How Should Your Vagina Smell? What Goes Around Your Nether Region.

While some women do not bother or worry about their vee-jay, a lot are conscious with how it should smell. In any case, all women should be concerned about their vaginal health. The vagina(vulva) remains the most delicate and sensitive organ of a woman's body, it is also seen as the channel for penis during sexual intercourse, serves as a conduit for menstrual flow and a birth canal. These goes inline to say that a lot happens around the vagina and should be healthily maintained.

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I witnessed a funny conversation where ladies argued over vaginal smell, some said the vagina should have no smell at all as smell connotes an infection, a few disclosed that the vagina should at least have a smell. Lol...

The truth is vaginas do have it's unique smell and every woman smells differently, but it's important to know the difference between your usual scent and the not-so-usual odours. Vaginal odour can change at different times of the reproductive cycle.

What Constitute a Healthy Vagina?

• Vaginal pH: a healthy vaginal pH value is between 3.8 and 4.5, well into the acidic range. The cause for this are the good bacteria living in the vagina that produce lactic acid that reduces the pH value. The acidic environment of the vagina is a natural barrier to infection and irritation, since it represses the growth of bad bacteria which prefer a less acidic environment.
• Bacteria: the vagina contains rich amount of beneficial bacteria such as lactobacilli that fend off infections, these bacteria produce natural disinfectants that help maintain an optimal pH. For example, certain specific strains of lactobacilli produce substances such as lactic acid, hydrogen peroxide, and bacterocins which inhibit the growth of bacteria.
• Natural vaginal secretion or lubrication: the vagina is naturally lubricated. The vaginal fluid consists of a mixture of secretions from various mucous, oil and sweat glands.
  
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Some Causes of Vaginal Odour

• poor hygiene
• bacterial vaginosis
• trichomoniasis
• a retained or forgotten tampon left in place for several days.

Ways to Maintain a Healthy Vagina

1. It is a good idea to avoid perfumed soaps, gels and antiseptics when washing the vagina, wash and scrub with plain clean water gently everyday. The vagina will clean itself inside your body with natural vaginal secretions.
   Washing regularly especially during your menstrual flow is helpful, change sanitary pads and tampons regularly during your period.
2. Avoid the use of vaginal douches as it can disrupt the normal vaginal bacteria (vaginal flora).
3. Avoid the use of scented wipes and vaginal deodorants. These perfumed products can disrupt the vagina's healthy natural balance.
4. Practice safe sex with the use of condoms to protect the vagina against sexually transmitted infections(STIs) such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea, genital warts, genital herpes, syphilis and HIV.
5. Cervical screening
6. Treat infections when they arise
7. Having regular gynaecological exams for preventive care.
8. Wear breathable cotton underwear and avoid thongs. If you are prone to yeast infections, change out of wet swim suits and sweaty work out clothes as quickly as possible.
   
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What Your Vagina Should Really Smell Like- According to Experts

All vaginas have a baseline smell - a smell that secretes pheromones and triggers sexual interest which is all part of the vagina's normal process.

A normal or healthy vagina has a musky scent akin to the smell that comes from working out.

A vagina shouldn't smell like fish or anything rotten, nor have a foul smell.

Your vagina can smell differently: after sex and while on your period. It's important to remember that discharge isn't always a bad sign, if your vaginal discharge is a different colour than it normally is, then it could mean an issue. Typically, it is white with a little yellow, if this changes grey or brighter yellow or green you need to get checked. If it becomes itchy, you also need to go to the doctor.

Further reading 1, 2 , 3 , 4

Remember, Vagina do have a smell! Lol..

Much love from me, @starbele.
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