---
title: "Which test should you get for vaginal odor?"
type: symptom
url: "https://www.test-well.com/symptoms/vaginal-odor"
symptom: Vaginal odor
aliases:
  - fishy odor test
  - vaginal odor test
  - fishy smell discharge which test
  - bv smell test
reviewed_at: 2026-11-06
review_status: reviewed
date_published: 2026-11-06
lab_fee_usd: 6
---

# Which test should you get for vaginal odor?

> A fishy odor — strongest after sex or during a period — is the signature of bacterial vaginosis, and trichomoniasis can produce it too. Neither responds to the antifungals sold for yeast. One swab tested for BV, yeast and trichomonas identifies the cause; a positive BV result is treated with a short course of metronidazole or clindamycin.


## When should you see a clinician instead of ordering a test?

- Odor with pelvic pain, fever or pain during sex — same-day care
- A foul (not fishy) odor with a forgotten tampon or other retained object — see a clinician for removal
- Odor with bleeding between periods, after sex or after menopause — an exam
- Symptoms in pregnancy — through your obstetric clinician

## Why these tests for vaginal odor?

The odor comes from amines released by the anaerobic bacteria that overgrow in BV, which is why it is one of the four clinical criteria clinicians use to diagnose it. A molecular swab confirms BV directly and checks for trichomonas, the other common cause, and for yeast.

Odor with itching, burning or a change in discharge is the same work-up; with a new partner, chlamydia and gonorrhea are tested at the same time because BV raises the risk of acquiring them.

Odor alone, with a normal swab, is usually not a treatable infection — sweat, retained tampons, diet and hygiene products are the common explanations, and douching makes BV more likely rather than less.

## Which conditions do these tests help evaluate?

- [Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)](https://www.test-well.com/conditions/bacterial-vaginosis) — One swab that tells BV, yeast and trichomonas apart — plus the STI tests to add with a new partner.

## Which tests, and what do they cost?

| Test or panel | Type | Price | All-in (one item + $6 fee) | Fasting | Results |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [STI Basic Panel](https://www.test-well.com/tests/sti-basic-panel) | Panel (2 tests) | $84.99 | $90.99 | No | 2–5 business days |
| [Vaginitis Panel (BV, Yeast & Trichomonas)](https://www.test-well.com/tests/vaginitis-panel) | Test | $149.99 | $155.99 | No | 1–3 business days |
| [Chlamydia & Gonorrhea Test (RNA, Urine)](https://www.test-well.com/tests/chlamydia-gonorrhea) | Test | $51.99 | $57.99 | No | 1–4 business days |
| [Urinalysis with Reflex to Culture](https://www.test-well.com/tests/urinalysis-with-reflex-to-culture) | Test | $19.99 | $25.99 | No | 2–4 business days |

Prices are cash-pay; every order adds one $6.00 lab processing fee. Physician authorization included.

## Common questions

### Does a fishy smell always mean BV?

Usually, but not always — trichomoniasis causes it too, and a retained tampon causes a foul odor that is different. The swab for BV, yeast and trichomonas tells them apart; the point is that none of the three is treated with the antifungals sold over the counter.

### Can a BV test be done without a doctor?

Yes. The Vaginitis Panel is ordered online, authorized by a licensed physician, and self-collected in a private restroom at Quest; results post in one to three business days. A positive BV or trichomonas result then needs a prescription, which your clinician or a telehealth visit can provide from the lab report.

### Will BV go away on its own?

Sometimes, but symptomatic BV is treated because it is uncomfortable and raises the risk of acquiring STIs and, in pregnancy, of preterm birth. Treatment is a week or less of metronidazole or clindamycin; recurrence is common, and repeat episodes have their own management.

## Related

- [Which test should you get for abnormal vaginal discharge?](https://www.test-well.com/symptoms/vaginal-discharge)
- [Which tests should you get for dark urine?](https://www.test-well.com/symptoms/dark-urine)
- [All symptoms](https://www.test-well.com/symptoms)
- [Browse by condition](https://www.test-well.com/conditions)

## Sources

- [CDC — Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines, 2021: Bacterial Vaginosis](https://www.cdc.gov/std/treatment-guidelines/bv.htm)
- [CDC — Bacterial Vaginosis: Fact Sheet](https://www.cdc.gov/bacterial-vaginosis/about/index.html)
- [MedlinePlus (NIH) — Bacterial Vaginosis Test](https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/bacterial-vaginosis-test/)

---

Medically reviewed by Youmna DiStefano, MD (Medical Reviewer, TestWell); last reviewed 2026-11-06. Review policy: https://www.test-well.com/reviewers/youmna-distefano-md

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Prices are cash-pay, in USD, and include physician authorization; every order adds one flat $6 lab processing fee. Educational content is not a diagnosis — discuss results with a clinician.