Bacterial Vaginosis: Why Vaginal Discharge Fit dey Smell Fishy

Pidgin English

Published on July 9, 2026 at 7:59 PM

🩺 Medically reviewed by theHealth Decoded Guide Editorial Team· Last reviewed: August 2026

🔍 Quick Breakdown

Bacterial vaginosis, wey people dey call BV, dey happen when d normal bacteria balance inside d vagina change.

Normally, vagina get good bacteria wey help protect am.

But if that balance scatter:
• some bacteria fit grow pass normal
• discharge fit change
• d discharge fit get fishy smell

👉🏾 BV common, and e no mean say person dey dirty.

🟧 Wetin dey happen for d body?

D vagina no suppose be completely sterile.
E mean say, e naturally get healthy bacteria
wey dey help keep d vagina balanced and reduce d chance of infections.

When d protective bacteria reduce:
• other bacteria fit increase
• vagina smell fit change
• discharge fit become more watery

Sometimes d smell dey stronger:
• after sex
• during period
• after washing inside vagina

👉🏾 BV na balance problem, abeg no be shame matter.

🟧 Why BV fit happen?

• douching or washing inside d vagina
→ e fit remove good bacteria and disturb d natural balance

• scented soaps or vaginal sprays
→e fit cause irritation for some sensitive vaginal area

• new sexual partner or multiple partners
→ every person get im own normal bacteria. Sometimes,
exposure to different bacteria fit change d normal balance of bacteria for d vagina.

• natural body changes
→ hormones and menstrual cycle fit also affect discharge

👉🏾 BV fit happen even if person dey clean.

🟧 How you fit notice am

Some women get BV and no notice any symptom.

But when symptoms show, person fit notice:

• thin watery discharge
→ e fit look gray-white or light color

• fishy smell
→ d smell fit stronger after sex or during period

• mild irritation
→ itching no always dey strong like for yeast infection

• burning when urinating sometimes
→ especially if the area already dey irritated

👉🏾 Strong fishy smell with watery discharge fit mean BV.

🟧 BV vs yeast infection

BV and yeast infection no be d same thing.

• BV
→ watery discharge
→ fishy smell
→ itching fit mild or no dey

• Yeast infection
→ thick white discharge
→ serious itching
→ usually no get strong fishy smell

👉🏾 This na why correct diagnosis important before treatment.

🟧 Real life example

Zainab notice say:
• her discharge become watery
• fishy smell dey come, especially after sex
• itching no too much, but the smell dey worry her

At first:
• she think say maybe na poor hygiene

So she begin wash inside vagina with soap wey get perfume.

But:
• di smell no stop
• and di irritation increase small

When she go clinic:
• healthcare worker explain say na bacterial vaginosis
• the washing inside vagina even disturb di natural balance more

After treatment:
• di smell and discharge improve gradually

👉🏾 BV no mean say person dirty. Too much washing inside vagina fit even make am worse.

🟧 Wetin fit help

• see healthcare worker if symptoms continue
→ BV need correct diagnosis and treatment

• avoid douching/washing inside d vagina
→ vagina fit clean itself naturally

• avoid scented vaginal products
→ dem fit disturb di natural balance

• complete di prescribed treatment
→ stopping early fit make d symptoms return

👉🏾 Treatment dey available, but BV fit come back for some women.

🟧 When you gats go hospital 🚨

• pelvic pain
• fever
• discharge with bleeding
• symptoms during pregnancy
• severe pain or bad-smelling discharge

👉🏾 These signs fit mean another infection or complication wey need urgent medical check.

🟢 Final reassurance

Bacterial vaginosis common and treatable.

E no mean say d woman dirty, careless, or do something wrong.

👉🏾 If discharge smell change or symptoms no go, medical check fit help you get d right treatment.

📚 Reference

For full medical references, see English version of this article.

⚠️ Disclaimer

This article na for education only. E no replace advice from doctor.

If symptoms serious or no go, abeg see qualified healthcare professional.

🔗Related Health Topics

• Vaginal Discharge
• Vaginal Yeast Infection
• Trichomoniasis
• Vaginal Itching
• Practicing Safe Sex and Protecting Your Reproductive Health