Common Causes
Usually, vaginal discharge doesn’t have a distinct smell; so, a strong fishy odor from vaginal discharge usually indicates that there is a health issue to address. Most of the time, a fishy vaginal smell is an indicator of an infection in the genitals.
Related Conditions
The same process is found in old fish but also in some infections, bad breath, and BV odour. The fishy odour is caused by a chemical reaction between molecules: ammonia (produced by G. vaginalis and others) and methanol react, with the help of a catalyst, and become trimethylamine (TMA).
What does it mean if you have a fishy smell?
What You Need to Know If Your Vagina Has a Fishy Odor
- Other symptoms you may have. You may notice a fishy odor when you use the restroom or after you have sex. ...
- Causes for a fishy smell. Vaginitis is inflammation or an infection of the vagina. ...
- Medical treatment that can help. Treatment to stop or prevent that fishy smell will depend on what is causing your symptoms. ...
- Things you can do at home. ...
- The takeaway. ...
What exactly is that fishy smell?
What Causes Urine to Smell Like Fish and How Is This Treated?
- Diet and dehydration. Your urine contains some of the chemical compounds found in food you’ve recently consumed. ...
- Urinary tract infection (UTI) A UTI can cause bacteria from the infection to contaminate the urine, resulting in a distinct fishy smell.
- Bacterial vaginosis. ...
- Trimethylaminuria. ...
- Prostatitis. ...
- Kidney stones. ...
- Liver problems. ...
- Cystitis. ...
Why is there a fishy smell Comin From my Vagina?
What causes fish to smell 'fishy'?
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Symptoms of Fishy Vaginal Odor
Sometimes the only symptoms that anything is wrong with your vagina is a fishy smell that you detect when you move or remove your pad or underwear....
Causes of Fishy Vaginal Odor
Let’s look at what can be the reason for fishy-smelling discharge and what you can do to get rid of the vaginal odor.
Best Home Remedies to Treat Fishy Odor from The Vagina
If you want to get rid of an unpleasant smell from your vagina and stop smelling like fish, there are many helpful home remedies for fishy odors.
How to Prevent Fishy Vaginal Odor
Of course, it is always easier to prevent fishy vaginal odor rather than treating it. This will help save you from embarrassment if your vagina emi...
Why does my vagina smell fishy?
A fishy vaginal odor could be the result of sweating in the pelvic area. You can battle odor from excessive sweating by improving your overall hygiene, wearing natural fabrics, and layering clothing.
How to get rid of fishy smell in vagina?
Using unscented laundry detergent to wash your underwear. Bathing/showering your entire body with a gentle cleanser. After discovering a fishy vaginal odor, it may be tempting to vigorously clean the inside of your vagina or try to mask the smell.
Can tampons cause dryness?
Tampons with a higher-than-necessary absorption can often lead to dryness. Leaving a tampon in for too long can result in a slight chance of developing toxic shock syndrome. If you’ve left a tampon in for too long, try to carefully remove it as soon as possible.
Can trichomoniasis cause urination?
Anyone can get it, and it presents symptoms such as genital itching and painful urination and intercourse. If you have trichomoniasis , you may detect a fishy vaginal odor, frothy yellow-green discharge, and vaginal soreness and swelling. However, only 30 percent of people with trichomonia sis display any symptoms.
Why does my discharge smell fishy?
Fishy smelling discharge with odor is an abnormal discharge that is experienced by young women. It is caused by vaginal infections and sometimes sweats. Bacterial vaginosis (BV) and trichomoniasis (Trich) can cause fishy smelling discharge in women. While BV is not a sexually transmitted infection, trich is an STD.
Why does my vagina smell like fish?
They can be present without you showing any symptoms. However, any disruption of the vaginal flora will cause problems in women. This can result in a fish y smelling discharge without any pain or vaginal burning sensation. Bacterial vaginosis can be treated and cured in women. If you experience any abnormal fishy smell with odor then you should inform your doctor to get tested and treated. Bacteria vaginosis treatment involves the use of metronidazole.
What is normal vaginal discharge?
Normal vaginal discharge is white thick discharge without odor or itching that can sometimes change to brownish pink discharge or sometimes yellow discharge before and after your period.
How to get rid of a smelly discharge?
If you are like other women with smelly discharge, they ask themselves how to get rid of the odor down there. But its simple. You need to improve your hygiene, Stop vaginal douching, avoid intercourse, consistently use condom and treat all abnormal vaginal discharge.
