Fishy smell
If your vulva smells fishy, it is almost certain that you have bacterial vaginosis (also known as anaerobic vaginosis). This is an imbalance in the bacteria in the vagina. All women have harmless bacteria in their vaginal passage. In bacterial vaginosis, some of the bacteria multiply so that more are present than is normal (it is usually the Gardnerella and Mobiluncus bacteria that are the culprits). In other words, bacterial vaginosis is not an infection caught from your partner, it is due to bacteria that are normally present in the vagina.
Bacterial vaginosis is treated with an antibiotic, metronidazole, from your doctor. You will find more information on bacterial vaginosis in the section on genital infections.
Written by: Dr Margaret Stearn
Edited by: Dr Margaret Stearn
Last updated:
Wednesday, February 10th 2010
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Posted by Optional on 10/03/2010 at 01:26:42 pm
Having an odor aroung the vigina area. I have the answer to this problem. First, if the smell is from within the vigina, go see a doctor, if the smell is from the outside i.e. the vigina lips then this advice will help you. Some facts about the vigina and then onto the cure. On and around the lips of a womans vigina and on the shaft and around the head of a mans penis ( I have heard that men suffer from smelly penis also ) there are glands called sebaceous glands that secrete an oily, waxy substance called sebum that is made of fat, wax, and the debris of dead fat-producing cells that help fight bacteria and any harmful germs. Sebum is odorless, but its bacterial breakdown can produce very strong odors. Sebum acts to protect and waterproof hair and skin, and keeps them from becoming dry, brittle and cracked by dehydration. It can also inhibit the growth of some microorganisms on the skin also. The activity of the sebaceous glands increases during puberty because of heightened levels of androgens. This is however normal, not to be confused with an STD. When the ph level of the vigina and penis is off balance from using strong soaps or other washing products they strip the vigina or penis of the bodys natual waxy defence and then the body thinks it's under attack from germs so it produces more of the waxy substance (that's the thick cheesy stuff on the penis and on the vigina lips that has a very strong smell) and then with the harmful soap and other washing products the sebum fights the chemicals and the breakdown of these is what causes the very bad smell. You are not ment to wash the head of the penis or the vigina lips with anything other than warm water and something with a ph of 7.0. even with a ph of 7.0 I have found that there still is a slight smell but with a substitute soap there is NO smell at all. You wash at the start 3 times a day, once in the morning, the evening and once at night for a week then to twice a day for one week then you can just wash your penis or vigina every morning and there will be no smell. The product that I use and has been the only thing that works for me (NO SMELL AT ALL) is called Dermol 500 lotion, it's a substitute soap and you wash really well around the area and you make sure that you thoroughly rinse off the lotion and thats all you need to do. It's a bit expensive £15 but really worth it for peace of mind and it lasts soo long as you don't have to use much at all. The lotion has 500ml in it. I think you can get it delivered to your door if there is no shops that sell it near you. Please come back and share to other people that it works when it works for you because I know it has been a relief to me. Please even look it up on the net. Sorry about the long post. I will spread the word as it has taken me a while to find the cure. The Researcher
Posted by Anonymous on 07/02/2010 at 08:54:00 pm
Ive have had a vaginal smell and discharge for a couple of years now, ive only just plucked up the courage to go to the doctors last year once i turned 17 because i was embarrassed to tell anyone. I havent had sex or sexual contact. Ive tried everything my doctor put me on antibiotics for a week, they didnt work and she eventually gave me a swob and it came back clear, i always get a shower and wear cotton underwear and i always rinse my vagina after a bath with clean water... what should i do :( its realy getting me down, i want to be happy, but this is making me so sad all the time! Please help me! Thank you guys
Posted by virgo on 05/02/2010 at 01:21:00 pm
I HAD A YEAST INFECTION,I WENT TO THE Dr. & WAs treated for it but i'm still getting a fishy odour coming from my vagina.Is there anything i can do to minimise this smell.please help i feel embarassed especially when my partner have to smell me.
