Many women often complain about having vaginal odor after their menstrual periods. This happens mainly because of a pH breakdown in the vagina’s acidity. Basically, this means that the good bacteria in the vagina breaks down. If you are having this problem, this article will give you some helpful tips on how to eliminate vaginal odor after menstruation.
Your body goes through a number of changes, every month when you are menstruating. The level of changes is normal for some women, but others experience more severe changes that will affect the pH balance of different bodily fluids. This in turn will cause the level of alkaline and acidity properties to also increase in those fluids. This increase can be one of the causes for your vaginal odor.
The fluid that is discharged after your menstrual cycle can have a strong odor that is overpowering, in some cases. In such cases, you cannot do a lot to completely eliminate the odor, but there are some things you could try to reduce it. Furthermore, the odor can also be caused by an infection. A mild infection can be treated at home, but a severe one will require medication.
It is also worth noting that the damage to the vagina’s acidic nature can be caused by deodorant soap, douching, certain antibiotics, as well as the continuous use of tampons. Vaginal mucus has lactobacilli, a bacterium that helps to maintain the acidic levels and prevent infections. For this reason, you should not douche as it can destroy these bacteria and make you vulnerable to infection. When tampons are used, they allow micro-organisms to live inside the vagina. This is one of the main reasons why women have vaginal odor after a menstrual period.
Tips on How to Eliminate Vaginal Odor after Menstruation
The first thing you should know is that making a few lifestyle and dietary changes will help you to get rid of this problem, regardless of the cause.
Start by following a well-balanced eating plan that includes lots of raw vegetables and fruits. And yogurt is the most important food to add to your diet. Yogurt has live bacteria or lactobacilli that can attack any infection that is present in milder form. Additionally, when you eat yogurt, it can help to significantly reduce, if not get rid of, the odor completely. You can also get help if you apply some cool yogurt directly to your vagina and the surrounding area.
You should try to avoid consuming foods such as red meat, eggs, oily foods, raw onions, and excessive amounts of garlic as they emanate a strong odor. These items are proven to make menstrual odor stronger, so it is best to have fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet during this time. Parsley is another item that you should eat in generous amounts as it will help to get rid of bad breath and body odor.
Fenugreek seeds are also good. You can soak a fistful in two to three glasses of water overnight, and then boil the mixture in the morning. After that, you should strain and drink a minimum of one glass. This will help you to get rid of the foul odor.
In addition to your diet, you should also pay attention to your hygiene. You need to keep your vaginal area fresh and clean all the time. Use lukewarm water and anti-bacterial soap to wash your vagina at least two times a day and following each bowel movement. You should not use strongly fragranced soaps, washes, and oils to clean the vagina under any circumstances. These items contain chemicals which can trigger harmful infections. Aside from those things, you should avoid using the fancy deodorants or wipes in and around your vaginal area.
Ensure that you shave off or trim your pubic hair to prevent the discharge from getting trapped inside the hair.
Another suggestion is to change your undergarments two to three times daily. If possible, your protection should be changed four to five times in the day. Try to wear just loose cotton clothes, including cotton underwear even though they might not be appealing. These can keep your genitals dry all the time to prevent infection as the cotton absorbs skin moisture and stops offensive odor.
As mentioned above, douching is not recommended as it can push the vaginal bacteria into the uterus to cause pelvic inflammatory disease. A vinegar-salt bath will be an effective alternative solution to douching. You can fill the bath tub with some lukewarm water and add a cup sea salt and white vinegar. Soak in this for fifteen to twenty minutes with your legs open. This will take care of any smelly odor.
Be sure to remember these tips on how to eliminate vaginal odor after menstruation. This problem is extremely common and can be resolved easily if you are willing to make a few changes to your diet and hygiene. If vaginal odor is present at other times or is accompanied by discomfort, itching or swelling, this would indicate that you have a bacterial or fungal infection. You should not hesitate to visit your doctor or gynecologist in this case.
