Why does my discharge smell like vinegar?

Have you ever had a medical question or query about your vagina that you’d like to ask your doctor, but you feel embarrassed? You shouldn’t. You’re far from alone. Vaginal complaints account for approximately 10 million doctor visits every year in the United States alone. And discharge can often play a role. From discharge color and texture to its quantity and smell — it’s easy to get lost in thoughts of “Is this normal?” But plenty of times, the answer is actually yes! 

Discharge smell, in particular, can differ a lot between people. But there are certainly discharge odors you can expect to come across, versus others that are considered “abnormal.”

So, if your discharge smells like vinegar, what should you do?

Key takeaways

• Healthy vaginal discharge may have a mild odor, which can vary depending on menstrual cycle phase, diet, and vaginal pH. It can often smell slightly acidic, which reminds some people of vinegar. If it’s mild, this can be typical.
• Other normal discharge smells include mildly sour, like sourdough bread, or when you’re around your period, a bit metallic — like pennies.
• If your discharge smells strong, unpleasant, or fishy, this may indicate an infection. So make an appointment with a health care professional.

What does vaginal discharge smell like?

Healthy vaginal discharge may carry a mild smell. Dr. Sara Twogood, obstetrician and gynecologist, Cedars-Sinai Medical Group, California, US, explains that the specifics can vary, depending on factors like menstrual cycle phase, what you’ve been eating and drinking, and your vaginal pH levels (aka the balance of your vaginal bacteria, which is changing all the time). 

Generally, “[discharge] tends to have a slightly tangy or acidic smell to it,” she describes. “It might smell more metallic around your period. And the bottom line is it shouldn’t smell noticeably bad.” 

Any foul or fishy odors would constitute abnormal vaginal discharge and could be hinting at an infection. But more on that in a second.

Why might vaginal discharge smell like vinegar? 

As we touched on, healthy vaginas are home to billions of bacteria, also called vaginal flora. One of these types of good bacteria, lactobacilli, is associated with an acidic smell; this is that tangy discharge odor Dr. Twogood described — and also, she says, what can remind some people of vinegar.

“Actual vinegar, to me, smells very potent and strong; it kind of gets stuck in your nasal passage and makes your eyes water,” she caveats. “To be clear, vaginal discharge should not do that!” 

If your discharge smells strong, raise it with a health care professional. But if it’s mild, then a vinegar-adjacent smell is likely just a sign of your vaginal bacteria doing their thing. 

Likely reasons for different discharge odors 

Aside from this vinegar smell, then, what other discharge smells can you expect to notice — and when should you be worried that something’s not right?

• Sour: That same vaginal bacteria, lactobacilli, can also cause a sour or yeasty smell, which some people compare to the smell of sourdough bread. Again, if it’s mild, this is nothing to worry about.
• Metallic: Around your period, or if you’re spotting for any reason, blood can mix with your discharge and give it a bitter, coppery smell (like pennies). This is normal and happens because the blood contains iron.
• Fishy: Discharge with a fishy odor (or any foul smell) may be hinting at an infection, particularly when coupled with unusual discharge colors or textures. Fishy discharge that is watery and gray is a key symptom of bacterial vaginosis. Or if it’s greenish-yellow and frothy, it may be signaling a sexually transmitted infection (STI) called trichomoniasis. If you notice a fishy vaginal odor, you should consult a health care professional.

Beyond this, Dr. Twogood reiterates that what we eat and drink can play a role to varying degrees, too — in the same way it impacts the smell of our sweat and our bodies in general. 

“You know when you’ve had a lot of garlic, and you feel like that smell is just radiating from you afterward? That can come through in the vaginal discharge as well!” she says. “Or anecdotally, I’ve had patients tell me that they cut out meat products or they became a vegan, and it changed the way that their vaginal discharge smelled.” (You learn something every day, huh?)

It’s worth noting, too, that not all vulvar and vaginal odors will be discharge related. For example, there are sweat glands in the groin, and it can get hot and clammy in your genital area, causing body odor. Or residue from urine can hang around on the skin of the vulva, causing an ammonia smell.

When to see a doctor about discharge

“Ultimately, ‘normal’ discharge really varies, and lots of different factors will determine what it’s like for any one person,” sums up Dr. Twogood. “That’s why it’s important to understand your baseline and instead keep an eye out for red flags or changes that feel unusual for you.”

Some of the biggest telltale signs of an infection are fishy or foul-smelling discharge, unusual colors and textures, and accompanying vaginal symptoms like pain, inflammation, or itching. But generally, if you’re seeing clear or creamy white discharge, which is mild smelling and not clumpy, it’s likely A-OK.

For the record, if you do notice a bad smell in your genital area, it’s important not to try to counteract it with scented washes or douching. Using harsh or scented products on your vulva and vagina can cause an imbalance in your vagina’s natural pH and lead to changes in the way your vagina smells, increasing the risk of infections. Instead, book an appointment with a health care professional, and they can help you get to the bottom of it.

And remember, when it comes to decoding types of vaginal discharge, a menstrual cycle-tracking app like Flo is your friend! As well as offering tons of educational content via our library and Health Assistant, you can log changes in your discharge (and add notes about the smell if you want.) This can help you to better understand your body’s unique patterns throughout the month and help you spot when something is different.