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What to do about intimate odours?
Dear Dr Patti
I often have a very unpleasant and pungent vaginal odour, but I don't have strong body odour. I'm very hygienic and have tried over-the-counter remedies including douches and vaginal washes. Do you know what might cure this problem?
M
As with all disturbances of our body's natural balance, when a pungent odour occurs from inside the body it may signal disease or injury. Healthy female genitalia are basically odour-free, except for the naturally musky scent of sexual juices. That kind of odour is often the best aphrodisiac for a partner, and many women find they need to overcome childhood or societal conditioning that has taught them that having a genital odour of any kind is bad. The fact is that human bodies smell.
My first concern is that you see your GP, or visit your local Well Woman clinic if you have one, for a check-up. Malodorous discharge, or simply a bad smell 'down there', can be a sign that something's wrong medically. Vaginitis is often associated with a foul or fishy odour, as is trichomonas vaginalis or candida.
If you are healthy and there's no underlying infection or irritation, then I suspect that your pH, acid/alkali, levels are off balance. Diet, stress and use of perfumes or inappropriate lubrications inside the vagina can affect the genital pH balance. Often, women fall prey to advertising messages that push them into using perfumed douches and sprays to mask nature's aromas. In fact, using a scented douche might be the root of your problem. Avoid the use of any oils, lotions or lubricants that contain petroleum-based ingredients. They can literally plug up the tissue of the vagina, causing distress and discharging residue.
You should also be aware that what you eat, smoke, drink and even think can contribute to internal odours. If you are consuming soy sauce or heavily spiced food, smoking cigarettes, drinking large amounts of alcohol, or have a very stressful lifestyle, you may be compromising your vaginal health and wellbeing. So, relax, eat well, exercise and be careful about what you put into your mouth.
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