Vaginal Odor

Hi R.,

Frankly, I'm shocked at the reccomendations you had to go and douche. Not only are douches bad for you when you're *not* pregnant(they destroy the natural bacteria your body produces as well as the bad one, if any, and can force air into your vagina causing an embolism), but they can trigger pre-term labor! http://www.parents.com/family-life/fitness/mom-health/dou... , http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/women/pregna... (see "warnings")

Get thee to a medical practitioner ASAP if you have any type of odor(foul odor, not "different", if that makes any sense), itching, or abnormal discharge, but like some others said, women have a pregancy related smell, and it's totally normal.

Whatever you do, DO NOT DOUCHE!!

Best of luck,

K. W

1 mom found this helpful

I know you don't have insurance, but could you go to a free clinic or Planned Parenthood? They usually have a sliding scale based on what you tell them your income is (which you could say is none) or are free. You should get a check up and make sure there are no issues.

I do know that I had different secretions and smells while pregnant and have different periods and more obvious ovulation now than before I was pregnant. I think our bodies definitely change after pregnancy and birth.

You say the new odor is "not for the good," but you don't say if anyone has commented on the smell (i.e. your partner), how long since you gave birth, if you have any other symptoms (e.g. itching, different colored discharge, etc.), if you have your periods yet and are they different, etc. It could be that the smell is different for you, and so it seems unpleasing, yet it might be a completely normal odor for a woman (just not what you're used to). If you haven't given birth too long ago, it might be your body still cleaning itself out or you might have an infection from something that got in there during birth (not to be gross, but I've heard of medical items being left behind by the doctor). It could be something as simple as a yeast infection, but if you've never had one before and/or don't know for sure, you shouldn't put anything in your vagina until you get a check up (not over-the-counter medicine, douches, etc.). The vagina is self-cleaning, and putting anything in your vagina can be harmful. Also, IF it is a yeast infection, your partner should be treated too because you might just be passing it back and forth to each other.

Also, you didn't mention if you talked to the doctor about the odor while pregnant. Was your doctor worried about the odor? Did he/she think it was a strong or bad odor?

The only other tips (other than seeing a healthcare professional) would be to add yogurt to your diet, take cranberry extract pills (they have the benefits for cranberry juice without the added sugar), and avoid sugary or yeasty food for awhile. Oh, and semen can cause a worse/fishy smell in some women (I know it sure does for me) so if you're having regular sex, use condoms or have him pull-out. I hope some of this helps - good luck!! :-D

1 mom found this helpful

It depends on what you have going on, but it could either be a "yeast infection" or what we used to call "bacterial vaginosis" (bv). Either can be because of an imbalance in vaginal pH, which can lead to excessive growth of bacteria that normally inhabit the mucosa in a different balance. It's fairly normal that your vaginal flora changes somewhat during pregnancy, especially towards the end, which can make these types of infections easier to get established.

The standard medical approach to each of these is antibiotic creams inserted or antibiotics by mouth. The problem with doing antibiotics for this issue, though, is that they do not discriminate between the "bad" bacteria and the "good" bacteria--leaving you again with an imbalance that can lead to the problem coming back in a very vicious cycle.

I have had good luck, both for myself and with clients I have worked with in their pregnancies (a time when antibiotics should especially be avoided if possible), using different methods. I gleaned all this from a number of sources, including very experienced midwives and naturopaths I have had the honor of knowing and working with.

Here are the standard concepts:
-You want to avoid sugars of any kind, because this makes the bacterial environment ripe (no pun intended) for excess growth. This means, in addition to sugar, no honey, maple syrup, fruit jams, even staying away from fruits for a little bit.
-Use garlic and/or acidolphilus capsules as vaginal suppositories. One peeled (but not punctured!) garlic clove stuck up there during the day, and one acidolphilus capsule at night is a good way to balance this out.
-For BV, there is an herbal suppository a naturopath gave me once that worked like a charm, but I can't recall what it was or what was in it. If you have a naturopath locally, you may wish to ask.
-other inexpensive and effective things are:
-Make a douche of half/half hydrogen peroxide and water
-Add 10-15 drops of Nutribiotic grapefruit seed extract if you have it or can find it locally at a natural foods grocery.

