How to Stop Vaginal Odor

Vaginal odor can be a very unpleasant and embarrassing issue to deal with. Unfortunately, many women develop this odor at some point in their life. Vaginal odor occurs when there is a disturbance in the number of bacteria in the vagina (an overgrowth of bacteria), which may lead to infections. The most common infection is bacterial vaginosis (BV) or vaginitis. However, some women have vaginal odor due to a sexually transmitted disease or pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Luckily, there are ways to prevent and treat vaginal odor.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Medicial evaluation
• Appropriate medical examination
• Antibiotics, vaginal gel or cream

1. Visit your gynecologist or healthcare provider, in order to determine what is causing the vaginal odor. In order to stop vaginal odor, you should first see your healthcare provider for a diagnosis and to receive proper treatment for the odor. Your healthcare provider can give you the appropriate medical examinations to find out why you are having vaginal odor.
2. Complete the necessary tests. Your healthcare provider begins by asking you about your current health status and medical history. She gives you a thorough medical evaluation and examines the vaginal and pelvic areas, in order to identify the reason for the odor. Your doctor must also take a sample of your vaginal discharge to send to the lab for testing. The lab tests can pinpoint the type of infection you actually have.
3. Discuss the test results with your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider calls you when your results are back from the lab and he is able to inform you of your health status. Depending on the type of infection (or STD) you have, he prescribes you the appropriate medication for it. For example, if you have bacterial vaginosis or vaginitis, he may prescribe you an antibiotic such as Metronidazole “Flagyl” or Clindamycin “Cleocin,” or a vaginal cream or gel. If you are diagnosed with an STD, you may need additional medications and if you have PID, you may have to be admitted into a hospital for proper treatment.
4. Talk to your healthcare provider about additional ways to eliminate vaginal odor. For example, your healthcare provider may talk to you about the importance of good feminine hygiene and following a well-balanced diet. Your healthcare provider may also suggest that you avoid douching (which can interfere with the bacteria in the vagina), use condoms when having sex and stay away from feminine hygiene sprays and fragrances.
5. Take all of the medication and carefully follow the directions. It is important to take all of the prescribed medication, even if the odor goes away in a couple of days. Your treatment may last for a few days or maybe up to 2 weeks (depending on the type of infection that you have).

Tips & Warnings

• Always contact your healthcare provider when you have vaginal odor.

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