text: why do women release a fishy smell sometimes?   gardnerella vaginalis   gardnerella vaginalis is a bacteria (germ) that can normally live in the vagina of women without causing any symptoms unless there is an imbalance in the vaginal environment. it is not considered to be a sexually transmitted infection (sti).  what symptoms can gardnerefla vaginalis cause?  gardnerella vaginalis can cause symptoms when there is a change in the acidity (ph) of the vagina in association with the presence of other organisms.  up to 70% of women can have the organism in the vagina without being aware of any symptoms.  the commonest problem that gardnerella vaginalis causes for women is a smell from the vagina. this fishy smell can be more obvious after sexual intercourse (if condoms are not being used) as the male’s semen is alkaline and this releases amines by a chemical reaction. the amines have a characteristic fishy smell.  a vaginal discharge can also be present in some women. the discharge can vary from a thin watery white secretion to a frothy and an occasionally yellow loss.  soreness of the vulva (opening of the vagina) can also occur.  there are no known long term effects of this condition.  how is gardnerella vaginalis diagnosed?  this is done by an examination of the vagina using a speculum and looking for the above symptoms.  a small sample of the discharge can be mixed with a chemical, potassium hydroxide to detect the presence of the typical fishy odour due to a.rnines, “the whiff test”.  in the laboratory, a slide of the discharge can be examined for ‘clue cells’ and a swab from the vagina can be cultured for gardnerella vaginalis.  how can gardnerella vaginalis be treated?  if a woman does not have symptoms, then treatment may not be needed.  where symptoms are present, a course of antibiotics can be used.  it is possible that changing the acidity (ph) of the vagina by using aci-jel or a vinegar douche (vinegar, warm water) may be sufficient to resolve the problem.  as bacterial vaginosis is not a sexually transmitted infection (sti) there seems to be no need to treat the partner.   for further information and help please see your:  your general practitioner sexual health clinic family planning centre