Why does my vagina smell like fish?
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) or Trichomoniasis are the most likely culprits of fishy vaginal odor.
I know this because I have been through it, twice. Fishy vaginal odor is the most common odor issue women go through- even more than yeast infection. The worst thing about it is that it’s really potent- you can smell it while standing up without putting your head anywhere near your legs and I would think other people can too. Even worse is that it comes back immediately after a shower, and there’s no cleaning it away.
Now, while BV rarely has other symptoms except the fishy odor, Trich comes with greenish, yellow discharge and itchiness. Let’s take a closer look at the two individually.
What Causes Fishy Vaginal Odor?
1. Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)
BV is the most common cause of fishy vaginal odor. And while it is not an STI, you are more likely to get it if you are sexually active.
Why?
Because BV occurs as a result of an imbalance of the vaginal flora. The vagina maintains a delicate balance of good and bad bacteria with the right PH balance of 3.8 – 4.5 acidity. Occasionally and with reason, this balance gets compromised causing bad bacteria overgrowth where it overwhelms the good bacteria.
When this happens, the result is bacterial vaginosis and a fishy smell.
Now, I’m sure you are wondering where sex comes in here. Well, sex, or semen rather is one of the causes of this imbalance. Semen has a very basic PH which dilutes the acidity of the vagina. Luckily, the human body is adaptable so the vagina acclimates to one man’s semen with time and stops reacting. This is why as doctors we recommend sticking to one sexual partner or practice protected sex always.
Number two is because many people are not careful with sex. Your vaginal flora is so delicate that anything from unwashed hands to a dirty penis will upset the balance. There’s a reason we are told to wash hands before and after using the toilet.
And worst is those who go from anal sex back to the vagina, transferring all the bacteria.
Other Causes of Bacterial Vaginosis
Compromised Gut Flora
There’s a direct connection between your gut and your vagina flora. They actually have a similar environment that requires a certain level of acidity to keep the perfect bacterial balance. The primary enemy of this balance is diet.
Too much sugar, too many processed carbs, fatty foods, and generally a white American diet that turns into sugar and fat. If it’s bad for your weight, it’s bad for your gut flora. Good bacteria thrive on healthy foods like veggies, fruits, whole grains, and nuts. They also need probiotics in form of fermented foods like kimchi, garlic, sauerkraut, and yogurt.
If you can limit bad foods as much as possible and replace them with real food, you will see a great improvement in your overall health in terms of energy, skin, vaginal health, body odor, sleep, and digestion.
Speaking of sleep, poor sleep and high stress levels also compromise your gut. On top of a healthy diet, ensure you are sleeping enough (7-8 hours) and get a handle on your stress. The stress hormone cortisol messes up your gut, digestion, and sleep.
Other things that can upset the vaginal flora include douching, and using fragrant products down there that can mess with the PH. these include soaps, pads, deodorants, perfumes and cleansers.
Treating Bacterial Vaginosis
For years, doctors have been treating BV with a course of antibiotics- Metronidazole, Clindamycin, and Tinidazole. The problem with this treatment is that antibiotics kill both the good and the bad bacteria.
This leads to three problems;
1. You are very likely to get a yeast infection now that all the good bacteria have been wiped off. Antibiotics do not restore the acidity or PH so there’s nothing to stop yeast and other microorganisms from thriving now.
2. With the poor PH and few good bacteria, guess who gets to come back better? Bad bacteria. This is why BV recurs 90% of the time after a round of antibiotics and it comes back worse.
3. With recurring BV every few weeks, you soon become antibiotic-resistant and the bad bacteria form a biofilm that is hard to get rid of.
So what’s the solution?
Boric acid suppositories are the only full-proof solution from my experience. It is the only thing that helped me and what I have recommended to all our clients.
I wrote a post on the best boric acid suppositories in the market for you.
Boric acid is a weak acid that’s been used for generations as an antiseptic and it improves vaginal acidity and maintains good PH.
The suppositories are sold without a prescription and you simply need to pop one inside the vagina every day for 3-5 days. I recommend wearing a pad because it comes out throughout the day as a liquid. You should see an improvement on day one but continue for 3-5 days until BV is cleared.
NB; Boric acid is poisonous when ingested so do not put it in your mouth. You should also not use it in pregnancy as it can harm the fetus. Keep out of children’s reach.
Of course, you need to work on strengthening the good bacteria and PH by eating the right foods and probiotic-rich stuff. Take a daily probiotic with high levels of Lactobacilli to keep bacterial balance. This will ensure the environment is formidable enough to fight external factors.
2. Trichomoniasis
Trich is the second cause of fishy vaginal odor. It is a non-viral STI caused by the Trichomonas vaginalis parasite. While it is the most common STI in the world (3.7 million Americans), only 30% of the affected show symptoms and men do not.
This is why it’s so important to practice safe sex and get screened for STIs regularly.
Besides the fishy odor, sometimes trich also presents with;
· Foamy or frothy discharge.
· White, yellow, or green discharge.
· Pain during or after penetrative sex.
· Pain or burning during urination.
· Itching and redness in or around the vagina.
Fortunately, Trichomoniasis is easily treated with specific antibiotics when you go to a doctor.
PS: Please note that leaving BV and Trich untreated for a while increases the likelihood of getting other STDs like HIV, chlamydia, and gonorrhea. They also mess with your reproductive parts and will lead to Pelvic Inflammatory Disease and premature births.
FAQ’s
How do you treat a fishy smell down there?
If you notice a fishy odor down there, go to your healthcare provider and get tested. If the issue is an STI, they will give you the right antibiotics.
If it’s BV though, throw away the antibiotics and get on boric acid. Work on your gut health and keep fragrant and dirty stuff away from your vagina.
Are there home remedies for fishy vaginal odor?
The best home remedy for fishy vaginal odor caused by BV is to work on your gut health. Eat healthy foods, plenty of probiotic-rich foods, and probiotic pills to restore the vaginal acidity and help good bacteria thrive.