What is the pH of a discharge?
There is a reasonable balance of these organisms with the good bacteria keeping the vaginal acidic. The normal vaginal pH is between 3.5 to 4.5. This is necessary to prevent infection.
Is trich a STD?
While BV is not a sexually transmit ted infection, trich is an STD. Early treatment of fishy discharge is therefore important because vaginal infections can cause PID (pelvic inflammatory disease) which will result in ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage in women. More than 30 percent of women in the United States are affected by bacterial vaginosis.
Does a douche kill bacteria?
Douching in women can change the normal vaginal flora. Women that use vaginal douche to clean their vagina will end up killing these good bacteria. This will cause an increase in harmful bacteria and fungi. If you always use a douche, then it’s important to stop.
What to do if your discharge smells like fish?
If you have vaginal discharge that smells of fish or has another offensive odor, you should speak to your doctor. Doctors from the Mayo Clinic say that if you are concerned about an abnormal or persistent vaginal odor, you should see your doctor, especially if you have other signs and symptoms such as itching, burning, irritation or abnormal discharge. 18
What is the smell of fish in the vagina?
Trichomoniasis. Trichomoniasis (sometimes just called “trich”) is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that can cause vaginal malodor that smells of fish. Trichomoniasis can affect men and women alike and if a woman has “trich” then it is usually the vagina where the infection occurs.
What causes a strong smell in the vagina?
Sweat. Sometimes, a combination of sweat, normal vaginal discharge, and urine can combine to create a strong-smelling feminine odor. Usually, having good feminine hygiene habits and changing your underwear regularly can help to reduce any fishy odor from your vagina.
What to do for fishy discharge?
Coconut oil is another natural treatment you can use at home to treat the symptoms of fishy discharge. Coconut oil has antibacterial properties and fatty acids that help to reduce inflammation and kill off infections in the vagina.
How to get rid of fishy smell in vagina?
Tea tree oil. Tea tree oil is a natural home remedy that can help to get rid of fishy smells from your vagina. Tea tree oil contains naturally occurring antibacterial properties that kill bacteria and germs that cause a strong odor with discolored discharge.
Why does my vagina smell fishy?
Most of the time, a fishy vaginal smell is an indicator of an infection in the genitals. However, poor hygiene, excessive sweating, or even certain foods can cause a vagina to have a fishy smell. Thankfully, there are many home remedies that can help to treat a fishy vaginal odor. For example, probiotics can help to improve the health ...
Why does my discharge smell like cottage cheese?
Traci Johnson on WebMD says if there’s a fishy smell, bacterial vaginosis is a better guess. If your discharge looks like cottage cheese, then a yeast infection may be to blame. That’s also more likely to cause itching and burning, though bacterial vaginosis might make you itchy too. 5.
How do you know if you have a fishy smell?
Other symptoms you may have. You may notice a fishy odor when you use the restroom or after you have sex. You may also notice the odor changes to a fishy smell after you sweat. If you have additional symptoms like unusual discharge or itching, burning, or redness, see your doctor.
Why does my urine smell fishy?
Fishy odor from your urine can be caused by a urinary tract infection (UTI). The bacteria from the infection can contaminate the urine and cause a distinct fishy smell . Other symptoms may include urine that is cloudy, burning sensation when urinating, or other mild pain when you pee. Certain foods and conditions can also change the smell ...
What foods can cause a fishy smell in the vagina?
Some foods may cause a fishy or other vaginal odor. They include asparagus, broccoli, certain spices like garlic, onions, and some types of fish. If you are concerned, you can avoid these foods. But they are all considered healthy in moderation, so you don’t need to cut them out of your diet completely.
What to do if you have vaginal odor?
If you are experiencing symptoms of vaginitis or are concerned about your vaginal odor, see your OB-GYN. They will likely perform a pelvic exam where they’ll look inside your vagina for inflammation or abnormal discharge. They also may take a sample of the discharge for lab testing. They can also perform a pH test.
Why does my vagina smell?
The most common is cause is vaginitis, an infection or inflammation of the vagina. The odor of your vagina varies throughout your menstrual cycle. If you are concerned about your vaginal odor, or experiencing any unusual discharge, burning, itching, or redness, you should see your OB-GYN. They can perform an exam and determine if you need ...
What does it mean when your discharge is itchy?
But if you experience discharge that’s itchy or irritating, it may be a symptom of an infection. See your doctor if your discharge is grayish white, greenish yellow, or white and resembles cottage cheese in consistency.
