Vaginal Smell & Natural Remedies

Vaginal smell can be pretty disturbing and can limit your social and sexual life. The unpleasant vaginal odor can be a sign of poor personal hygiene, wearing tight-fitting underwear or a serious bacterial or yeast infection. The common bacterial infection known as bacterial vaginosis is caused due to ‘gardnerella’ bacteria. Some home remedies such as garlic, yogurt, tea tree oil, etc. can be effective in killing yeast and treating vaginal odor. Check also Home Remedies for Yeast Infection and Natural Remedies for Bacterial Vaginosis.

Vaginal smell can be changed during menstruation, after intimate contacts and after using some spicy food.

You can avoid the vaginal smell by using some simple natural remedies.

	Douching with water. This seemed like a great idea. It is not. The problem with trying to hide the smell by using a douche is that you simply irritate the bacteria making the smell even more potent. After douching you can have strong odor again within hours. This isn't something which would not be recommended. Douche your vagina with a mixture of vinegar and water in equal proportions. This will help to eliminate the unpleasant vaginal odor.
	Scented soaps can provide some temporary relief but they also caused some irritation in the delicate tissues of the area. You can also experience some fairly persistent itching after using a strong perfumed soap. This may work for you if your body can handle the intensity of the chemicals in the soap.
	Scented panty liners can really help hide the vaginal smell. The only problem is that the scents they come in are a little over the top. Better to change the liner several times throughout the day to help mask the odor. One drawback is that it didn't change the issue when it came to intimacy.
	Tea Tree Oil. Experts believe that the antifungal property of tea tree oil can help in treating vaginal odor. You can add 2-3 drops of tea tree oil in a cup of water and apply the water into the vaginal area to reduce the odor.
	Yogurt. It is believed that healthy bacteria present in yogurt can check spread of yeast infection. You can dip a tampon in unsweetened yogurt and insert it in your vagina for some time. If yeast infection or bacterial infection is the cause for your vaginal odor then add some yoghurt in your diet for acidophilus. You can even take acidophilus supplements.

	Always remind your partner to wear a condom while having sex and avoid any sexually transmitted diseases.
	Keep your vagina dry and clean. Avoid wearing synthetic clothing; instead wear clean dry comfortable cotton panties. Keep the vaginal flora dry. Yeast infection can spread in a moist environment. You may want to wear light-fitting clean and dry cotton underwear. This can help in maintaining air circulation and prevent vaginal irritation, thereby checking vaginal odor.
	Avoid scratching. Try wearing boxer shorts while sleeping at night for better air circulation.
	Garlic. It is suggested that the anti-fungal property of garlic can check yeast infection, thereby treating vaginal odor. One might make a paste of fresh garlic and apply it to the vaginal area. Alternately, one may wrap some fresh garlic in cheesecloth, tie it and insert it into the vagina for some time.
	Drink plenty of water. For yeasts, sugar is the primary food source. Experts suggest drinking minimum 8 glasses of pure water everyday. This can help in expelling extra sugar out of the body, thereby checking yeast infection and treating vaginal odor.
	Food. Finally, to treat vaginal odor you can consider paying attention to what you eat. You may want to stay away from foods that contain high carbohydrates and artificial sweetener as well as spicy ingredients.

Some information is used from YGo Home Remedies.

If the odor lingers for long time and is accompanied by vaginal itching or scratching then consult a specialist to diagnose the exact cause for the problem.