A normal pH of the vagina is 3.8–4.5, which is acidic while a pH of 7 is neutral. The presence of blood, semen, or urine in the vagina can affect the pH and cause different odours. “Healthy” periods can have a slight smell of blood. This may be a slight metallic smell from iron and bacteria.
Fishy. A person might notice a fishy smell during their period and also outside of menstruation. This smell is often related to an infection, such as bacterial vaginosis or trichomoniasis. Bacterial vaginosis is a common vaginal infection caused by an overgrowth of bacteria in the vagina.
Sweet Smell
This is a normal occurrence and does not indicate a problem. However, if the odour is particularly strong or accompanied by other symptoms, such as itching or burning, it may indicate an infection and should be evaluated by a medical professional.
Menstrual hygiene
If your period blood smells like fish, that means you need to change your pad or tampon. This is the most basic yet crucial factor in combating odours during periods. So, maintain hygiene by: Changing your pads or tampons every 4 to 5 hours, even if the flow is light.
Spotting is light bleeding that can occur between periods. It usually appears as a small amount of blood when wiping or on underwear. Possible causes include birth control, pregnancy, menopause, and more.
What determines how sweet or sour your period smells isn't the blood itself but rather the vaginal mucus there at the time. At different points in your cycle, your vaginal mucus changes in consistency (from watery, thin mucus to thicker, whiter mucus) and when this change occurs, the pH of the mucus changes too.
Yes, changes in hormones can cause your body odor to smell. Hot flashes, night sweats and hormonal fluctuations experienced during menopause cause excessive sweating, which leads to changes in body odor. Some people believe their body odor changes when they're pregnant or menstruating.
First, menstrual blood is made of both blood and tissue that sheds from the uterus. When menstrual blood mixes with our own bodies, bacteria and odor may develop. Many describe this as fishy. Just like when we sweat.
Many women become concerned that other people can detect the odor around their vulva and vagina. In reality, women are most sensitive to their own odor, and it's very unlikely that others who don't have intimate contact with them can smell it.
“It's a yeasty smell,” says Dr. Streicher. “It's not leave-the-room bad, but it has a characteristic scent.” The pH of your vagina doesn't actually change when you have a yeast issue—it's just that yeast has an odor. So if your discharge smells bad but not fishy, it could be a yeast infection.
Malodorous chemicals released by bacteria: Bacteria can also release malodorous chemicals that can cause a wound to smell bad. These chemicals are often produced because of bacterial metabolism and can be potent. Some types of bacteria are more likely to have malodorous chemicals than others.
Phantosmia is a condition that causes you to detect smells that aren't actually in your environment. It can happen in one nostril or both — and the odors may be foul or pleasant. Common causes include colds, allergies, nasal polyps and dental issues. Treatment depends on the underlying cause.
Change both pads and tampons regularly, and clean your crevices regularly, too. “Blood doesn't even have an odor until it hits air,” Dr. Holmes says, so if a tampon smells foul or fishy right when it's removed, you may have bacterial vaginosis or another underlying issue.
Black blood can appear at the beginning or end of a person's period. The color is typically a sign of old blood or blood that has taken longer to leave the uterus and has had time to oxidize, first turning brown or dark red and then eventually becoming black.
Previous studies have shown that a woman's body odor is strongest during menstruation and that men who are particularly sensitive to smells can even detect this change in her scent.
BV is responsible for the fishy smell most commonly associated with unpleasant vaginal odors. The fishy smell may be especially strong after sex. Another common symptom to look out for with BV is a gray or grayish-white discharge.
Tangy Or Fermented Smell
A slightly tangy or sour aroma, similar to the smell of some fermented foods, is normal. This is due to the presence of the “lactobacilli” bacteria that dominates most healthy vaginas. This bacteria helps keep the vagina acidic, protecting against the growth of bad bacteria.
Numerous studies show that your sense of taste changes based on where you are in your menstrual cycle. You tend to prefer lighter doses of sweet, salty, sour and bitter flavors in the first half of your cycle (follicular phase) and stronger punches of these flavors in the second half of your cycle (luteal phase).
The four basic tastes were influenced differently by blood hormone levels during the menstrual cycle. Sensitivity to sweet taste increased with an increase of oestradiol, while sensitivity to bitter taste increased with an increase of progesterone.
High stress levels are associated with: Painful periods. Presence of premenstrual symptoms like nausea, bloating, breast tenderness, and weight changes. Irregular menstrual cycles, with longer or shorter cycles than normal.
Menstrual blood leaves the body much more slowly than rapidly flowing urine. That's why the pads you use to manage your period will likely not be able to quickly absorb enough for incontinence needs. In addition, some people find a period pad will bulk up on them (talk about uncomfortable!)
Why is menstrual blood slimy? Menstrual blood may seem and feel slimier than the blood dripping from a scrape on your knee. That is because those secretions from the vagina and cervix mentioned above contain mucin.