Posted by Sue on 02/02/2010 at 05:11:00 pm
I have had 10 bouts of cystitis over the last year and have been in the chnage for 5 years still getting hot flushes do have lots of stress to but this weekend I have had more antibitoics but I feel very heavy in the pelvic area and do feel a little sore down below I cannot use HRT cream as this made me have terrible migraine I still feel the urge to go to the loo quite a lot of times in the day does thrush cause this awful uncomfortable heavy sore feeling or it is the cystitis or both
Posted by Bunny on 28/01/2010 at 08:10:00 am
Hi, to all the girls that have this serious problem, not to worry. Please go to http://www.femanol.com it have a product for your solution. I started to have this past 3 months this foul smell after my period, like some peoples, we always look or have the sense of sensitivity in our system that is scared to go out and have other peoples to notice anything. I've had been searching for the right product, some of my friends took this product to see if it works. Couple of wks. later, they said that the smell had stopped, and I myself had been planning in ordering too. I have discharge since i was 12, but didn't have the foul fishy smell until the past 2 months ago now. For some of you please do NOT douche, that's the biggest mistake you will ever make, it will make it worst. And never wear tight underwear, cause it also cause the discharge and the smell too. If some of you can go to http://www.doctorstv.com it will show a new product that they said it will work for them is called waterworks (it seems a metal douche thing). I don't thing that would be a good idea, but is up to any of yall' that wants to try. The website is http://www.waterworkshealth.com and yall' can also go to http://www.naturalvaginalcare.com it have a cream that works wonders for some peoples and some use pills to cure. It's up to any of you that wants to try. Good luck and have a great wkd.
Posted by Anonymous on 27/01/2010 at 05:10:00 pm
hi i'm 13 and have not started my periods i have been having vaginal distarge for a while it varys in coulour from green to brown and smells discusting with bits of blood should i see a doctor ? what is wrong with me ? ashleigh
Posted by Caren luke on 26/01/2010 at 07:50:00 pm
i always made fun of girls at my school when that smell like fish stick or dead sea bass lol but now i see its a serious thing ima consider this web site so they can find some emergency douche or let the soap lever 3000 melt in they vag so yea ima do thta cause some girls need some real serious in sight thANYOU
Posted by louise f on 26/01/2010 at 07:28:00 pm
i think i have bacterial vaginosis... and i would like to know how i get rid of it... because it really smells badly x
Posted by Anonymous on 20/01/2010 at 10:40:00 pm
Hi, i'm 16. For the past few days, my vagina has this discharge that smells fish and i don't know how to fix this. Also, when i use the bathroom my urine smells really really bad do you have any idea what might be wrong? Please help.
Posted by Anonymous on 19/01/2010 at 10:17:00 pm
I have an extremely fishy smell, however, I have taken metro gel, and two other pill form antibiotics and they have not gotten rid of it! HELP!!
Posted by Anonymous on 17/01/2010 at 12:51:00 pm
Do not use soap or other chemicals on your vagina! What happens is that a lot of women try to wash away the smell with things that kill the good bacteria as well as the bad. Take a bath and just use the water to cleanse yourself. After a few days your vagina's bacteria will be in balance and the smell will lessen if not go away completely.
Posted by Anonymous on 14/01/2010 at 11:27:00 pm
Had smelly yellow discharge for ages, started years before I lost my virginty, what could it be?
Posted by Harley on 14/01/2010 at 06:06:00 pm
Do anyone of you have the fishy odor? and with the smell of like, pus ? that sometimes doesnt go even after washing?
Posted by Anonymous on 14/01/2010 at 01:54:00 am
My daughter is 9yrs and have been discharging brown smelly for about three months. She has a shower everyday. Please help as it is affecting her confidence. Her friends at school laugh and walk away from her. Had antibiotics and now on thrush medication. still smelly. Help
Posted by DARBIE on 04/01/2010 at 07:00:00 pm
right? im 13 and i have this really bad odar coming from downbelow and i have a shower twice a day once in the morning before i go to skool and one at night before i go to bed. its hard for me cause its really bad ive had very bad discharge its slimmy and yellowish i dont know if this is normal? my stomach is aching constantly and im always in a bad mood ive been on my period for almost a yr and it really hurts and i feel discusting and dirty whenever i think about it. im scared of saying yes to boys incase they smell me and dump me and tell everyone that i smell. what do i do about this HELP!
Posted by Anonymous on 04/01/2010 at 04:10:00 am
I have had a foul, smelly discharge off and on for the last year and a half just about. My period hasnt ever been regular and it sometimes doesnt come on for 2-3 months at a time. From what I've read, I think it may be bacterial vaginosis, but Im not sure. I only have one sexual partner, so I dont think its an STD...its so embarrassing. Any help?
