Why Does My Vagina Smell Like Poop: 5 Reasons My Vaginal Discharge Has A Fecal Odor

Any form of vaginal discharge can be alarming for patients, even though this is a completely normal physiological phenomenon, but when that vaginal discharge has a foul-smelling odor that accompanies it, women can have an added element of stress and embarrassment. Vaginal discharge can have a fecal odor at times and this could be the result of a number of potential causes. In this investigation, we will explore some of the reasons due to which your vaginal fluid and vagina can smell like poop. 

Gonorrhea Infection 

One of the first assumptions that a physician will make when he hears that patients have some type of foul-smelling vaginal discharge is that there is likely some type of vaginal infection causing the odor. Some of the most common causes to worry about are sexually transmitted diseases like Chlamydia and gonorrhea infections [1].

The most recent prevalence data showed that the global rates for gonorrhea have dropped substantially in the last few decades because of better "safe sex" practices like condom use — yet rates are still above 1 percent of the global population annually [3]. If you are a woman of reproductive age, the biggest risk you can take when it comes to contracting this disease would be risky sexual intercourse. That is why it is so important to make sure you are taking necessary precautions; using a condom every time is your best bet if you want to reduce your risk of STDs to almost zero.

If you were to catch gonorrhea, not only will you suffer from some embarrassing symptoms like your vagina smelling like poop but you also risk long-term consequences. Gonorrhea infections are linked to a condition called Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID). This is a condition in which scar tissue forms in your uterus after you suffer from an STD like gonorrhea, making it very difficult for you to get pregnant in the future. Even if you may be embarrassed when your vaginal discharge has a fecal odor, don't delay going to a gynecologist because the longer you put off diagnosis and treatment, the more likely it is that you will suffer from PID. [4]

Retained Blood Components 

If you do not have a history of risky sexual practices, that does not guarantee that you will be free from foul-smelling vaginal discharge. Another possible vector of this condition can be found in retained blood along the vaginal wall after a menstrual cycle. Blood can coagulate faster in some people than others, so it is possible that you may have dried blood on the lining of your vaginal wall that can begin to smell after a few days. The bacteria lining your vaginal wall thrive in this nutrient-rich food source and the more bacteria that migrate to this area, the more potent their smell can be.

Blood products should naturally slough off of the walls over a few days so health industry advocates that the best intervention would be no intervention at all. The advice, in other words, is to let the body take care of itself naturally. You can do your part by making sure any tampons that you use during your menstrual cycle are fully removed and no fragments of the product remain in your vaginal canal when you change them. 

Vaginal Cysts 

Another risk that women need to be aware of when they have problems with a foul-smelling vagina is the possibility of having some type of vaginal cyst. Women in their 30s and 40s represent the most likely group that could develop these cysts even if prevalence studies show that they are only seen in 5 percent of the population [7]. Most of the time, these lesions will be benign but that does not mean they will be without foul-smelling discharge [8]. If the cyst presents deep within your vaginal canal, it is unlikely that you will be able to visualize it yourself so you will need to go to your gynecologist for a speculum examination [8]. 

Cervical Dysplasia 

As we continue our exploration, another cause of foul-smelling vaginal discharge could couple some of the previous risk factors together with one disease. Cervical dysplasia is common in women who have multiple sex partners and it occurs when the cervix that is composed of 2 unique cell lines begins to transform into cancerous tissue.

As dysplasia occurs, patients will begin to notice vaginal discharge that could be foul-smelling depending on if there is an opportunistic infection at the same time. To reduce your risk of developing cervical dysplasia, it is essential that you screen yourself appropriately for this disease. [9]

Poor Hygiene 

Another possible cause that I will cover to help you discover why a vagina might "smell like poop" would be because of the very fact that you have fecal matter in your vaginal cavity. Poor hygiene practice can transfer fragments of fecal matter into your vaginal tract. Women are encouraged to wipe from "front to back" to avoid this possibility. Not only will it eliminate the possibility of fecal matter becoming implanted in your vaginal canal, you will also reduce your chances of developing a bacterial vaginitis or urinary tract infection from E. coli, a bacteria that is commonly seen in our feces. [10]

In addition, one final reason for which your vagina could smell like poop because fecal matter is indeed present would be a fistula, a small canal that connects the vaginal cavity to the rectum. This is most commonly a complication of childbirth, and if you believe you could have fecal matter where it does not belong, that is yet another reason to seek medical attention as soon as possible.