In today’s age, women are grateful that talking about intimate areas is no longer taboo, especially regarding health and personal hygiene. After all, women now turn to the internet and their doctors to discuss their concerns.
However, subjects such as vaginal odor may still be hard to talk about for many women. While it’s perfectly normal for a woman’s intimate area to have a distinct smell, the problem begins when this smell gets unpleasant for you or might lead to embarrassment.
If you have the same issues, you are not alone. Here are some proven tips that can help you get rid of vaginal odor fast.
1. Maintain Good Hygiene
One of the easiest and most effective ways to maintain good vaginal health is by maintaining your hygiene. You may see a lot of influencers sharing ideas for expensive products to get rid of the odor. However, you need none of that if you focus on maintaining good hygiene.
Make sure to wash the area between your legs at least once a day with warm water. You may also want to consider using mild soap, but it is best to avoid scented products. You can also use a mild cloth to remove sweat and dead skin.
2. Try Boric Acid
Millions of women worldwide with vaginal odor problems swear that using boric acid has changed their life. Boric acid can help restore the proper acid balance in your vagina, relieve itching, and treat yeast infections effectively.
You may want to consider trying a vaginal cleanse with boric acid. If you are confused about how to use it or the frequency, you can always ask your healthcare provider for a recommendation. Over time, boric acid can help you get rid of vaginal odor.
3. Avoid Tight Clothing
Bacteria is the biggest culprit for vaginal odor in most cases. While there is no way to get rid of bacteria down there completely, you can make some lifestyle changes to avoid trapping them and causing an unpleasant smell.
You can start by considering going to bed without underwear. During the day, it is best to avoid thongs, tight underwear, and pantyhose. These practices can prevent bacteria from being trapped between your legs and causing an unpleasant infection.
4. Prioritize Cotton Underwear
From lacy panties to thongs, women have so many options nowadays when it comes to underwear. Yes, lacy and silky underwear can look beautiful, but using them every day may be your reason for vaginal odor. After all, they are not made with breathable fabric in most cases.
That is one of many reasons why you must switch to cotton underwear. Cotton underwear is very absorbent and soaks moisture from your body. Hence, they can help maintain a balance leading to a healthier and odor-free vagina all day long.
5. Eat Healthy
Many people may not know this, but bodily fragrances are heavily influenced by what you eat. Naturally, someone who indulges in food-related guilty pleasures often cannot smell the same as someone who maintains a healthy diet.
Of course, your food choices also have an effect on your vaginal ph. You can try adding probiotic yogurts, buttermilk, and cheese to maintain good vaginal health. Over time, these additions to your diet can show effective results by eliminating the odor.
6. Maintain a Healthy Weight
One of the biggest misconceptions among women is that vaginal odor comes from the inside. While it is true in some cases, it may not always be the main problem. In many cases, the root cause of the problem may be the fold of skin in your thighs.
That is one of many reasons that overweight women have more issues with vaginal odor caused by bacterial infection. However, maintaining a healthy weight can reduce the breeding ground for bacteria and can help you get rid of the unpleasant odor.
7. Avoid Douching
Douching is a fairly common practice among women worldwide. It is the process that directs washing your vagina with water or other fluids. While it may seem logical to many women, there are several reasons why doctors recommend against douching.
Douching is one of the leading causes of vaginal infections. Of course, this practice can also worsen the existing infections by pushing bacteria into the uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries.
8. Urinate After Sex
Doctors always recommend women urinate after sex. It is one of the most effective and easiest ways to avoid urinary tract infections (UTIs) and flush out unhealthy bacteria. However, you may still need protective measures to avoid sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
In some cases, semen can also irritate the vagina, which can lead to a bad smell, itching, or burning sensation. You can get rid of this odor by urinating after sex. It is best to remember that douching is not necessary.