Use this to wash twice a day.

If you follow even part of this regime, you are likely to have this cleared up within a week (7 days). If you don't notice any improvement in that time, you should probably go to a doctor at that point and get checked out--it may have gotten to a point where it needs antibiotics if there is no improvement with these methods.

1 mom found this helpful

I didn't have any leaking, but I definitely noticed a difference in body smells, especially body odor. I had never had an issue with body odor before, but after both my pregnancies, especially the second, it didn't matter what kind of deodorant I wore - I could not get rid of it! I even threw some old shirts away because I thought maybe they just had permanent 'bad smell'.
The only thing I could come up with logically to explain this to myself was an excess of hormones that I was still carrying from the pregnancy.
I did a body detox (colon and toxin detox) and after a month - the smells were gone! The detox system I used was from Dr. Natura (www.drnatura.com) and I did the Colonix Cleanse and Toxinout. They recommend doing it for 3 months, but I noticed the smells being gone after the first month. I did it after I was done breast feeding - I don't know if it makes a difference, but I tried not to do anything different to my body when I was breast feeding.
I know I really felt like my body was a science experiment for long time, but eventually it got back to normal.
Good luck!

Is the odor worse right after you have intercourse? (If I were you, I'd go to the symptom checker on WebMD.com) If so, it could be bacterial vaginosis - which is a very common vaginal infection and completely curable.

You should visit your closest Planned Parenthood. They will provide you with excellent GYN care - and they charge only what you're able to pay. You should never mess around with your physical and mental health (and NOT knowing is way more stressful than any bill you might or might not get). You owe it to your baby to protect your health. Go see a doctor!

You have had some great responses and a couple about the ph balance during and after pregnancy. Probiotics are the opposite of antibiotics and are used to increase your "good" bacteria so your body can balance itself out because your bodily fluids need to stay in a certain "ph range". The best example is like keeping a hot tub clean and sanitary. If the ph balance of the hot tub get too high or low then things/bugs can grow and upset the balance. Your body is the same way - it is easy to go to a vitamin store/health food store and get ph strips and test your own ph and if it is truly out of whack then the health food store will also carry probiotics - you will notice a difference within the first 3-days. Good luck

T.

It sounds like it might be bacterial vaginosis, it has a strong odor. It could also be hormonal or diet. I would try taking a pro-biotic which you can get a New Seasons. Cut out greasy food and as much sugar as you can manage. It can take a couple of weeks so be patient. If it is bacterial your doctor can give you an antibiotic but be sure to eat yogurt with it or you can easily get a yeast infection or thrush.

Taking showers twice daily, morning and evening, has helped me feel better and eliminate the odors that I had.

Hi R.

Im sorry you are having this problem. I was the same way for the last part of my pregnancy. I had to wear a pad everyday. I know my "smell" changes before I start my period. For me drinking a lot of water helps.

I had a similar problem, but with burning/itching also. It turned out to be a bacterial infection that had to be treated with medication (different medication than for yeast infections). I hope for your sake that your problem is something a douch will clear up for you because going to the doc w/ no insurance isn't fun. How old is your son? If you are still very close to the birth, it may be something that goes away with time. I didn't smell "normal" for several months I dont' think.

NO DOUCHE! That is what my OB told me. She told me to go get RePHresh. It is over the counter at grocery stores and pharmacies. Used it it 2-3X and cleared right up. It is the hormonal changes in your body. Good Luck.
S.

Hi R.! I had four kids in five years, and I understand what you're going through. Me, too! Try Nature's Cleanse..
it's all natural douch that really helps. It heals any soreness or itchiness, too. Really works!
You can get it from a girl named Sarah at ###-###-####
Hope this helps.
:>) J.

I've had the same problem for a few YEARS now. I tried antibiotics a few times, tea tree oil, rephresh (worked well) and vinegar/yogurt douche. All helped, none cured. Now I take cranberry pills every day to keep it under control and can have sex with no flare-ups. Still not cured, but I think it's more of a balancing act than having to "get rid" of something. Good luck! If you do find a difinitive answer, please repost!

It was most likely your bladder leaking. Mine did this the last three months of both my pregancies. Urine leakage can change the odor and give it an amonia type smell. You are probably still leaking a little urine due to bladder shock.
To help this I did pelvic floor excersises and kegels. Until then, use a pad specifically made for bladder leakage as they are designed to block those kinds of odors. I also found that cleansing with witch hazel pads daily kept the odor at bay as well. Best of luck to you......

Hello R.!:)

It does sound like bacterial vaginosis or yeast infection. Either way it goes, it is an infection. I've had BV and took oral medication for 1 week, then was okay. That was my first. The doctor will tell you to include yogurt into your diet. They advised me to insert into my vagina, but preferred not to. Eating it will do just fine.

take care!
M. :)

Try wearing a panti-liner and changing frequently. It's TOTALLY normal! Don't worry! There's nothing they can do for you anyway :)

How long has it been since you gave birth? Could it just be the smell of your lochia? A foul odor can indicate an infection, but it could be that your perception of this distinct lochia smell is that it's foul, but really there is nothing wrong. If you do not have a fever or burning or itching you may be just fine, but I would hate for you not to get treatment if you are in need...

Tea tree oil suppositories are supposed to restore your natural Ph, plus they smell nice. You can get them at your local health food store.

f you have never had this before you need to have a doctor make sure what it is. If it smells "fishy" it is probably a yeast infection, and there are many over the counter remedies. You also should be eating yogurt with live cultures in them daily. If is not smelly and just wet, do not use any over the counter meds, it is probably a bacterial infection and you will have to see a doctor.

Do not treat for a yeast infection in less you have be diagnosed for it because you will change the balance of your vaginal canal and end up will the most painful bacterial infection you have ever had. It will feel like your privates have turned to hamburger and someone has poured lemonade on it.

But if this is your first time for a smelly discharge you do need to sew a doc to make sure of what you have. Then if it comes back, you will know what to do.

W.

Hi R.,

It would be good to get it looked at as soon as you can to make sure nothing is wrong. But, you said you wore pads through most of the end of your pregnancy, and you are probably using pantiliners now too? If so, many women experience odor issues, pH imbalances, yeast infections, bacteria infections, etc from all of the chemicals in disposable pads. You may want to switch to a natural chlorine free disposable or switch to cloth menstrual pads to see if this helps resolve things. I started using the Fresh Moon cloth pads because they are made with organic and natural materials and it made a huge difference for me. But I have had friends switch to "green" disposable pads too with similar results.

R.,
You may not be drinking enough water. Try drinking more water and eat yogurt to replenish to "good" bacteria in the vagina.

I had a similar issue in the past. Are you having or have you had yeast infections? (Itchy, red rash)....you may even have one and not know it, b/c they are internal, and sometimes spread to your parts and make you itch. But that could be causing the odor...so maybe try some over the counter vagisil or the like, and see if that helps. If not, wear the panty liners but change it every couple hours, and that should help with the odor. I am sorry, it is such a pain. Good luck to you!

We call it "swamp crotch." For myself and some of my friends it starts in the second trimester and doesn't end until breastfeeding is over. I A. currently pregnant, and man, I can hardly stand how funky I smell down there. You might try a simple vinegar/water douche, or yogurt or some sort of natural low-tech remedy. I myself use a lot of baby powder. I had the exact same thing with my first pregnancy too. Just so you know you are not alone!

Oder often means infection. I would get checked out by a doc.
D.

R.-
I totally had the same thing. A girlfriend told me that it is just your body cleansing itself. I also at the same time was sweating quite a bit no matter how much deoderant I wore. Both things have now stopped - my baby boy is a little over 4 months old. So just wait it out. I know it is a little gross but it will pass.