8 Habits that cause your vagina to smell

Every woman has a unique vaginal scent from one another. All of this is normal and there is nothing to be fuss about. However, if you suddenly notice that your vaginal scent has become more offensive, or even smells bad, this may be a sign of a problem.

A bad vaginal odor may be partly due to the lack of personal hygiene habits - from choosing your underwear to your sexual habits - which can have serious implications down there.

Read on to find out about the 8 most common mistakes women make when it comes to vaginal grooming, and how to change these habits for better vaginal health.

Habits that cause vaginal odor

1. Using a vaginal douche

Vaginal douche refers to the practice of washing or rinsing the inside of a vaginal spray filled with water mixed with some other liquid, such as baking soda, vinegar, iodine, and perfume or fragrances. The habit of douching can flush out all the good bacteria that have settled in the vagina to fight the infection, which will further increase the risk of bacterial growth and other vaginal infections that may cause bad odors.

ALSO READ: Why Shouldn't We Use Vaginal Cleansing Soap?

2. Wrong wearing underwear

Super-tight underwear causes more frequent friction, which can cause a wide variety of problems - from skin irritation to ingrown hairs. Additionally, tight, clammy underwear from sweat is one of the risk factors that contribute to the development of yeast infection. The combination of heat and humidity lodged in your vaginal area is an ideal ecosystem for fungi and bacteria.

Not only tight underwear. If you are already prone to yeast infections, urinary tract infections, and vaginal irritation, wear underwear thong will only make your problem worse. An ill-fitting thong is busy sliding back and forth as you move, making it a unique transportation vehicle for spreading E. coli from the anus to the vaginal area. The presence of foreign bacteria in the vagina will not only make it smell worse, but can also threaten the health of your vagina.

The best material for underwear is a fabric that allows the skin to breathe - like pure cotton. Synthetic fabrics, such as nylon, polyester, silk, lycra, and lace are more likely to irritate the vaginal area while putting you at risk for developing yeast and bacterial infections that cause vaginal odor.

3. Rinsing from back to front

The principle is exactly the same as wearing thong pants. Wiping from the buttocks to the front will transfer various kinds of foreign bacteria into your vagina.

4. Rarely wash the vagina

The vagina has an automatic cleaning mode. The cervix and vaginal walls produce a small amount of sagging which dissolves, bringing the remaining menstrual blood, old cells, and other foreign particles out of the vagina. But this doesn't mean you shouldn't miss cleaning the vagina, especially after sweating from exercise, during menstruation or vaginal discharge that is heavier than usual, or even after sex. Maintaining good personal hygiene is important to avoid vaginal odor problems.

ALSO READ: 7 Mandatory Treatments to Maintain Vaginal Health

Use mild, fragrance-free soaps - other active ingredients can upset the pH balance in the vagina and exacerbate existing problems. Make sure you wipe from front to back as you rinse and dry the vaginal area properly by tapping it, not rubbing it, so that moisture doesn't linger in there and cause a yeast infection. Wear dry, clean underwear every day.

5. Rarely change pads

The habit of rarely changing shippers can also be one of the reasons your vagina has a bad smell. Menstrual blood after leaving the body will be contaminated with the body's innate organisms. During your period, health experts recommend that you change your sanitary napkin every 4-6 hours (more often, if you are bleeding heavily). It is good personal hygiene practice to prevent the vagina from smelling badly.

This rule applies even on days when you don't have a lot of bleeding, because your pads are still damp and carry foreign organisms, as well as sweat from your genitals. When these organisms stay in warm and humid places for a long time, they tend to reproduce more quickly and can cause conditions such as urinary tract infections, vaginal infections, and skin rashes.

6. Linger wearing wet bathing suits

Most swimming pools contain chlorine which functions to kill bacteria in the water. Generally this is a good thing, because otherwise the pool water can be a breeding ground for all kinds of bacteria which you will definitely want to avoid.

ALSO READ: What to Do Before and After Swimming

When you linger in a damp swimsuit, the residual chlorine that sticks to the fabric can get too deep into the vagina and kill the good bacteria colonies that should help keep the vagina healthy. So it's no surprise that you'll start feeling a little weird down there, from uncontrollable itching to skin irritation and inflammation associated with all kinds of vaginal health problems - yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis, to vaginitis. The best solution is to take off your wet bathing suit as soon as you finish swimming (or damp underwear from exercise).

7. Hurry up and change clothes after bathing

You get out of the bathroom, hand over your shoulder, quickly put on your clothes, and go to work. Here's your routine for starting the day. In fact, fully dressed before the body is completely dry is not healthy for your vaginal condition. Wearing your underwear while you are half dry is tantamount to letting the vaginal area become a field for yeast infection. Yeast likes warm and humid places. All women have yeast and bacteria in the vagina, but it is this imbalance that triggers inflammatory infections and can cause a bad smell.

No matter how you dry your body - airing it out (wearing a top and dressing up while waiting for the lower area to dry) or patting it dry with a clean towel - what's important is to spend a little more time on vaginal dryness to prevent yeast infection, especially if you are prone to this condition.

8. Eat foods that cause vaginal odor

The habit of eating strong-smelling and spicy foods has the potential to cause vaginal odors, such as coffee, onions, curries, and other spices. Excessive consumption of red meat, milk and dairy products, and alcohol may also change your vaginal odor. A diet high in probiotics, such as whole grains and vegetables and fruits, can help maintain the natural pH balance of the vagina and may produce a lighter scent.

ALSO READ: Is it true that eating pineapple can make your vagina taste sweet?