Rhiannon Ingle
Many people out there are constantly fretting over their private parts.
Whether it's over-sized anxieties, a new pimple, a pesky ingrown hair or even the colour and texture of your discharge, it's very easy to get caught up in the whole 'is this normal?!' panic when Googling your symptoms.
And that seems to be exactly the case for those who are concerned over a 'vinegary smell' when it comes to their vaginal discharge.
Now, it's important to note that - while it seems obvious - the literal opening to a human body isn't going to smell like fruits and roses, and that's OK!
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In fact, the socially-conditioned fear or disgust of natural vaginal odours can be linked to misogyny when it is used to shame, control, or devalue women by promoting harmful stereotypes that equate a woman's worth with an 'unnatural' or 'unclean' body odour.
This misogyny is often perpetuated through marketing of unnecessary 'freshening' products - see the 'pink tax' - and by suggesting that a woman's body must be altered or purified to please a patriarchal standard.
So, we thought it best for you to hear it from a couple of doctors themselves that a healthy vagina actually has a natural and distinct scent.
Good news, guys, vaginal discharge that smells like vinegar is usually completely A-OK!
"Vaginal discharge that smells zesty, tart, or acidic like vinegar typically indicates a healthy vagina with a normal pH level," assures Dr Amanda Olson, President & Chief Clinical Officer of Intimate Rose.
She explains that the acidic odour comes from the presence of healthy bacteria known as lactobacilli, which are responsible for preventing the overgrowth of unhealthy bacteria in the vagina that causes infections.
The expert adds in the medically-reviewed article: "Vaginal discharge that smells like vinegar is usually clear or white and nothing to worry about, as long as the odour is not pungent enough to make you wince."
Dr Sara Twogood, obstetrician and gynaecologist, likewise told Flo that healthy vaginal discharge may carry a mild smell.
She also noted that specifics can vary, depending on factors like menstrual cycle phase, what you’ve been eating and drinking, and your vaginal pH levels, which is basically just the balance of your vaginal bacteria, which is changing all the time.
"Discharge tends to have a slightly tangy or acidic smell to it," she describes. "It might smell more metallic around your period. And the bottom line is it shouldn’t smell noticeably bad."
Experts at Flo warn that any foul or fishy odours would constitute abnormal vaginal discharge and could be hinting at an infection, particularly when coupled with unusual discharge colours or textures.
"Fishy discharge that is watery and grey is a key symptom of bacterial vaginosis," they note. "Or if it’s greenish-yellow and frothy, it may be signalling a sexually transmitted infection (STI) called trichomoniasis. If you notice a fishy vaginal odour, you should consult a health care professional."
Dr Twogood also noted that what we eat and drink can play a role to varying degrees, too, in the same way it impacts the smell of our sweat and our bodies in general.
"You know when you’ve had a lot of garlic, and you feel like that smell is just radiating from you afterward? That can come through in the vaginal discharge as well!" she explained. "Or anecdotally, I’ve had patients tell me that they cut out meat products or they became a vegan, and it changed the way that their vaginal discharge smelled."
It's also important to outline that not all vulvar and vaginal odours will be discharge-related.
"For example, there are sweat glands in the groin, and it can get hot and clammy in your genital area, causing body odour. Or residue from urine can hang around on the skin of the vulva, causing an ammonia smell," Flo adds.
Dr Olson also warns that vaginal discharge that emits a foul odour, which is not due to a forgotten tampon or does not go away after a few days, could indicate cervical or ovarian cancer.
"This type of foul odour is due to cells that are lacking in oxygen dying away and infecting the cancerous tumour. However, the foul odour would typically be accompanied by one or more additional symptoms such as bloating, constipation, bleeding between periods, after menopause, or after sex, and abdominal, back, or pelvic pain," she noted.
In short, Flo recommends: "If your discharge smells strong, raise it with a health care professional. But if it’s mild, then a vinegar-adjacent smell is likely just a sign of your vaginal bacteria doing their thing."
Got it.