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Feeling self-conscious about vaginal odor during menopause? This menopausal and perimenopausal symptom can be frustrating, but know that you’re not alone.
According to various studies, between 27 and 84% of menopausal women experience genital or urinary tract symptoms. And this includes changes in vaginal smell.
The silver lining is that vaginal odor after menopause is often nothing to worry about. It’s usually the result of your body having decreased levels of estrogen.
But you probably still have lots of questions. So keep reading to get the full rundown on vaginal odor, what you can do, and when to seek medical help!
Takeaways
- The vagina naturally has some odor. The precise odor changes slightly based on your lifestyle, the phase of your menstrual cycle, and other factors.
- Normal vaginal smell can range from sour/fermented, metallic, musky, and chemical-like, and body odor-like.
- Outside of your period and postpartum, vaginal odor is mainly caused by the presence of good bacteria (called Lactobacillus). These bacteria help maintain an acidic vaginal pH to help you prevent infection and illness.
- Unwanted vaginal odor and vaginal dryness can increase in perimenopausal and post-menopausal women. This is because your declining estrogen levels throw off the balance of your vaginal microbiome. This can increase your risk of urinary and genital tract symptoms and infections.
- In most cases, vaginal odor isn’t anything to worry about. And you can make a few simple adjustments to treat vaginal odor.
- But if your vaginal smell is accompanied by other symptoms (like abnormal vaginal discharge, vaginal itching, or fever), call your doctor.
- Some infections can cause a more pronounced or distinct vaginal odor. These included yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis, STIs, and more.
- To manage vaginal odor, you can try: wearing looser-fitting clothing, using fragrance-free soaps, and taking probiotics. Be sure to stay clear of douching though it’s been associated with pregnancy complications and increased risk of infection.
- You can also consult with your doctor about taking probiotics or undergoing hormone replacement therapy.
What’s a normal vaginal odor?
You’re not alone in thinking: Why can’t my vagina just be scentless? Or floral in scent?
While we share in that yearning, that’s not how the vagina works. And for good reason.
Because for optimal vaginal health, you have healthy bacteria (called Lactobacillus) that give off a musky or earthy smell. You also have sweat glands in your groin area that can contribute to vaginal smell.
So for better or worse, it is healthy and normal to have vaginal odor.
But the precise odor can change based on lots of factors like:
- Where you’re at in your menstrual cycle or menopause
- Your lifestyle (i.e., how active or sedentary you are)
- Overall personal hygiene
- Pregnancy and postpartum
- Certain antibiotics and medications
This means that there’s not necessarily one “right” way for your vagina to smell.
To see the full array of possible vaginal odors though, look at the table below. You’ll also get a sense of which odors are normal versus abnormal and what you can do about them!
Vaginal odor | Is it normal? | What you can do… | |
Sour/fermented | In some cases, yes! Having higher amounts of lactobacillus or a more acidic pH can cause this odor. In some cases, no! This odor can also be caused by a yeast infection. | If it’s simply from higher lactobacillus or an acidic pH, there’s not much to be done. If it’s from a yeast infection and you have abnormal discharge or pain, see your doctor. | |
Bittersweet or molasses-like smell | This is normal! It’s a result of typical pH fluctuations. | Not much can be done. If it’s really bothersome to you though, consult with your healthcare provider. | |
Metallic odor (almost like pennies) | This can be from being on your period since blood has iron (a metal) in it. You also have a metallic odor postpartum due to lochia (discharge that includes uterine tissue, blood, and mucus). | Change your pad or underwear more often while on your menstrual period or after giving birth. | |
Chemical-like smell (like bleach or ammonia) | In some cases, yes! It could be from small amounts of urine around your vulva or on your underwear. In some cases, no! It could also be from bacterial vaginosis. | Change your underwear Fishy odor + yellowish green discharge = Consult doctor for BV | |
Body odor-like | This is normal if you are sweating a lot (which is very common during perimenopause and menopause). | Wear a panty liner or change underwear throughout the day. | |
While the table above gives you a general idea of what’s normal, you may still be wondering about the science behind vaginal odor.
That’s why in the next section, we’ll break down a little more about how it’s connected to your overall health.
What’s a normal vaginal odor?
Even though it may border on unpleasant at times, vaginal odor can give you valuable insights into your vaginal health.
Here’s a little more about the science behind this:
- The vagina contains all sorts of healthy bacteria (aka flora).
- With good vaginal health, the dominant bacteria is the
- Lactobacillus species.
- Lactobacillus has a natural odor that is musky and sour. (Think: yogurt or sauerkraut)
This subtle odor is all for a good cause though because this flora helps the vagina maintain a healthy acidic pH. In turn, this allows your vagina to ward off infection and serve as a protective body guard during conception and pregnancy.
All in all, it’s helpful to understand what your vagina normally smells like. This way, you can be more in tune with noticing any changes that may signal a shift in normal vaginal bacteria.
Now, how do changing hormone levels during perimenopause and menopause factor into this? Learn more in the next section.
How do your hormones affect vaginal odor?
The major hormone that helps you maintain the optimal balance of vaginal flora is estrogen.
Higher amounts of estrogen triggers an increase in glycogen in the cells of your vaginal wall (aka vaginal epithelial cells).
Glycogen is pretty much a stored form of glucose. And it assists with acid production and the growth of Lactobacillus while preventing the growth of too much anaerobic bacteria.
Altogether, this series of physiological processes keep your vagina at an optimal pH.
Changes in vaginal odor during menopause
Declining estrogen levels that you go through as you approach menopause and beyond can lead to some shifts.
By default, these hormonal changes can cause vaginal dryness and changes in your vaginal odor.
