- If your discharge smells bad but not fishy, it could be a sign of a yeast infection or an STI.
- Leaving a tampon in too long — especially for many days — could also cause a strong, foul odor.
- A bad smell accompanied by unusual pain may be a sign of vaginal or cervical cancer.
There are many reasons your vagina may smell out of the ordinary, or produce a bad-smelling discharge. The most common cause of odor is bacterial vaginosis, which causes a fishy smell.
But if your vagina has a foul, but not fishy odor, it could be a sign of an infection like chlamydia or certain cancers.
Here are five reasons why your vagina may smell bad, but not fishy.
1. Yeast infection
A yeast infection occurs when a fungus called Candida albicans overgrows in your vagina.
"Yeast vaginal infections often have no odor at all, but they can create a musty sort of scent," says Dr. Felice Gersh, an OB-GYN and founder/director of the Integrative Medical Group of Irvine.
This musty smell is caused by a chemical reaction between your vaginal bacteria and the Candida yeast, Gersh says.
Some other common symptoms of yeast infection are:
- White, cottage-cheese like discharge
- Itching or burning of the vagina and vulva
- Swelling and redness of the vulva
- Pain or soreness in the vagina and vulva
How to treat it: Yeast infections can usually be treated at home using over the counter antifungal medications like miconazole (Monistat).
If home remedies don't clear up the infection, your doctor can prescribe anti-fungal pills like fluconazole (Diflucan).
2. Forgotten tampon
If you forget to remove a tampon from your vagina, bacteria can grow inside the tampon, leading to an infection. This can happen if you accidentally put in a second tampon without removing the first, or forget to take out a tampon at the end of your period.
The bacteria can also trigger a bad smell — "old menstrual blood can mix with bacteria resulting in a bad odor," Dr. Jennifer Wider, a women's health expert, says.
The smell from a forgotten tampon is often very strong — "it's usually noticeable enough to signal that something is not normal," Wider says.
In general, you shouldn't leave a tampon in for longer than eight hours because it can cause a rare, life-threatening condition called toxic shock syndrome.
How to treat it: If you've left a tampon in your vagina long enough to cause a smell, the first thing you want to do is remove it.
Afterwards, you should monitor yourself for symptoms like lower belly pain or a high fever.
If you experience these symptoms, you should get medical attention as soon as possible. Your doctor can treat an infection with antibiotics or remove a stuck tampon if needed.
3. Chlamydia
Chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) that's caused by bacteria.
"As the bacteria grows and multiplies, it can sometimes cause a bad smelling discharge," Wider says. The smell may be foul or smell like pus from a wound.
The bad smell is caused when the chlamydia bacteria interact with inflammatory tissues and your normal vaginal bacteria, Gersh says.
But this is not always the case — "infections with chlamydia can also be 'silent,'" Gersh says.
List the other symptoms of chlamydia
How to treat it: In most cases, chlamydia can easily be treated with an antibiotic and should go away within a week or two. Your doctor may prescribe you a one-time dose of antibiotics, or give you a five to ten day regimen.
4. Cervical cancer
In rare cases, a bad vaginal odor can be a sign of cervical cancer. This may cause a generally foul smell or smell like rotten meat.
"Cervical cancer can sometimes cause a foul-smelling pink, brownish discharge," Wider says. This discharge is made up of dead tissue or tumor cells that are shed from your cervix.
Some other symptoms of cervical cancer include:
- Vaginal bleeding not during your period
- Bleeding after sex
- Pain during sex
- Losing weight without trying
- Lower back pain
How to treat it: To treat cervical cancer, you'll need to see a gynecologic oncologist, who can offer treatments like chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery.
5. Vaginal cancer
Vaginal cancer is very rare — only about 0.1% of people with vulvas develop it during their lifetime — but it can be a cause of bad vaginal odor.
Vaginal cancer can come along with inflammation and may create dead tissue. This can trigger a chemical reaction between the tissue and your normal vaginal bacteria, Gersh says.
"This can result in a significant inflammatory vaginal discharge which emits a foul, or putrid, odor," Gersh says.
Some other common symptoms of vaginal cancer are:
- Bleeding while not on your period
- Bleeding after sex
- Pain during urination
- A lump in your vagina
- Peeing more frequently
- Lower belly pain
- Constipation
How to treat it: If you have worrying symptoms, your doctor can test you for vaginal cancer and can recommend treatments like surgery or radiation.
When to see a doctor
"When an odor is out of the ordinary or pungent enough for you to question, bring it up to your doctor," Wider says.
Gersh advises that you should see your doctor if a bad vaginal odor:
- Comes with abnormal bleeding
- Lasts longer than a week
- Is unresponsive to over the counter treatments
- Comes with pain or extreme discomfort
Also, you should always see a doctor if you think it's possible that you could have an STI.
Insider's takeaway
If your vagina develops a bad smell that isn't fishy and comes with other new symptoms, it could be a sign of an STI or a serious condition like cancer.
"Be aware of anything out of the ordinary and don't be afraid to see your doctor," Wider says. "Any odor that lingers is another reason to get it addressed ASAP."