Foul menstrual blood odor

[geezlike]

I have never noticed much of an odor with my period, up until last month and now today.  It is absolutely revolting!!!  The blood has gone from being a lightish red to a deepish red-brown and it's kinda gooey and ickey.  I have not experienced many vaginal infections of any type in my life (I'm 38), so I'm very concerned about this smell.  I tried using the 3-day Monostat, but it appears to not have worked.  I'm really scared about this abrupt change in the odor.  On top of it all, I don't have any health insurance.  What should I do about this?  I can't risk getting naked with my man because the smell is literally that bad.  

[t1984]

Thank you so much everyone who has posted on this forum. I have been experiencing a very FOUL/STRONG/REPULSIVE odor from my begins and I am a very clean person. Also my mental cycles began to smell toxic as well, leaving a harsh lingering smell behind every bathroom visit. After reading all of the review, I too went and checked for an old tampon and sure enough I found one! Thank God I got to the bottom of this!

[JJMira]

Omg!!! I just went and removed it. It was an old tampon that I had forgotten to remove. I thought it was an infection but after reading the comments I went to the bathroom and sure enough, I found it. Thanks for posting your comments, they saved me from a visit to the obgyn.

[jennnabee]

Wow. As I read the comments I thought for sure it was not an old tampon. I was scared I had some sort of heavy metal toxicity or something, but as I kept reading and seeing how common of a problem it was I decided to go check thinking nothing of it and lo and behold it was an old disgusting tampon! Im still having my cycle but I swear to god the one I pulled out was from last month! I had weird spotting all in between these two periods of dried blood and I was worried and wondering what was wrong with me but now I know why! Thank god. I&
m going to be more careful next time I dont even know how this happened.

[Nikki1971inBoston]

I'm so glad I did a search on this issue. You know your body and when is something is off, don't second guess it. Same thing going with me - I had a very foul, putrid smell towards the end of my menstrual cycle. I read the comments about a tampon getting stuck and didn't think it was my issue, but decided to check anyway and sure enough it was there. If you're little squeamish about going in, just put a little oil (preferably coconut oil) on your fingers and you're able to glide the offender right out. It's a really easy mistake. When I think back, I'm recalling that one of the times I had put a new tampon in I didn't remember taking the old one out but figured I did because no string was around. Another lesson learned when you don't recall taking the old tampon out dig a little deeper. Thanks so much, ladies.

[Napaligrl]

You ladies saved my sanity.  I wish I would have found this forum first! I could not stand the smell of myself and could not figure out WTH was wrong with me.  It was horrific.  I did go to the doctor who prescribed antibiotics for a UTI. But nope.. it was an old, disgusting, revolting, putrid tampon.  I thought no way was I going to find anything 'way up there' but I did as one of the comments suggested, to squat and sort of bear down and sure as the sun shines, it was there.  I was in shock and sooooo very relieved.  I pray the smell will go away.  I instantly felt better getting that nastiness out of me.  Very embarrassing indeed.  Wondering why my doctor didn't consider this as a possibility?  

[1414528]

So I noticed a horrific vaginal odor today. I'm almost 50 so I though it may have to do with menopause but it did coincide with the end of my period even though this period seemed to be kind of long. I got online and started reading and reading and came to this thread. I didn't think that this could possible be my issue but I recalled going to the bathroom on the morning of day 1 and I didn't see my tampon string. I just thought I must not have remembered taking it out and my periods are light so I can easily go through the night without one. I didn't think about it again. After reading everyone saying this is what they found, I decided to check. I did it in the bathtub so I could bear down. I felt around and at first only felt vaginal wall tissue but then felt saturated cotton! I could NOT believe it! It was lodged in the crevice by my cervix. And of course the same horrific odor. Unreal! I would describe the smell as the exact same smell as a dog that has an anal gland issue. Truly disgusting. I'm SO GLAD I stumbled upon this thread and that everyone is so honest :)

[QWERTY_aN0n]

I'm just as grateful for so many honest people on this this. I'm 30 and never had an issues before, and I worried over this smell on my period recently.
Ive been having a lot of trouble with them at the moment, I never seem to have a break, a day here and there, otherwise light flows and spotting between heavy and now this smell?

After reading the thread I had to wonder if the smell was an old tampon... I had a few very light days almost off so I could see how I'd not have used one over night but maybe I did and I wasn't sure now...

But after 2 days of this smell searched the web I found this line of comments!

I removed my current tampon which was the second id have come out a ROTTON colour now and took the advice and checked, I couldn't feel anything either... I had to really bare down too and had the same gut wrenching realisation!

I felt the cotton I couldn't find the string at all. I could not believe this had happened to me, it goes to show accidents can happen.


Other sites just saying its normal for odor but I knew this was different it was so bad, I'd never smelt anything like it,

Thank you everyone who shared your stories

[Esalab]

I had the exact same symptoms as the original poster. I thought I would check but not post on here either way, but I checked once, found nothing, and read other answers on here saying to squat and bear down so I checked again and there it was, the most foul smelling and terrifying thing I've ever encountered! I had to comment just to thank everyone who commented before me. I'm so relieved I'm almost crying...and NEVER buying another tampon ever again! Also made a doctors apt. cause how am I not sick when it actually smelled like something died inside of me!?

Thank you thank you thank you to all you wonderful women! This is feminism!

[specialmom]

Ugh, well, at least you found it and aren't having any bad repercussions from it.  It happens.  Okay, happened to me once.  I about died too.  And that is definitely something you never want to happen again.  What I do, as I can't imagine not using tampons, Is make a mental note, out and in, like I have a mental process of checks and balances to make sure I don't forget!  Anyway, glad it turned out okay and you found that thing!  Arghhh.  Being a woman is a pain in the butt sometimes, right?

[Stuffin83]

I've had this issue but if it was a tampon, wouldn't my OBGYN see it during my Pap? Plus I hardly ever use Tampons and only experience the foul smell during my menstrual.  I need a solution. Makes it so uncomfortable to be around people.

[specialmom]

This is not uncommon.  They make scented tampons?  I'd try that.  good luck

[Beachgirl47]

I am so glad I found this discussion. I just started my period yesterday and the smell was atrocious!!  I would have NEVER thought to look for a tampon stuck inside me. I got in the shower and inserted a finger. Just when I was convinced there was nothing inside me I pushed a little further and low and behold I FOUND AN OLD NASTY TAMPON!! I have no idea how long it has been inside me. How has it not made me sick?  How has it not been felt during sex?  How long will this smell persist?  So many questions!!  Thank you to everyone that has contributed to this conversation. I would never have looked had I not read all this.

[stephlalala]

I cannot believe it!  I am in the same boat as so many of you.  I had a very unusual period this month that started and then stopped for over a week.  When it came back the blood was much darker than usual and smelled horrific.  I worried I could be smelled from across the room at work and felt very concerned but too embarrassed to call the doctor.  I finished my period yesterday rather abruptly, which is also unusual for me as it normally tapers off slowly.  Anyway, I was ready to forget about it all since it was gone, but still felt a bit concerned.  I did a search online to see if there could be an underlying reason due to my age (38) or other health problem.  When I saw so many who had found a forgotten tampon I thought I'd better at least check to be safe, though I was certain that was not the case.  Low and behold, a tampon was stuck quite a way up and was sideways and wedged with the string curled around it.  I'm not sure how long it was even there, but I feel so relieved to have found it!  I thought you got toxic shock syndrome if you did this, so I was sure that could not be the cause of my strange symptoms and odor.  Wow.  Thank you all so much for your help.  I'm so glad I found this before it did become something more serious!

[Mrscardiva]

Honestly I don't know how to get it out? How did you guys get it? :(

[Aitch70]

Thank you! I think this article might well have saved my life. After feeling progressively more ill over the last month I googled my symptoms and it brought me here. Never for one minute did I think I had a retained tampon and yes I've just found it! Thank you!

[Curiosity2293]

OMG! I literally just had an old tampon pop out of me! (forgive me for being so forward with this) but I was on the toilet going number two and for some reason I had to push a little harder and next thing I know a tampon was also coming out of my vagina at the same time the poop was coming out!  To be honest I feel so much better knowing that the old smelling blood that was a brownish reddish color finally won't be smelling or looking like that anymore. Last month I went to the doctor and told Them that I think I left a tampon inside of me and they checked and claimed that I just had a cervix infection. However, that was simply not the case , based on what just happened to me! And yes! It does help to squat!

[Meekssleeps]

Omg I pulled a dirty tampon out too. I thought I was losing my mind lol I said how could I forget about a tampon. It stuck so bad taking it out. How long does your vagina stink after you take it out? I pulled mine out about 6 hrs ago.

[Icbtwi]

I CANT BELIEVE IT!!! I;ve had all the same things going on. I thought it was a bacterial infection. I had my OBGYN call me in some antibiotics, and today was my last day on them. The odor hadnt got any better, so I was worried I would have to go in and see what else it could be. I just happened to stumble on this post and Ill be damned if it wasnt a tampon!! OMG! Extremely embarrassing/relieving. IVe been using tampons all my life and this has never happened. I dont know how this happened. I know Im going to be WAY more careful moving forward. Thank you so much to all of you for being brave enough to post this and respond. Toxic shock syndrome is really hard to treat, so the sooner someone discovers it, the better chances they have of not getting really sick. Thank you so much!!

[LisaBleuu]

So... after a couple days and a google I found this answer, and the mystery tampon - and am STILL not feeling well, and still dontsmell normal... how long till this all gets back to normal?!

[Jds83]

I just found this discussion by googling smelly periods. I just searched, no tampon. What else could it be?? I'm in the exact situation as the question we're all answering almost 34 no health insurance and everything's been normal until I don't know a couple of few periods ago could it have something to do with menopause? I have REALLY big blood clots too, some are half dollar size. I can feel it when it comes out! That's happened for like the past year-and-a-half - 2 years. What is going on with me?!?!

[Fragola_xxx]

I found this topic because i was looking for a similar info. Actually i have always been using menstrual cup ( lunette) and at my 2nd last period it started to smell soooo badly. I thought this might be a problem of a cup, because it was getting old ( been having 3 yrs) though i never had this problem. So i threw it away and for my next period i got a new cup. And to what a suprise it got smelly straight away! When i was reading first all these comments, the signs seemed all so similar, but i was still laughing and sure that was not my problem. However after some time i got fustrated, cause its not my cup that gets that nasty smell,  but its inside me!! I am quite sure i have one old tampon ( i use it sometimes when i dont have my cup with me) , and most likely its at least month old :////. I tried searching for it, but i cant really grasp for sure, i feel some strange tissues inside me , but i dont know if its part if me or the tampon :// . Is it possible that the nasty thing is destroyed in parts in me ( i had sex in the mean time too)? And should be the interjor of my vagina clear and smooth or not? I am affraid that due to stress i dont feel the pain and i can makd more trouble for myself..
In anycase,  i will try to get to a doctor asap ..

[KinTs]

Welp! Thanks everyone I have just found the thing that had me smelling like elephant **** for two weeks! The smellest twinge I've ever smelled. