesnt exactly like it either. Tell me I'm not the only one.

If you notice a strong smell coming from your vagina, often described as fishy or spoiled milk, it may mean that something else is up.

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In most cases, an unusual vaginal odor will go away by itself within a few days.

Let's talk vagina smells!

First, even a quick wipe with a clean damp cloth can make a huge difference, particularly if your funk is from exercise or feeling hot.

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Or your clothing around your crotch is too tight ‒ yup, that can cause irritation, which can cause your vagina to produce more discharge, which can sometimes smell a bit funky.

Here’s how to make your vagina smell good. (Hint. Maybe it already does.)

How do I smell better down there ASAP?

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Practice good hygiene. Wash the outside (your vulva) with gentle soap and water. You don’t need to worry about the inside–your vagina is pretty good at taking care of that itself. Breathable cotton underwear can also help.

Keep hydrated to help stave off infections.

Feeling confident when you have sex is so important—and if you’re concerned about the smell or taste of your vagina, it may put a dampener on things.

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So before we dive in, let’s dispel some myths about vaginas and their smell.

First, think about what you mean by “smell.”

You are the only person who knows what your normal is.

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Some people describe their normal vaginal odor as a little sour, so if your discharge smells sour, that might be totally natural for your vaginal pH.

But here’s the thing, your vagina is supposed to smell and taste like a vagina (louder for the people at the back), and attempts to get in the way of this can be dangerous.

Usually, your vagina has its own way of sorting itself out if this is the case (it is usually self-sustaining) ‒ you may notice that your vaginal discharge is more watery than usual, for example.

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While not the vagina exactly, it can leave you feeling less than fresh in the general area.

In a survey of 1000 millennial women, over two-thirds reported feeling insecure about the scent of their vaginas.

Or you may just be using a new detergent that you’re vagina isn’t keen on.

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There is also some evidence to suggest that it is associated with ectopic pregnancies among Black women – though it isn’t very strong.

Then there are urinary tract infections (UTIs), which can cause a pungent smell in your urine.

Wipe from front to back to avoid UTIs.

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But even products that are tailored specifically to make your vagina smell good can be harmful and disrupt your vagina’s pH balance, which can cause discomfort.

But if it’s recently changed, then it may be a sign of infection.

“I shower everyday and still smell down there, what should I do?”

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Wash sex toys and store them in a clean, dry place to avoid the wrong bacteria creeping in.

Changing your underwear can also help ‒ comfy breatheable cotton underwear that fits your body shape without being too loose or too tight should also help to keep your vagina happy and smelling as it should.

And if you are concerned that you have left a tampon or menstrual cup in for too long, it’s important to visit your doctor, particularly if you have other symptoms like fever and pain.

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It’s nothing to be embarrassed about ‒ this is their job, and it’s better to get it checked out, just in case.

Get the right underwear: Making sure your underwear isn’t too tight or too loose can make a big difference. Also checking the material of your underwear can help ‒ generally, cotton is best.

The sooner you get treatment, the better.

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Drink more water: It’s generally good advice, but drinking more water can keep infections at bay and help you pee more, which can “flush” out your vulval area more often.

They can also be accompanied by a discharge that is thicker and more colored than usual.

Vaginal odor treatment depends on what’s causing the smell. Here are some possibilities:

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But sometimes, a funkier smell might crop up.

If you practice good hygiene but still find that you have a distinct vaginal odor, there are some things you can try:

If your vagina smells fishy, sour, or sweeter than usual, it could be a sign that something’s off.

Hi everybody! I have been looking at posts on narcs and narc abuse on here and if has really helped me out a lot. I am currently struggling with my situation and need some advice/support. I met a narc last year, everything seemed to good to be true. Love bombing, always texting calling and taking me on dates. Everything changed when someone warned me about him out in public in front of him and who he is. This caused a conflict with us and the love bombing seized. he would tell me that everything is okay and i can come and talk. He would set a time limit on me and kick me out after that. he would then text me like everything was fine and we hung out again and after that he completely ghosted me for one week. He came back and texted me a week later laughing about the ghosting and acting like nothing had happened. he continued to text me ( not like in the beginning) make plans with me, then on the day of the plans he would just ghost me. One day he would act interested the next silence. i contacted him a month later and he acted like nothing happened. He was on a vacation and sent me a picture of another woman ( someone he allegedly met on the trip) to strike a reaction but i never gave him one. After the trip he came to my place and was extremely rude, accusing me of going on dates with a bunch of men. The next day he accused me of being an alcoholic and that he wanted nothing to do with me but said well maybe we can be "friends" then ghosted me i assumed at this point it was over and i would never hear from him again. He contacted me on the holiday a month later acting like everything was great. We ended up hanging out a month or so later and when we hung out it went well, i thought things were going in the right direction. after we hung out.. silence. I would try to text him and if he replied it would be very short then he just stopped replying. He ghosted me for almost three months. I thought he was done this time and of course he popped up again like nothing happened. At this point i was getting sick of if so i questioned him as to why he dissapeared and always does this. Of course he had some sob story about a injury and family member dying of cancer. I felt pity for him and he gave me an apology.. so i took him back stupidly. things seemed to be going smooth for a couple months, of course until his family member died and his injury got better he never contacted me and was distant. Menawhile, i was there for him during the difficult time for him. He lied to me about the funeral and never wanted to chat. I was chasing him and he would always claim nothing was wrong but when i said i thought he used me when he was down he could not handle it and would always tell me he didnt care and to go away. I would get so upset i would try texting him to work it out he would barelt respond and if he did he would not be nice about it. we did hang out a couple times after that, he would ignore me after. One day i was like hey i think you are seeing someone else, and i was like well ixam seeing someone so no problem if you are he said " buy bye good luck with your new guy stop contacting me" i was devastated and tried to get into contact with him for weeks then i just gave up and accepted it was over. He ended up contacting me a month later acting like everything was fine. He wanted to go out and have drinks i told him i would. He and i both seemed to have a great time. He ends up ignoring me again. I kept texting him trying to figure out what was wrong. He kept saying everything was fine and i said ok can we hang out again? He said maybe i was like why? He just kept saying maybe … our last conversation we had… i said what is wrong ? He said nothing is wrong everything is fine. I asked him why he keeps saying maybe. He said " maybe but i dont want to see you right now" i said why? He saix " im just not feeling it, if i wanted to date i would" i said why did you contact me less then a week ago wanting to go out? He said i didnt.. even though he did. So i said should i just move on or what? He said whatever you want to do. So i said that he was really confusing me and asked him if he had anything more to say before i move on? My messages were turning green so i panicked he blocked me and reacted irrationally. I said " omg did you block me? My messages are not going through. Even texted him on my work phone asking what was up. And called him twice ( please dont judge me i know it is pathetic i never was this type of girl before him) so he replied and said " Ok I'll block you now" then immedietly blocked me. He has never blocked me before since I have met him he will just ghost. Is this ths final discard aka " grand finale? Did i just push him too far? this has upset me so much its hard to even function.

Or maybe the chemicals in your tampons or pads are tipping the scales—after all, period products aren’t all created equal (if you’re after period products that are body-safe and designed to prevent vaginal fiber shedding, try Daye, they’re our faves).

Switch to a gentle detergent: Some detergents are strongly scented or powerful, which can disrupt your vaginal pH and cause irritation and a vaginal odor.

In fact, douching is linked to serious health conditions like pelvic inflammatory disease.

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When it comes to cleaning your vagina, it’s advised not to wash or clean inside your vaginal canal ‒ stick to the outside (your vulva and labia).

Use unscented period products. You’d be surprised how many period products, like tampons and pads, are packed with chemicals that can disrupt your vaginal pH balance. Try Daye for period products that prevent vaginal fiber shedding, sanitized to remove the pathogens that can cause TSS (Toxic Shock Syndrome) and other infections.

But if you’re in discomfort or you notice a strong smell or change in your discharge, speak with your doctor.

Do all vaginas smell?!

That’s because we all have our own unique microbiome, a community of tiny organisms that live together inside our vaginas, protecting it—the most common of which is good bacteria called lactobacilli.

Now for how to get rid of vaginal odor.

First, know that you’re not alone.

It is hard to say exactly what a normal vagina smell like because we all have a unique smell.

So it’s best to stick with just plain water to wipe over your vulva and change your underwear for a quick fix to make your vagina smell good and you feel better.

Almost all vaginas smell a bit (and this is natural, nothing to feel awkward about) ‒ but women can usually a bit musty or earthy or sometimes a little sour, almost like damp.

It’s normal and nothing to feel self-conscious about.

When we are healthy, those organisms live in perfect harmony.

Every vagina has a distinctive scent.

Some common infections include bacterial vaginosis (BV) and STIs like gonorrhea and trichomoniasis.

These can all lead to an infection traveling up the reproductive system leading to pelvic inflammatory disease.

Use a damp, clean cloth after going to the bathroom: For some people, rough toilet paper can cause irritations, so making sure you’re clean by wiping yourself with a damp, clean cloth may help.

So with that in mind, here are some tips to keep things healthy, safe, and clean ‒ how to maintain a good-smelling vagina:

For gonorrhea and PID? Likely a course of antibiotics. For STIs, your partner must receive treatment, too, to avoid reinfection.

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Bacterial and fungal infections can both lead to a noticeable scent.

There is a risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome, which can cause a serious infection that requires hospitalization.

As we said, perfectly healthy vaginas still have a slight odor to them.

And because we don’t talk much about this topic, it’s hard to know if there are others out there in the same boat.

I’m being serious. I shower often but after sex my husband has to either shower or put on baby powder because it smells. I know it’s not an infection or anything it’s like a musky smell. Are there any good clean soaps I could use?

For bacterial vaginosis (BV), you will probably be given an antibiotic. They come as an oral pill or an intra-vaginal cream.

Be aware of what you eat: Yep, your diet can impact your vaginal odor and taste ‒ we’re all different, so keep track of what you’re eating and when your vaginal odor appears to see what may be triggering it.

That being said, if you notice a strong smell that you’re worried about, it’s important to get in touch with your doctor as it may signal an infection or illness.

While there are some cases where strong smells may be clues to certain medical conditions, milder smells may just be, well, the way your vagina smells.

First, remember vaginas have a natural scent which already does smell good.

How to make your vagina smell and taste good

Well, there are some products that you can use, although it’s advisable to steer away from beauty products that are heavily scented/perfumed, as they can irritate and throw off your vaginal floral causing more harm than good.

How do I get rid of the odor down there?

What does vagina smell like?

For a UTI? Antibiotics. And cranberry juice shows some promise, even if it is more for preventative measures.

Leaving a tampon or menstrual cup in too long can also disrupt the balance.

But sometimes, if something disrupts the balance, there can be trouble in paradise.

For trichomoniasis? Oral medication.

Want to know how to make your vagina smell better quick?

Why do I have a strong odor down there?

So what should you do if you notice a strong smell?

Why does my vagina smell?

You may notice a clear or milky discharge at various times of the month that can have a faint odor—usually something in the style of slightly musky.

If it persists or gets worse, pay a visit to your doctor to check it out.