Posted by Anonymous on 02/01/2010 at 07:39:00 pm
My vulva does have a fishy odour, ill have a shower and it goes away, but a day later its back again!!! it is frustrating because I have had numerous tests at the GUM for this and got the ''all clear'' every single time??? confused!
Posted by Anonymous on 30/12/2009 at 12:58:00 am
i have been having a smelly discharge for about 4weeks sometimes it goes away but it also comes back i dont know what to do it just wont go away and it is messing up my sex life because im scared of what my partner is going to think about me i need help
Posted by alex2009 on 21/12/2009 at 11:03:00 pm
My vagina has recently smelt fishy and cheesy recently and I don't understand why. I shower at least 3 times a day im probably the cleanest person ever and i cannot understand it. its really getting me down please help
Posted by H on 20/12/2009 at 08:57:00 pm
my vagina has smelt like fish for a couple of weeks now me and my boyfriend dont understand why and what causes it. help!!
Posted by Anonymous on 17/12/2009 at 04:41:00 pm
I have bad vaginal discharge. It sometimes smells of fish but mostly smells of cheese. I don't know if its Gonorrhae. Also my period is met to be due and its regular. I have been losing a lot weight recently and im not diabetic. i dont excerise or stressed. What could be the cause?Help
Posted by Sasha on 17/12/2009 at 03:53:00 am
Hi, I have a fishy smell came out of my vagina. i have any time: during sex, after sex, before my menstrual i have those brownish, sometimes pink fuid come out of me and they smell really awful. i have that smell through my menstrual time. to make it easy i have all the days and night.one day i was with a group of friends one of them sit next to me and she said she smells something awful and could the awful smell from me. i was so embarrass. please help
Posted by chubby on 11/12/2009 at 12:31:00 am
my period is so light just a spot but i notice a foul smell coming from the blood spot.
Posted by Natalie on 03/12/2009 at 07:31:00 pm
I am pregnant and in the last couple of weeks have noticed a heavy white discharge and rather bad smell, in the last few days it has become incredibly itchy and sore is this thrush ?
Posted by Anonymous on 03/12/2009 at 05:37:00 am
wise girl, it sounds like if you are too embarassed/scared to talk about your vaginal problems with your mom and doctor well you probably shouldn't be trying to have a baby right now. It sounds like you are not mentaly prepared for everything that comes along with getting pregnant.
Posted by wise girl on 29/11/2009 at 07:57:00 pm
me and my boyfriend have been dating for 11 months now we have been trying to have a baby but we havent succeeded in havin a baby but all the time i'll have this fishy smell or white discharge from my vagina and also i have this pain in my lover abdomen and im embarassed to tell my mom and im scared to go to the doctor what should i do about this problem please help!!!!!!! i really want to know what should i do for this problem because its really embarassing and sometime when im sitting in class i can smell the fishy smell through my clothes i be to embarassed to get up because the smell is horrible
Posted by Anonymous on 11/11/2009 at 01:10:00 pm
most of the girls here are embarressed about seeing their GP. just remember that all GPs, male or female, have seen plenty of vaginas and plenty of infections. they are swarn to privacy and are there to help. is it more embarassing to see a professional doctor or to walk around with wet smelly undies? for those that find testing never picks anything up, i suggest investigating alternative natural treatments.just google them. clensing needs to happen from the inside out. get some 'good bacteria' into your digestive system, and boost your immune system, it all begins there, everything is connected. for the virgins...be wise always protect yourself, if you have problems now, imagine how easy it is to get them when your sexually active. they dont have to be deadly or even 'serious' to cause a world of grief. xxx
Posted by b on 29/10/2009 at 03:24:00 am
A really awesome product to use, assuming that you are healthy and just having an odor issue is a product at your local pharmacy or grocery store called REPPHRESH. You can find it along side the display of pads and tampons. It is a Vaginal gel that has been clinically proven to restore your vagina to a healthy PH level which is why the odor come if your ph level is off. Also, eating strawberries and kiwi seem to sweetin everything as well. A box of REPHRESH is about 15.oo USD. It is awesome! However, it does have little white creamy peices that form and flush out, whatever that is, which can be kind of a problem if you want to be intimate. My suggestion is to use this 2 days before you are intimate and you will be absolutely good to go! Hope this helps.
