Vaginal odor can be a tough problem for both partners in a relationship. It can be embarrassing for the female, and frustrating for the male. Even in a free country like the United States, women feel uncomfortable to talk about this taboo subject. Vaginal odor will affect almost every woman at some time in her life. Sometimes, the natural smell of the vagina is taken over by a strong fish smell that becomes intolerable.

Are you experiencing a fishy vaginal odor? Of course, as with any other victim of vaginal odor, you probably have washed, scrubbed, douched, wailed to the skies and possibly cried over this extremely embarrassing situation. Maybe you think you got rid of it, but it keeps coming back. Don't worry, the odor is not your fault and you will never be able to wash it away, but you can do something about it.

Vaginal Odor Removal

• You can get vaginal infections through sexually transmitted diseases from oral sex and normal coitus. If you haven't had sex, then it's still possible that you have an infection. It's unhealthy to use douches or even soap up there. For normal vagina hygiene, wash the labia with water and nothing else. Keep in mind that the vagina is a self-cleaning organ. If you douche or use soap in there, you are putting yourself at risk of infection.

• If the odor is caused by a yeast infection, you may need to change the pH in your vaginal canal so that the yeast cannot survive. Use vinegar (For more uses of vinegar, read how to make household uses for vinegar) and a water douche. Also, cut back on anything that contains sugar, milk or yeast and take a cider vinegar tablet after every meal or three times a day.

• If the odor is caused by a leftover tampon, you can check it yourself by putting your fingers up inside while pushing as if you were trying to have a bowel movement. You can also go to a free clinic and let them check you out.

• If the odor is caused by bacteria around the crotch area, then wear cotton underwear instead of synthetics and use powder with cornstarch instead of talc on the area. Use a powder puff and put a heavy coat in the creases where your legs join your pelvis.

• If you pull the hood back to expose the clitoris, you may find whitish stuff there. Just keep the clitoris clear of that gunk (called smegma) and you shouldn't have any more trouble. Preventing smegma accumulation is best done by rinsing the area with warm water. Some argue that soap should be avoided because it depletes your body of natural skin oils and may cause non-specific dermatitis.

• Be warned that vaginal deodorants are sometimes harmful, as they tend to upset the normal balance of bacteria in the vaginal cavity. This can in turn upset the pH of the vagina. Noticeably unpleasant odors can be an indicator of a potentially serious medical problem, and deodorant sprays or washes may hide this condition.

Vaginal Odor Removal Products

• Bacterial vaginosis (BV) develops when there is a change in the environment of the vagina resulting in an increase of harmful bacteria. Your doctor will be able to evaluate the normal bacterial level of your vagina and control it in case there is increase in the harmful bacteria. A continuous use of self-medication may result in complications and chronic infection that may further affect you until your child-bearing age.

• Visit a doctor or any medical practitioner and ask for a prescription for antibiotics. While this will kill bad bacteria, it will also kill the good bacteria you need to be healthy. As many as 30-40% of women will see BV return within three to six months after removing it using antibiotics.

• You can also use a deodorant body spray but instead of spraying it on your skin, spray it lightly on the crotch of your underwear (especially on the outside edges where it rests in the creases of your legs) and wait for it to dry before putting them on. Otherwise, it will sting and feel uncomfortably wet and cold, which isn't good for the mucus membranes in the vaginal area. You can use the body spray with the powder directly on your skin and have even more protection from odor. You should go to a clinic to determine the real cause, though.

The Causes of Vaginal Odor

Bacterial Vaginosis: There are several causes of vaginal odor but 95% of vaginal odor is caused by an infection that causes bacterial vaginosis (BV).While it can be passed from partner to partner, it is not a sexually transmitted disease. Nonetheless, BV is the main cause of vaginal odor, with the odor becoming particularly intense after having sex, producing that all-to-familiar fishy smell (the most common type of vaginal odor).

Vaginal Odor, Sperm and Menstruation: What do fishy vaginal odor and sperm have to do with each other? While normal vaginal secretions have a pH of about 4, the ph of vaginal secretions during bacterial vaginosis is greater than 4.7. Sperm or semen, on the other hand, has a neutral ph of around 7. When semen is introduced into a vagina that has bacterial vaginosis, the bad bacteria releases more amines to produce the fishy odor. The same holds true for blood, which leans toward a neutral or slightly alkaline pH. The fishy odor may also increase during menstruation.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases: If you have been having oral sex, you can easily get a yeast infection. The human mouth is a breeding ground for all kinds of bacteria. The vaginal odor can also be STD transmitted through saliva. (For yeast infection treatments, how to get rid of yeast infections)

Toxic Shock Syndrome: If the smell is mostly during or around your period, you should make sure that you don't have an old tampon left inside the vagina from a previous period. It can cause toxic shock syndrome if you don't get it out, or worse.

Pheromones:Vaginal odor can also be caused by a hormonal change that creates a strong enough pheromone that you can smell. There isn't much you can do about it, but if that is the case, it is very likely that other people can't smell it.

Crotch odor: You have lots of creases for bacteria to collect and cleaning the area too often can actually make it worse in the long run because it kills off the good bacteria as well and makes your skin dry and sore.

Smegma:When cleaning your vagina, it's important to pay attention to the hood of the clitoris. A lot of whitish gunk can collect under there, mostly because you, like most people, don't even think of checking that area. Unfortunately, most odor concentrates on the hood of the clitoris.

Just remember that vaginal odor is treatable. You just need to be hygienic. Also remember to keep open communication regarding this condition with your partner. The more you break the taboos of vaginal odor, the easier you'll be able to handle it. Also, consult your doctor for more advanced cases of bacterial vaginosis or smegma. If you learn from this article, you'll surely want to read how to get rid of vaginal itching.