How should my vagina smell? Is only my fault if it smells bad?

Here's how Prof. Graziottin answers this question from her patients:

The healthy vulva and vagina have a very delicate scent and taste, thanks to their natural microbiota in eubiosis, say, in a very good dynamic equilibrium and health.

In this condition, the vagina has a prominent family of lactobacilli, say, 80% Crispatus, Gasseri or Jensenii, and a natural perfect acidity with a pH around 4.

If the vagina secretions smell bad, like the smell of a spoiled fish, the cause is an increased proliferation of a microorganism called Gardnerella vaginalis, which is normally present in the vagina but in very small percentages. What's the point? The percentage increases with the increase of the vaginal pH.

This means that the normal acidity of vaginal secretions, which in the fertile age is perfect at around 4, increases to 5 or more for a number of reasons:

• First of all, gut dysbiosis, because they communicate with each other.
• loss of sexual hormones, particularly after menopause,
• or unprotected sex, just to mention a few, and the most frequent.

When the pH becomes 5 or more, the likelihood of bad scent increases. To maintain the low percentage of Gardnerella, typical of a dynamic eubiosis, we should guarantee the normal level of estrogens in the vaginal, maintain the menstrual cycle very regularly, and have a very healthy gut and vaginal microbiome.

Sex has I say: many women note that when their partner has a higher quantity of sperm, the risk of having a bad scent the day after sex is higher. The cause is this: the sperm has a more elevated pH, which is normally 7.39. If the quantity is elevated, from 2-4 ml to 6-7 ml, it will cause an increase in the vaginal pH, and this will increase the levels of the Gardnerella and increase the risk of bad scent the day after sex. So, condoms are the perfect way to prevent this.

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