Ammonia smelling vaginal discharge is something women may experience at some point in their lives. Anytime a woman experiences vaginal symptoms she tends to become uncomfortable a little worried. Vaginal discharge itself is normal, but if you experience discharge that has a foul smell or other characteristics, such as an odd color, it is time to become concerned. When an ammonia smell is present it may indicate a number of potential issues. Knowing the potential causes of ammonia smelling vaginal discharge will help you in getting a fast and accurate diagnosis and the proper treatment if you ever experience it.
Menopause
When you go into menopause your body will change in a number of ways. Your ovaries will stop producing progesterone and estrogen, two hormones. You may experience the basic symptoms, such as mood swings, hot flashes, and urinary leakage. Another possible symptom is ammonia smelling vaginal discharge. This may result from not consuming enough water which may result in your urine becoming concentrated. Concentrated urine may have a much stronger smell. In this case, the ammonia smell may actually be urine that is left behind on your underwear as opposed to a foul-smelling vaginal discharge. If this is an issue for you talk to your doctor about ways to control this. Consuming more water is also beneficial.
Using Bleach to Wash Underwear
An ammonia smell may occur if you wash your underwear with bleach. There are sweat glands in your genital area that produce sweat just like under your arm pits. When the bleach and your sweat combine in your underwear, an ammonia-type smell may result. This smell may be mistaken as foul-smelling vaginal discharge. Not using bleach to wash your underwear will help to avoid this problem.
This is a very common infection that affects your reproductive system. The female genital area is normally full of healthy bacteria that work to fight off potentially dangerous, foreign bacteria. If any type of imbalance occurs, either too little healthy bacteria or too much bad bacteria, this infection may develop. When the bad bacteria invade, ammonia compounds may be created by converting nitrogen, therefore, producing an ammonia smelling vaginal discharge. Women in their child-bearing years are most likely to develop this infection. A course of antibiotics is most often prescribed to treat this infection.
Diet
You may experience ammonia smelling vaginal discharge just based on the foods you eat. Asparagus is known to cause this. If the foods you consume contain arduous oils, you may experience foul-smelling vaginal discharge because these oils are excreted in the sweat. Those who consume meat, pungent foods, or spicy foods may become affected by foul-smelling vaginal discharge. Such foods may include seafood, liver, eggs, onions, and garlic. Not eating the foods that are causing the odor is the only way to prevent it in this case.
Other Possible Causes
A urinary tract infection occurs when parasites invade the urinary tract. In some cases, this relatively common infection will cause ammonia smelling vaginal discharge. If a urinary tract infection occurs, a course of antibiotics will typically cure it. Some say that drinking cranberry juice often is also beneficial, but there is no proof that this juice will cure this infection so antibiotics will still be needed.
Moderate to severe sweating in your groin area may also result in a foul odor. This odor may be mistakenly thought to be foul-smelling vaginal discharge when all it is is sweat. If you do experience moderate to severe sweating in this area talk to your doctor for tips on controlling it.
Resources
http://www.pamf.org/teen/health/femalehealth/discharge.html
