How to Gid Rid of Embarrassing Feminine Odor

At some point you may feel you have an unpleasant odor coming from your most intimate areas.

You may even describe it as a fishy smell.

Don't worry. It's pretty common and relatively easy to fix.

Like most women, I've been down this path.

Ahead, we'll find out what causes those odors and how to fix the problem.

I know it's not a really comfortable discussion, but it's one we should all share.

(image flickr)

Odor is caused by bacteria whether you are menstruating or not. Period!

Some women just naturally emit more odor during that time of the month. In others it's barely noticeable.

It's also important to remember that you are closest to your intimate area and a smell that seems bad to you may not be discernible to people around you.

You may be tempted to try scented pads or tampons. If they work for you, and you're only using them on an occasional basis, that's probably OK. Remember, however you are dealing with a sensitive area and it's a good idea to keep it chemical free.

You may want to try switching the products you use during your period. If you use tampons, try one cycle with pads. If you use pads, try one cycle with tampons.

There is a third option I'd like to show you. It's called soft cups. You insert them into the vagina to simply "collect" the blood. The theory is that they help maintain the natural PH balance, inhibiting the growth of smelly bacteria. Also, the blood does not hit the air until you remove the cup, further reducing uncomfortable odors.They are washable and reusable.

People seem to love them or hate them. On the downside, many woman find them difficult to insert.

On the other hand, they can do a great job and they're environmentally and financially friendly. Imagine NOT having to throw thousands of used pads and tampons into the landfill over your lifetime. Imagine not having to go to the drugstore for new supplies every month.

Let's take a look.

(Image by Creative Commons. softcups)

Let's start with hygiene. Interestingly enough it may be your "good" hygiene habits that are causing the problem.

If you have an odor problem, your first instinct may be to douche or use any of the hundreds of feminine hygiene products on the market.

Don't do it! They can seriously mess with your PH balance, creating a breeding ground for those bad bugs. Few women douche these days.

It was common practice for my Mother and Grandmother, but they did not use commercial products. (Even tampons were barely on the market back then, never mind store bought douches)

They did use a homemade solution of warm water with a little bit of added vinegar. It's interesting because the PH level in the vagina is slightly acidic and no doubt the vinegar helped restore that. Sometimes, I'm amazed at the knowledge women had generations ago.

Now on to food. There certainly are foods that can affect your body's overall bacteria balance, and I'll point you in the direction of learning how being sensitive to some foods as well as give you some suggestions on supplements that can help you cure the odor problem.

Most importantly, I hope these tools help you get into tiptop condition. Things like embarrassing odor are just a symptom that things could use a little fine tuning in your body.

(image flickr)

Let's start with some simple suggestions.

Underwear? Seriously?

Get some cotton underwear. We're not talking about Granny panties. Today's cotton underwear usually has a small percentage of spandex to hold the shape.

They come in wide variety of colors, shapes and sizes. Best of all, they are relatively inexpensive.

Why cotton? You've seen the commercials. "Cotton breathes". If you encase your lower body in skin tight synthetic underwear, jeans and leggings, you are creating the perfect incubator for those bad bacteria.

Amazon has thousand of great cotton briefs to choose from...and Yes..some are so cute! Simply kick on the image below and they will take you to more choices.

Fruit of the Loom Women's 6 Pack Boyshort