Vagina Health Tips for a Sweet Smell

All women need to be aware of their vagina's health. Keeping it healthy means you will avoid infections and also have a pleasant odor and the tips enclosed will ensure that you have optimum vagina health

A healthy vagina is home to a huge variety of minute organisms. Normally, they live harmoniously in an acidic environment that prevents the overproduction of any one species in the vagina and helps combat foreign bodies that can infect it.

Vaginal infections are common and occur when the delicate balance is disrupted can cause discomfort in the area and unpleasant smells.

Firstly, the health of a women's Vagina and the smell are influenced by overall lifestyle, diet and weight.

If you follow the tips below you can ensure a healthy vagina so here they are:

1. Your Overall Diet

Eat a healthy diet. Cigarettes alcohol and drugs should be eliminated if you can or cut down, as should heavily spiced foods and junk food.

Try and eat as naturally as possible (food free of additives) and make sure you drink lots of water. What you put into your body comes out in its secretions and the vagina is the same. Ever noticed how your sweat smells differently after eating spiced food, then you will realize why this is so important.

2. Cleaning

Odor-producing bacteria can thrive on the vulva and need to be cleaned off regularly to prevent vaginal inflections and prevent odors.

Washing the genital area daily with a simple, fragrance-free soap is normally enough to keep the vagina area clean and fresh.

Your vagina self-cleans itself so douching is not required.

Furthermore, douching upsets the delicate balance between good and bad bacteria in the vaginal ecosystem and can actually be harmful.

Because infections such as yeasts are found in the intestine, it is important after going to the toilet to wipe front to back i.e. you need to wipe the vagina area first and the rectum last!

During sex it is also very important to avoid contamination of the vagina area with organisms and bodies from the bowel, or rectum area.

3. Clothes to wear

To prevent vaginal infections and keep your vagina healthy make sure your clothing allows the area to breath. To do this avoids tight garments and fabrics containing a high percentage of synthetic fibers such as nylon.

Remember, that tampons and diaphragms left for too long in the vagina can create a very strong unpleasant odor as well.

4. Safe sex

Finally, if you don't know your partner very well, always Use a condom and a spermicidal to reduce the chances of infection and disease.

If you are unlucky enough to get an infection, the symptoms are outlined below of three of the most common ones.

The good news is that to reclaim a healthy vagina is easy, if you are alerted to the problem and take action.

1. Bacterial vaginosis

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) accounts for more than 50% of all vagina related health visits.

About half of all women with BV vaginal infections have no obvious symptoms.

The most common symptom is a thin, white to light grey discharge with an offensive fishy like smell that is extremely unpleasant.

The odor is strongest when the discharge is exposed to any alkaline substance and this includes soap and semen, it will therefore be at its strongest and most obvious after cleaning or sex.

BV is easy to treat and is normally treated by a course of antibiotics prescribed by a doctor.

2. Yeast

Although yeast infections are probably the most common type of vaginal infection, many women never bother to seek help.

Most simply recover naturally and others treat themselves with anti-fungal vaginal creams available without prescription from the chemist.

Symptoms of yeast infections include:

Vulvar itching combined with irritation in the vagina area and redness.

If the urinary opening becomes inflamed, urination will increase and discomfort will be present. If the infection is severe, the vulva will swell and fine breaks, called fissures occur. This causes vaginal discharges to become thicker and whiter.

Yeast infections are the result of excessive growth of a family of fungi that normally live in any healthy vagina, but when they increase the balance of the vagina is upset and problems occur.

The most common infection is vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), which is usually caused by a fungus named Candida albicans.

There are two types of VVC:

Uncomplicated, a mild infection that responds to therapy. Or recurrent which, is more severe and often occurs in women who have diabetes or are infected with less treatable forms of yeast, such as Candida glabratia.

Recurrent VVC, normaly occurs more than four times a year and needs a long initial treatment of around two weeks and then a follow-up therapy course for up to 6 months or longer.

Certain factors are common causes such as nylon and Lycra clothing that traps heat and moisture, so be aware of our clothing tips for a healthy vagina we noted earlier.

Other common causes include:

Obesity, pregnancy, diabetes and suppression of the immune system during illnesses, the use of oral contraceptives, and eating excessive amounts of sugars, starch, and yeasts.

If you do have a yeast vaginal infection, your doctor will ordinarily treat you with either prescription or nonprescription antifungal creams and suppositories referred to earlier.

If you have a problem get professional help and you will soon have a healthy vagina. Do not ignore symptoms or think they will go away get help quickly.