Posted by Anonymous on 16/10/2009 at 11:03:00 am
is it natural for virgin girls to get bacterial vagina and fishy smell from their vagina or it's something just happens to women?!is it dangerous?!
Posted by help! on 14/10/2009 at 12:03:00 pm
i'm really scared i might have this bacterial problem.. but i don't want to tell my mum or anyone. i'm far too embarrassed to go to the doctors! what can i do? can i buy something from the shop to help?? PLEASE HELP this problem has been occuring for a while now..
Posted by Anonymous on 14/10/2009 at 10:51:00 am
My vaginal discharge started to have an unpleasant smell 3 months ago. I don't feel any itching and burning. The last time I had sex, my vulva hurt not the abdomen. I want to ask if the same thing happens to you every time you have sex. I'm really wondering what causes this smelly discharge. When I tried to examine my discharge, I didn't wear my pantyliner. It was yellowish in color. I'm not sure if that was caused by my pee or the discharge but the thing is I smell that fishy smell. There was even a time that it turned pinkish. I thought it was my period but it disappeared after a day. What is this?
Posted by HELP PLEASE! on 10/10/2009 at 07:47:00 pm
i'm really scared i might have this bacterial problem.. but i don't want to tell my mum or anyone. i'm far too embarrassed to go to the doctors! what can i do? can i buy something from the shop to help?? PLEASE HELP this problem has been occuring for a while now..
Posted by Jessie on 07/10/2009 at 07:33:00 pm
I have a lot of vaginal discharge, which usuallly smells, and makes mess in my underwear, I shower everyday but it seems to come back a few hours afterwards, I had antibiotics for Thrush, but that hasn't stopped it. It doesn't itch, and it isn't sore, it just smells badly, and alot of clear, or greeny/ yellowy discharge comes out. HELP!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Sydney on 05/10/2009 at 09:46:00 pm
i'm nervous to tell my mom this, or talk to my doctor about this. is there aything i could do and not talk to them about it?
Posted by mandy on 02/10/2009 at 08:06:00 pm
i get a really fishy odour a week before my period, apart from then i have no odour what so ever, why is this? any quick fixes?
Posted by maria on 28/09/2009 at 06:05:00 pm
i am sure that i have got bacterial vaginosis,but my GP doctor twice gave me perscriptions which treat thrush.i have got all symphtoms for bacterial vaginosis,but they try treat me from thrush.that is so funny,i am start getting angry.i know better my body and what is wrong with it.
Posted by Anonymous on 27/09/2009 at 11:59:00 am
I always get a fishy smell that smells terrible after each period. The DR always assumes a bacterial infection and gives me antibiodics to take while we wait my swab results to come back...the meds always work however my swab results are always the same...no infection...what is causing this?
Posted by mee. on 10/09/2009 at 12:44:00 am
When i sit in class, i smell this odor smell from my vagina, i dont know what it is.. i cant get rid of it, even if i have a shower, how do i hide the smell? help????
Posted by successful on 06/09/2009 at 03:54:00 am
yea it's a bacteria jus goto the clinic and they will check you out if it's an std or bacteria
Posted by Anna on 01/09/2009 at 07:48:00 am
I have really bad discharge, and a musky smell not fishy unless after sex. Its so bad my knickers and extremley wet and the smell is coming through my clothing. I have anti biotics for BV but could it be something my sinister?
Posted by Anonymous on 30/07/2009 at 12:46:00 am
The discharge i have smells fishy occasionally but i'm a virgin so this answer can't apply to me?
Posted by Anonymous on 29/07/2009 at 07:00:00 pm
I have had a thick white-yellowish discharge with a smelly odor for some time now that I have not always had. I went to the gyno and it is not any STD's. So I'm good there, but then what is it? I have more pain in my lower stomach with my period and I have painful intercourse. I can barely have sex with my boyfriend because it hurts my cervix...it was only once that I was actually hunched over in pain after intercourse, other then that I just get cramping in my cervix and lower abdomin. Can anyone help me?
Posted by Fanjita on 23/07/2009 at 12:53:00 am
I have the same problem with my vageena, i have smell of feesh all the time, my husbando doeso no like so i spray it with air freshner before he go down dare, he say the smell is fresh, so i amma glad it please him
Posted by Anonymous on 15/07/2009 at 02:18:00 pm
e.p.a player.....lol no I wouldn't think you gf had a penis when she was born, you will see all sorts of different vaginas in your years to come. And they are all very normal!!!