How to clean a douching area?
Avoid using any douching product or anything with dyes or a strong fragrance. Instead, when you shower or take a bath, use just a gentle soap and water to clean the area. (Avoid harsh soaps, putting anything in your vagina, or using any products with a scent.) When you are done, gently pat dry.
What is the treatment for fishy amine discharge?
Treatment usually involves a course of Metronidazole or local Clindamycin cream application.
Why does my vagina smell?
Oversecretion from these glands during physical activity , excitement, or stress can lead to a slightly increased intensity of this smell.
Can thrush cause foul vagina?
Examination by a gynecologist is required. Other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as gonorrhoea, chlamydia, and candidal infection (thrush) may also lead to foul vaginal odor and discharge.
What Does Normal Vaginal Discharge In Women Look Like
Vaginal discharge in women may have different colors and may be watery or thick during your menstrual cycle. It is usually white and consist of epithelial cells, bacteria including lactobacillus, fungi and cervical mucus.
What Is Bad Smelling Discharge
Bad odour in the discharge: STDs. Another common reasons why you notice a bad smell in your discharge is due to the presence of a sexually transmitted disease or STD. There are many types of common STDs that affect the appearance and smell of discharge, this is the case of conditions like chlamydia , trichomoniasis or gonorrhea.
How To Tell The Difference Between Yeast Infections And Stds
Vaginal itching, soreness, irritation, or painful urination and sex are some of the symptoms that yeast infections and some STDs have in common. This can cause many to wonder, Do I have a yeast infection or is this an STD? How can I know the difference?
How To Stop This Fishy Smell
Fishy smell due to STD can only be stopped by receiving proper treatment. Besides, you can get rid of the odor due to problems other than STD by
What Are The Stds That Cause Odor
The human body smells. Though we spend a great deal of time and energy masking unpleasant bodily odors, the truth of the matter is that a degree of genital odor is normal particularly from the vagina. And theres no reason to be ashamed of a normal, natural genital smell.
What Does Discharge Look Like
Vaginal discharge is the result of the cervix cleaning and maintaining itself to stay healthy. During this process, the cervix sheds vaginal cells, cervical mucus, and vaginal fluids which results in a white, opaque substance. Women who havenât yet reached menopause typically experience discharge because itâs a natural part of the bodyâs functions.
How Is Trichomoniasis Treated
The good news is that trichomoniasis is treatable with antibiotics, typically in a single dose, the CDC notes. The same oral antibiotics given for B.V.metronidazole or tinidazoleare used to treat trichomoniasis.
How to get rid of white discharge?
It is especially helpful in preventing odor caused by excessive white discharge. Gently rub an alum stick near the mouth of the vagina after soaking it in water. You can do this twice every day. You can also prepare a vaginal wash by mixing ¼ tbsp of alum powder with a small amount of water.
Why does my vagina smell?
The foul vaginal smell can occur due to a number of reasons. These can range from STDs to hormonal changes, poor hygiene, yeast infections and bacterial growth.
What is the best way to get rid of a vaginal odor?
You will experience a change in your vaginal odor. 3. Neem leaves. Neem, or azadirachta indica, is one of the best home remedies to get rid of any odor, including vaginal odor. Also known as Indian lilac, neem has antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties.
How to get rid of fungus on tampon?
You can dip a tampon in olive oil and add a few drops of tea tree oil to it. Insert the tampon and let it remain for at least an hour. Do this a few times every week. Also, you can mix a few drops of tea tree oil with a cup of water and use the mixture to rinse your vagina. The odour will disappear immediately. Do this daily if you want to get rid of the odour permanently.
How to get rid of vaginal odor?
Not only does it reduce vaginal odor, but it also helps in reducing irritation and itching in the vagina. Mix some witch hazel and lavender oil with water and wash your vagina with the mixture. It is one of the best ways to eliminate vaginal odor very fast. It would also make you feel fresh.
How to get rid of neem smell?
To relieve yourself of vaginal odour, boil an inch of a thoroughly washed and peeled turmeric root in 1 liter of water. Do so till the water reduces to half.
How to get rid of yeast smell in vagina?
Baking soda helps fight vaginal yeast infection that is one of the causes for having a vaginal odor. For this remedy all you need to do is add some baking soda to your bath water and then take bath with this solution. Wipe your body thoroughly with a sanitary wipe, giving more attention to your private parts.