Discharge smells like vinegar: What does it mean?

Vaginal flora and discharge are important indicators of your reproductive and overall health. Although the consistency and color of your discharge can change naturally through the cycle and under other events, big changes in its odor might feel alarming.

If you discover that your discharge smells like vinegar, it’s often a result of a non-medical cause, such as your diet, hygiene products, sweating, stress, or immunity changes. In this case, it shouldn’t be a cause for concern. However, if you notice any red-flag symptoms, such as abnormal discharge color, itching, swelling, and others, it might indicate a more serious issue, like:

• Yeast infection
• Bacterial vaginosis
• Urinary tract infection
• Sexually transmitted infection

In this case, it’s important to see a doctor as soon as possible to diagnose the problem and treat it in a timely and effective manner.

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Vaginal discharge is a crucial part of the entire reproductive ecosystem in females. It performs a broad range of crucial functions:

• Keeping the vaginal microflora balanced and clean.
• Moisturizing the genital area.
• Ensuring proper lubrication during sex.
• Helping transport sperm to the egg and uterus during ovulation, etc.

To perform all these functions, your discharge naturally changes throughout the cycle. Its consistency, amount, and other features can change under hormonal fluctuations, making it one of the key indicators of transitioning between the phases of your menstrual cycle.

At the same time, vaginal discharge is sensitive to various internal imbalances and health problems. Certain changes in it could indicate an underlying infection or another condition, which is why paying attention to it is crucial for your health.

In this article, we’ll look at some of such related concerns. We’ll explore what it can mean if your discharge smells like vinegar and suggest when to see a doctor.

What Is a Normal Vaginal Discharge?

Vaginal discharge is never constant. It changes from day to day, depending on a variety of factors, such as:

• Menstrual cycle – Natural fluctuations in your key hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone, change the appearance of discharge. For example, a surge in estrogen before ovulation makes your discharge slippery to allow easier sperm transportation and conception.
• Birth control – Certain types of birth control affect your body’s hormonal balance. This can also lead to changes in vaginal discharge.
• Sexual activity – The amount and consistency of vaginal discharge also change naturally due to sexual activity. This happens because of arousal to ensure sufficient lubrication.
• Pregnancy – When you get pregnant, your body starts producing more hCG and progesterone to support early pregnancy. A rapid shift in hormones can also change the appearance and volume of discharge.

Typical Characteristics of a Healthy Discharge

Although it constantly changes, there are some universal rules on what is considered a normal vaginal discharge. Let’s break it down based on the main characteristics:

• Color – A healthy discharge can be clear, milky white, or off-white. All these colors are considered normal, whereas unnatural colors like brown, dark yellow, grey, or green could indicate a problem.
• Texture – It’s okay when your vaginal discharge is sticky, watery, thick, or pasty, depending on the cycle phase. However, a foamy or chunky texture is considered abnormal.
• Smell – A healthy discharge isn’t necessarily odorless. It can have a mild smell that can change depending on your cycle, food choices, and daily habits. However, any strong or unpleasant smell might be a cause for concern.
• Amount – The amount of daily discharge is very variable. It can change depending on your cycle phase and sexual activity. Also, some women naturally have more discharge than others, and it might also be affected by birth control, pregnancy, etc. Anyway, sharp changes in the discharge volume could indicate an issue.

Why Does My Discharge Smell Sour?

So, you already know about the general characteristics of a healthy vaginal discharge. Now, what if you notice vinegar smelling discharge?

If you notice changes in your discharge, of course, it can feel alarming. However, a sour smell is not always a cause for concern. The thing is that your vagina has a certain pH. Its normal levels range between 3.8 and 5.0, which creates a moderately acidic environment needed to protect your reproductive organs from yeast and harmful bacteria.

When this pH gets hindered, your body automatically increases the population of healthy bacteria – lactobacilli. These bacteria aim to restore the right acidic environment. And to do this, it produces lactic acid, which might be the cause of a sour or tangy odor, which some people find similar to vinegar or sourdough. 

That is, if you notice that your vagina smells like vinegar, it doesn’t always mean a problem. Often, it’s just an indicator of a strong acidic balance. Besides, this odor can be caused by certain external factors.

Discharge Smells Like Vinegar: Possible Non-Medical Causes

If you notice the change in your discharge and want to address it, you first need to answer the main question: Why does my discharge smell sour?

There might be four non-medical causes for this:

Diet

Although it may not be obvious, there is a direct link between what you eat and your vaginal health. According to specialists, some foods rich in vitamins, minerals, and other crucial elements can help support vaginal balance and reduce the risk of infections. However, some foods may change the vaginal pH and discharge smell.

In particular, a sour odor can result from consuming foods with a strong smell, like:

• Garlic
• Onion
• Vinegar
• Coffee
• Asparagus

Hygiene Products

Since vaginal pH is rather fragile, any topical products that you use on your genitals can affect it. This includes douches, soaps, wipes, and other hygiene products (especially scented ones) with a pH above 4.5. 

Sweat and Clothing

What you wear also affects your vaginal health. This happens because the vulva has many sweat glands, similarly to the armpits. These glands produce protein-rich sweat that can affect your odor.

In particular, a vinegar smelling discharge can result from synthetic fabrics that are trapping moisture and overly tight-fitting clothing. 

Stress and Immunity

Finally, your overall well-being also has an effect on the discharge smell. In particular, prolonged stress and high cortisol levels can hinder the pH balance and overall vaginal health.

In a similar way, negative changes in your immunity can also affect your vaginal flora balance. This might be another non-medical cause of a sour odor.

Discharge Smells Like Vinegar: Possible Medical Causes

If you discover that your vaginal discharge smells like vinegar, it can be a result of one of the non-medical causes described earlier. However, in some cases, it can also indicate a more serious problem.

The most common medical causes include:

• Yeast infection (Candida) is often characterized by a sour or tangy smell. Additional symptoms include chunky and thick discharge that resembles cottage cheese and physical discomfort like irritation and itching.
• Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is most commonly accompanied by a fishy smell. However, sometimes, it can mix with a sour odor. Additional symptoms include burning and itching sensations, and a thin, whitish or greyish discharge.
• Urinary tract infections (UTIs) can change your vaginal smell because of mixing discharge with urine. The main symptoms include more frequent urination accompanied by burning and pain.
• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can also change the appearance and smell of your discharge. These changes vary from one STI to another, but there are always additional discomforting symptoms that should help you recognize the problem.

When to See a Doctor

If you notice a vinegar smelling discharge, pay attention to your symptoms. The key red flags to watch out for include:

• A very strong or foul smell
• Changes in discharge color (especially abnormal colors)
• Pelvic pain
• Itching, swelling, or burning in the vaginal area
• Fever

Any of these symptoms could indicate a more serious issue that requires medical attention. If you notice them, be sure to consult with a healthcare provider for timely diagnosis and treatment.

FAQ

Why does my vagina smell like vinegar?

If you notice a sour odor that resembles vinegar or sourdough, it might be just an indicator of a strong acidic balance. When your vagina’s pH is imbalanced, healthy bacteria lactobacilli, produce lactic acid, which can create a sour smell.

Is it a cause for concern if my vagina smells like vinegar?

In many cases, it’s not. It can be either due to your vaginal pH or because of other factors, such as a specific diet, certain hygiene products, sweating, or changes in your stress or immune levels. If there are no additional symptoms, a sour odor shouldn’t be a cause for concern.

How can I get rid of a vinegar smelling discharge?

If the odor change is triggered by a non-medical cause, try adjusting your diet, choosing natural fabrics and looser clothing, and trying stress-management and immunity-supporting tactics. Also, revise your hygiene products and remove any scented or high-pH products that are not suitable for your vagina.

If the cause is medical, you will likely notice additional symptoms, such as changes in discharge color, burning, itching, and others. In this case, be sure to see a doctor for diagnosis and timely treatment.

Conclusion

When you discover that your discharge smells like vinegar, it can feel confusing and alarming. After all, we all know that changes in vaginal discharge are among the primary early indicators of different problems. Luckily, a sour smell doesn’t always mean something’s wrong. It can result from your diet, certain hygiene products, sweating, and changes in your stress and immunity levels.

On the other hand, when your vagina smells like vinegar, it could indicate a bigger problem, such as a yeast infection or STI. It’s important to keep an eye on any additional symptoms that might be there and seek medical assistance if you notice any red-flag signs.

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