Posted by Anonymous on 08/07/2009 at 01:14:00 pm
i have had a sore and spotty vagina now for about two weeks, the spots have started to spread down my legs. do you know what this could be?
Posted by Anonymous on 06/07/2009 at 04:24:00 pm
There's a girl in my year who STINKS of fish. It's so bad I have to hold my breath when she walks past. Could she have a very severe form of this and does her obesity have anything to do with it?
Posted by e.p.a playa on 02/07/2009 at 07:43:00 am
my gf's vagina lips are hanging and long..duz dat mean she had a penis wen she was born?
Posted by John on 23/06/2009 at 05:39:00 pm
I have a fishy ordor in my private area. What causes this?
Posted by Lerato on 23/06/2009 at 12:13:00 pm
usually its about a few days after my period, i get this discharge, its white not too thick, just normal thick, it smells when Im just sitting or taking off my pants or urinating...i dont like it because it makes me uncomfotable..sometimes its so bad that when my man comes over i have to take a bath first before he smells it.
Posted by worried. on 23/06/2009 at 11:01:00 am
hi, im 13 i have a discharge that smells horrible and is thick and white, ive just started my period and i thought it would go away after my period but it hasint. Ive never had sex, and the discharge happens everyday can anyone help?
Posted by not always perfect on 15/06/2009 at 03:43:00 pm
my vagina has a bad smell. i guess fishy is the right way to dscribe it. but i have no other symptoms other than that. the funny thing is sometimes i smell it, sometimes i don't. i usually notice it when i use the bathroom/when i get undressed to bathe.I have never had this problem before i was wondering what is causing this how to prevent or fix the problem and if its something i should worry about
Posted by jodie on 12/06/2009 at 08:52:00 pm
my vagina really smells all the time even after a bath i have to wear peridod pads to stop my kniickers from getting soaking wet please help what should i do i dont want to go to my doctor wb please
Posted by rmw on 08/06/2009 at 05:46:00 am
I have a heavy white discharge but sometimes smelly. I started having the smell after a yeast inflection which has since been cleared up form the pill. what would be the cause of the smell my bf had commented on the smell. Please what is it
Posted by Hallow13 on 22/05/2009 at 09:46:00 pm
my vagina has a bad smell. i guess fishy is the right way to dscribe it. but i have no other symptoms other than that. the funny thing is sometimes i smell it, sometimes i don't. i usually notice on it when i use the bathroom. i was wondering what are some other causes to this.
Posted by lucy on 20/05/2009 at 02:31:00 pm
i keep getting this really white and sticky discharge looks a bit like cum it happens everyday and its really embarrasing when me and my bf wanna have sex iv got 2 hide it its that bad. im to emmbarresd to go doctors about it.oh and also its as if my parters cum dont agree with me because straight afta sex it jus cums straight back out what is wrong with me??
Posted by Jesus on 19/05/2009 at 10:39:00 pm
i have discharge in my knickers everyday, it doesnt smell but i get itchy sometimes at night, its horrible and i hate it and i dont want 2 get anything for it because i feel emmbarrased. should i tell my mum?
Posted by katiie on 06/05/2009 at 05:57:00 pm
hi ever since ive had discharge it has smelt real bad its often fishy and only i smell it im worried if i was to start to have sex my partner will smell it im stilla virgin and have spoke to a nurse i dont want tests does anyone have any tips on what to do . is there any non prescriptive drugs available or something
Posted by Jenny on 05/05/2009 at 03:52:00 pm
I hav been getting a lot of discharge for abit now.. i'am getting worried!!
Posted by lm32 on 18/04/2009 at 04:30:00 pm
does anyone else have a discharge all the time?? so much so that it can be wet and uncomfortable.it smells but not all the time.
Posted by charlie on 16/04/2009 at 11:31:00 am
Me and boyfriend have been trying for a baby since Feb and obviously been having a lot of sex. I have recently noticed thick white discharge and a slight smell of fish or it could be semen not sure, that i can't get rid of, i have no itching and im not sore. What coujld it be i'm not due my period for another week.
Posted by canadianf on 07/04/2009 at 04:31:00 am
Is it really bad if i can smeell my self just sitting.
Posted by Anonymous on 03/04/2009 at 12:24:00 pm
Missed periods for 8 months now with pain inside the vagina and discharge. Had medication for thrush but it din't help at all.
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