Vaginal odor? The causes may surprise you.

If you’ve noticed your usual scent has changed during menopause, you may be wondering what’s normal, and what’s causing this change.

While vaginal odor is a sensitive topic, it’s actually something many women experience.

Every woman’s vaginal scent is unique, and it can shift over time and because of certain variables – from having sex to changes in your diet. When you notice a more significant change in your scent, it may impact your confidence. Take comfort in knowing that the hormone changes experienced during menopause can play a role, and it’s more common than you realize.

While menopause doesn’t directly cause the vagina to have an unpleasant odor, hormonal shifts can cause a change in vaginal pH, possibly leading to vaginal odor.¹ That’s because alterations in vaginal pH levels influenced by fluctuating hormones can lead to thinner, drier vaginal tissues, as well as changes in the balance of bacteria that populate the vagina. In turn, you may notice several other vaginal changes, including discomfort, itching, or burning, a change in discharge, in addition to a difference in your vagina’s scent.²,³

No matter what’s influencing a shift in your vaginal scent, there are solutions to manage it.

For starters, cleanse your genital area gently and steer clear of scented products that can throw off the vagina’s delicate pH balance. Avoid douching, which can increase the risk for odor-causing infections like bacterial vaginosis.⁴

In addition, you might also consider investing in a vaginal moisturizer, which can help to minimize symptoms such as dryness, itching, or irritation, which are known to influence changes in scent.

If you struggle with recurrent vaginal infections or irritation, you should also consider speaking with your healthcare provider about the benefits of taking a probiotic, specifically one designed to support vaginal health. Vaginal probiotics are supplements intended to provide beneficial, live bacteria to your vaginal microbiome, which supports a balanced pH and may help to reduce symptoms such as odor and discharge.

Common causes of vaginal odor include infection with bacterial vaginosis or an STI, along with poor hygiene and excessive perspiration. But low estrogen levels experienced during menopause can also result in a vaginal odor.

— Alyssa Dweck MS, MD, FACOG, Bonafide Chief Medical Officer

1.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6008313 2.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC60083133. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/ feminine-odor-problems-what-you-should-know-about-douching/ 4. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/feminine-odor-problems-what-you-should-know-aboutdouching/ 5. https://www.healio.com/news/womens-health-ob-gyn/20221014/probiotic-supplement-improves-bothersome-vaginal-odor-symptoms-at-warp-speed