Every woman at some point in her life experiences

When your personal odor suddenly takes a turn for the worse, it's worth paying attention to, even if it's a bit unsettling.

• Sexually transmitted infections

Some Sexually Transmitted infections such as chlamydia and gonorrhea can cause feminine odor. STIs can be easily treated with an antibiotic but can cause serious complications if they go untreated.

Women suffering from these infections may have a greenish discharge with foul-smelling odor accompanied by pain while urinating.

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• Sweat

Did you know that your external genitals have a special kind of gland called apocrine sweat glands (also found in the armpits, nipples, ear canals, eyelids, and wings of your nostrils)?

These glands secrete an oily fluid that’s metabolized by bacteria on your skin, letting off a noticeable smell. Wearing tight clothing or being overweight can exacerbate the problem by trapping sweat and bacteria on the skin or, in the case of excess weight, in skin folds.

• Food you ate

As the popular saying goes, “you are what you eat”. The food you eat can supply your body with the essentials nutrients it needs or affect it.

Research shows that foods with strong scents like chilies, pepper, garlic, onion, blue cheese, cabbage, fish, and broccoli tend to have the most impact. If you suspect a food might be the culprit, you could try eliminating it and see if the odor improves.

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•  Hormonal changes

Vaginal secretions during menstruation and between ovulation and your next period may have a more unpleasant odor than those during other parts of the cycle, according to some older research.