Why does my vagina smell? Is it natural? How can I get rid of it?

Okay so it's super normal for your vagina to have a smell, and some of it is literally how your body should smell so you don't need to get rid of it completely. Your vagina is like a self-cleaning oven, and it has this super cool ecosystem of good bacteria that keeps things healthy and helps protect you from infections.

What it smells like

Your natural smell can change a little bit throughout your cycle because of hormones, and that's totally normal. It can be a little musky or even kind of metallic sometimes, especially during your period. Everyone's is different, so what's normal for one person might not be for another.

What to do about it

The best way to keep your vagina happy and healthy is to just wash the outside (your vulva) with warm water when you shower, and only use mild, unscented soap if you even use soap at all. Don't try to wash inside your vagina because that can mess with those good bacteria and actually make things worse. And totally avoid those fragranced washes or douches because they can really irritate things. Wearing cotton undies also helps because they let everything breathe.

When to tell a grown-up

Sometimes, if the smell suddenly changes a lot, or becomes super strong or fishy, or if you also have itching, burning, or weird discharge, that could mean you have a small infection. This happens sometimes and it's no big deal, but it's a good idea to tell a trusted grown-up so they can help you get it checked out by a doctor. It's usually something super easy to fix.