3. Trichomoniasis

Trichomoniasis, or "trich," is a sexually transmitted vaginal infection suffered by a huge amount of women worldwide and this runs into tens of millions. While infection with trichomoniasis can be uncomfortable, it is not in anyway a serious threat to overall health.

The symptoms are normally vulvar and vaginal burning and itching. The burning is normally at its height after intercourse.

In addition, there may be vulvar swelling and frequent and uncomfortable urination. There is a heavy vaginal discharge, usually yellowish or green, which may or may not have an offensive smell.

The trichomonad is a minute parasite. It has three tails at its narrow end and swims with them and the white blood cells of the body follow.

These blood cells literally chase down the trichomonad and kill it by eating it.

Symptoms occur only when the body's natural defense are swamped by with sheer number of reproducing trichomonads and the white blood cells cannot cope.

Trichomoniasis is usually easily diagnosed and antibiotic treatment cures it in the majority of cases.

vaginal odour treatment

What vaginal odour treatment is best for me? This is a question to be answered by your doctor and not from any unfamiliar source. Vaginal odour treatments come in many varied types, why? Quite simply in reply is because odours come varied too. Women need not fret because there may be a perfectly simple explanation for the odour occurring. However it is in your best interest to speak to your doctor to clarify this. If your GP detects a vaginal infection - then in a mad sort of way this is good news because, should no cause be found for why the odour then matters of confusion may prevail from trying to treat the unknown.

You are not to cower in a corner and live like a recluse. This is a natural and normal happening connected to the female and can happen to us all. The vagina is a self cleaning organ and one that is odourless. In reality no woman has a smelly vagina. What they have is a vagina which has reason to smell at times through causes. Bacterial vaginosis is caused by an overgrowth of different bacteria. The chief symptom is vaginal discharge. BV is the most common cause of vaginal discharge. Discharge is often a greyish white and smells fishy. If you notice changes in your discharge in any shape or form seek medical advice.

Treating bacterial vaginosis is fairly straight forward. Treatment normally is a three to seven night prescription of Cleocin 2% vaginal cream. Oral antibiotics maybe suggested. Follow doctor's orders and instructions accordingly on purchased pharmacy products for positive results. Sadly women tend to suffer in silence due to embarrassment; this will not cure the problem. Problems are for solving, allowing any condition to advance can have treatment and dosage upped prolonging the curing process. Health issues need to be addressed and not dismissed in the manner of it going away because it may just not.

Vaginal odour treatments can be bought over the counter. Make sure your purchase is the appropriate solution. Home remedies are very popular for curing BV. One of the principal means of bacterial vaginosis home remedies is to help rebalance the normal vaginal flora. If results show positive then there is every chance of ridding the bacterial vaginosis infection forever.

Remember what works for one woman may not for the other.

1. Lactobacillusacidophilus and L. bifidus included in yogurt helps restore the acidic balance in the vagina. They can be taken by mouth or inserted into the vagina. It is important you seek guidance if possible. When applying/using home remedies ask your doctor for advice. Plain yogurt ingredient live acidophilus cultures can be taken orally. The acidophilus powder/capsules are often consumed by mouth. Skin around the vagina is very delicate and sensitive so be careful not to damage. Tampons soaked in yogurt are a proven method and can better the vaginal site.

2. Douching is not a common option recommended, however a boric acid douche is a good substitute to acidify the vaginal pH. This method works by deterring unwanted bacteria from amassing while at the same time wiping out what bacteria is present. Vinegar has many valuable purposes and one being the vinegar douche. Mix one tablespoon of vinegar per quart of warm water - this work wonders. Whatever vaginal odour treatment you choose have it checked out by someone in the medical profession

3. Vitamins to use for treating BVshould contain antioxidants i.e. A, C, D and E and B complex. Vitamins are vital in ones daily diet to keep healthy. Topical applications of vitamin E from prepared creams or powdered capsules help relieve itching. Not all vaginal infections cause itching. If you have an itch around the vagina it will not necessarily mean you have an infection, it could mean you are allergic or irritated by certain materials etc

4. Just like most medications there will be the no go order to follow. Stay clear of yeast foods which organisms flourish on, namely the dairy product cheese, beer, sweet chocolate, Chinese soy sauce, sugar and vinegar.

5. Taking a warm bath will help relax the body while soothing irritated genital tissues. Be weary of soap. This home method requires no soap as it can destroy the skin's natural oils that act as the body's natural lipid barriers.

6. A cold compress is good for reducing swelling and easing the urge to itch. This method encourages blood vessels to narrow and makes the region less likely to redden and swell.

Remember you are not alone and what you may have to say to your doctor will have all been heard before. So discard those blushes and say to your self when I leave this surgery I will come out smelling of roses.