Here’s a close-up of the domino effect that unfolds in perimenopause and menopause:
- Estrogen decreases
- Lactobacillus decreases while anaerobic bacteria increase (not the ideal balance)
- pH increases
- Vaginal odor becomes more pungent and unpleasant
With this resulting bacterial imbalance in the vagina, you also become more prone to vaginal infections like:
- Yeast infections
- Bacterial vaginitis (BV)
- And sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
- Recurrent urinary tract infections
These infections can, of course, cause additional unpleasant odors.
To see how each one can specifically affect you, look at the table below:
Condition and cause | Vaginal odor & other symptoms | How to treat it | |
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) (caused by an imbalance of vaginal flora) | Fish-like odor Grayish white vaginal discharge | Antibiotics | |
Trichomoniasis (an STI caused by a parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis) | Very noticeable fishy odor Greenish yellow discharge | Antibiotics | |
Yeast infection (An overgrowth of yeast caused by an imbalance of vaginal flora) | Sour-smelling odor Thick, cottage cheese-like discharge | Antifungal medication | |
STIs (Sexually transmitted infections) | Foul-smelling odor Profuse vaginal, discharge Itching or burning around the vagina or vulva | Antibiotics or antiviral medication | |
As mentioned, you are more susceptible to the above infections during menopause. But how can you decipher normal vaginal odor during menopause from odor caused by an infection? Keep reading!
When to worry about vaginal odor?
Typically when you have an infection, it will come along with other symptoms besides a vaginal odor.
Here are the main symptoms to look out for:
- Vaginal discharge that is abnormal in color, amount, or texture
- An itching or burning sensation
- Bleeding from the vagina (not from a period)
- Fever
If you experience any of these symptoms, see your doctor right away so you can treat the infection.
Another helpful way to better understand what’s normal for you down there is tracking your symptoms regularly. Use a fertility monitor like Inito, along with its free app, to help you log specific symptoms that you experience.
This way, you can see how your unique patterns are changing over time. This is also super helpful data to have whenever you check in with your healthcare provider!
With all these hormonal and vaginal changes during menopause, you may wonder if there’s any way to prevent unpleasant vaginal odor. Don’t worry, we’ve got a few ideas for you next.
How can I prevent abnormal vaginal odor?
If you’re wondering how you can take matters into your own hands, we totally get it!
And there are a few simple hygiene steps you can implement to reduce vaginal odor, to an extent.
Here are a few simple steps to try out:
- Wearing cotton underwear and loose-fitting clothing that keeps you from sweating too much. (Avoid materials like silk, lace, and satin that may trap extra heat and moisture down there.)
- Wash the outside of your vaginal area with warm water and gentle soap. Avoid soaps and other personal hygiene products that are too fragrant (as they may alter your vaginal pH).
- Use condoms and other protective barriers to prevent STIs such as trichomoniasis.
- Consider taking probiotics. Probiotics have been proven to help promote the growth of Lactobacillus bacteria.
- Talk to your doctor about hormone replacement therapy.
What not to try:
One practice to stay clear of when it comes to vaginal odor is douching. (This is when you clean the inside of the vagina with water or a solution of some sort.)
While it sounds like it could work in theory, it actually has the opposite effect.
As you’ve seen in this article, the vagina already naturally cleans itself through maintaining a certain pH and bacterial balance.
Douching disrupts the vagina’s ability to self-cleanse because it throws off the balance of good bacteria in the vagina.
Studies show that douching can lead to an increased risk of infection like:
- Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
- Bacterial vaginosis (BV)
- HIV infections
On top of that, if you’re still trying to conceive, douching can increase your risk of complications like:
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Preterm birth
- Low birth weight
FAQs
A normal, healthy vagina can give off a bittersweet odor. Almost like molasses. This is totally normal and is caused by pH fluctuations.
The vagina already has a natural odor to it whether you’re in menopause or not. But once you enter perimenopause and menopause, vaginal odor can be heightened. This is because your body undergoes significant hormonal shifts during this time, namely decreasing estrogen levels.
When you have decreased estrogen, it can cause the pH of your vagina to become unbalanced. This can then lead to more noticeable odor as well as being more susceptible to vaginal infections (which can cause additional odors).
One potential reason you could have a fishy vaginal odor is bacterial vaginosis. Along with this fishy odor, you’re also likely to notice abnormally colored vaginal discharge (yellowish green). If you experience this, make an appointment with your healthcare provider right away so you can be treated.
Sometimes a chemical-like vaginal odor is nothing to worry about. It could be from having a little bit of urine left over on your underwear or around your vulva.
Other times, it could be a sign of bacterial vaginosis (BV). BV is an infection that also typically causes a fishy vaginal odor and yellow-green discharge. To treat BV, you’ll need to see your doctor and get started on antibiotics.
There are a few reasons you could experience a fermented vaginal smell. One cause of this is having a higher pH (caused by increased amounts of Lactobacillus bacteria).
In some cases though, this heightened sour-like odor could be a sign of a yeast infection. Typically, a yeast infection will bring along other symptoms though—like vaginal discomfort and abnormal discharge.
Since vaginal smell is present even with good vaginal health, there’s no true way to “stop” the odor. That said, there are some ways you can make sure to keep your vagina optimally clean and healthy to avoid odors caused by infection.
Here are some measures you can take:
- Avoid super-tight clothing that may make you sweat more.
- Wash only the outside of the vagina (not the inside) with warm, soapy water. Use scentless or minimally scented soaps.
- Use protective barriers during intercourse.
- Ask your doctor about taking probiotics or starting hormonal treatment.
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