Have you noticed that your discharge smells of onion or a similar strong odor? It is normal that you wonder why this change in vaginal odor is due, in fact it is convenient that you know the possible causes, when to worry and go to the doctor and when it is not necessary, in addition to some solutions.
At oneHOWTO we have created this article to answer your question about “Why does my discharge smell like onion?”. We anticipate that it may be due to your diet, sweat and more aspects, keep reading and know everything about this problem.
Why do I have discharge with an onion smell – causes
If you find this strange and unpleasant aroma in your intimate area, you will be interested to know what are the main reasons why it appears. Thus, between the Main causes of discharge with the smell of onion we find food and sweat, but there are more possibilities and these are all of them:
- Feeding.
- The sweat.
- Some medications
- Trichomoniasis.
- Bacterial vaginosis.
- A tampon that has been in the vagina for a long time.
- Changes in hormonal levels.
Next, we explain each of these possible causes and what you should do to solve vaginal odor and its original cause.
Some foods can make your discharge smell like onion
Yes, certain foods shortly after consuming them can change body odor, including vaginal or discharge. In this case, the foods that make the flow smells of onion are themselves onion and garlic, so you may also notice garlic-scented discharge more than onion. This happens whether they are eaten raw or cooked, alone or in sauces or dressings. Other common foods that tend to produce such changes are asparagus, curry, and other spices.
In addition, this is one of the reasons that produce onion body odor and, although we notice it in the flow, it can be noticed a lot in the urine. The only thing that can be done is to wait for it to go away by itself, after a day or even up to a week and, to facilitate the process, you must have very good intimate hygiene.
The sweat and onion smell of vaginal discharge
Sometimes the genital area sweats and when sweat mixes with the flow There may be a strong smell, especially if garlic or onion has been eaten, this aroma intensifies. Of course, this problem due to sweating is more noticeable when it is quite hot, after exercising and after intercourse.
For remove bad smell from vaginal discharge from sweatYou only need to wash your intimate area well, wear breathable underwear, for example cotton, and make sure you clean and change your underwear every time you finish exercising, to avoid the accumulation of sweat that not only produces an unpleasant smell, but also which can lead to infections and other problems.
Taking some medications
There are some medicines and food supplements that can produce this type of strong odor in the flow, especially those that are based on onion and garlic, which are usually capsules.
However, apart from those produced from these foods, there are other products that can favor the appearance of this aroma. Specifically, the antibiotics they weaken the beneficial bacteria in the vagina. This affects both the aroma and the amount and texture of the flow.
Wait to finish the treatment with the medication in question or if you are uncomfortable or think that the treatment is long, you can talk to your doctor to see if there is another treatment available.
Trichomoniasis can produce onion odor in the discharge
Trichomoniasis is an STD or sexually transmitted disease that is caused by a protozoan parasite. Specifically, this condition is caused by a protozoan called Trichomonas vaginalis. Both women and men suffer from it, but in women the main symptoms are changes in the appearance and smell of the discharge, itching and pain when urinating and during intercourse.
To eliminate the problem of the unpleasant aroma and cure this STD it is necessary to consult the doctor. Usually, the doctor usually prescribe antibiotics, apart from being necessary adequate intimate hygiene to fully treat the problem and eliminate the unpleasant odor.
Bacterial vaginosis
Bacterial vaginosis is another possibility for a bad vaginal odor. Although there is usually an unpleasant odor such as fish or rotten, just at the beginning of the infection there may be an odor like that of onion, that is, strong, which later worsens towards the rotten smell.
Usually, bacterial vaginosis is produced by Gardnerella vaginalis and can be treated with antibiotics. Only in this way will the condition be eliminated and with it bad vaginal odor, since only with good hygiene this problem is not solved. In addition, it should be treated as soon as possible as it makes the body prone to more infections during this disease.
Onion-smelling discharge from a forgotten tampon
This is another case in which only at the beginning there is a strong onion smell, since then the one reminiscent of fish or rotten begins.
A tampon forgotten inside the vagina, adding the accumulation of menstruation in said tampon, it begins to smell strong after a few hours of the limit, which is established at 6 hours maximum per tampon. Thus, for example, around 8 or 10 o’clock a bad smell like strong sweat or onion and after more hours it already smells of the decomposition itself and the beginning of an infection, since leaving the forgotten tampon easily leads to vaginal infections. In addition, as soon as the infection begins, more symptoms such as fever and weakness may appear.
The solution is remove the tampon as soon as possible and carry out adequate hygiene in the area. The doctor You have to assess whether there is already an infection or not, and if there is, prescribe the best medication for each situation.
Changes in hormone levels
You have onion-smelling discharge in pregnancy? That may be just the reason, since some hormonal changes they can produce changes in flow, both in aroma and in quantity and texture.
Thus, other changes that this can produce are the menstrual cycle, birth control pills, menopause, hormone therapies, vaginal creams and gels with hormones. In addition, these changes when they alter the vaginal pH can promote fungal and bacterial infections.
If this is your problem, talk to your doctor to see what can be done, such as a change in diet, a change in medication, and so on.
Other types of discharge odor that you should know
Now that you have the answer to your question about “why does my discharge smell like onion?”, We tell you that apart from the smell of onion or garlic, vaginal discharge can have a lot of odors. Therefore, it is convenient to know what is the normal smell of vaginal discharge and what are other smells that may occur and that indicate a health problem that must be addressed. These are other aromas that should catch your attention and for which, generally, it is advisable that go to the doctor to diagnose the exact cause and give you the best treatment:
This article is merely informative, at oneHOWTO we do not have the power to prescribe any medical treatment or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
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