Do you experience a foul vagina odor after having sex? Does this impede on your sexual relationship with your partner? If so, don’t despair. This is a common phenomenon, in fact more common than you’d think.

Some women who find that their vagina smells after sex may discover that the odor has nothing to do with them but rather it is their partner who is not as clean as they should be!

For example, if the man’s penis is not clean, this can result in an unpleasant odor after intercourse. It is also possible that an uncircumcised penis may have smegma, a type of mucous under the hood. If this smegma is not cleaned out regularly, it smells really bad and can also cause infections.

In this instance, once you ensure total personal hygiene before intercourse occurs, the embarrassing odor after sex would disappear. To prevent infection, it is always advisable that you (the woman) urinate immediately (as soon as possible) after sex.

If the unpleasant odor after intercourse persists however, this can be due to a number of reasons:

1. Hormonal changes in the body
Sometimes vagina odor occurs in menopausal women or postpartum women. It is also a common occurrence just before menstruation or immediately after it is over. Hormonal changes cause various secretions in the vaginal cavity, and this in turn can give off an unpleasant odor.

2. Infection of the organ
If the smell is very unpleasant and persistent in spite of proper hygiene (whether accompanied by any type of secretion or not) you need to consult a doctor immediately. This might be a symptom of candidiasis (caused by yeast), bacterial vaginosis (caused by bacteria) or a parasite infection.

3. Diabetes
Vagina odor due to a fungal infection is most common with women who suffer from diabetes.

4. Poor Diet
A diet heavy on acidic foods may cause vagina odor. Drinking plenty of water, introducing fresh fruits and vegetables into your diet, would help to combat the odor.

6. Foreign body insertions
The use of tampons, sex toys, condoms and the like can also introduce bad bacteria and cause bad odor. Lubricants, scents and other sexual aids may also contribute to the onset of bad odor.

What You Can Do About Vagina Odor

If the unpleasant odor after intercourse continues even after proper hygiene is followed (whether or not there is any secretion or itching) consult your gynecologist at the earliest. Not only is this embarrassing for both partners but also this occurrence could disrupt an otherwise healthy sexual relationship. The worst thing you can do is to neglect it.

It is important that you understand vagina odor is a symptom of some underlying cause, which requires treatment. Therefore, do not shy away from consulting a medical practitioner at the earliest possible convenience. Remember, this is a common phenomenon and your doctor can help restore your health and your peace of mind with adequate treatment.

<< Back to Articles…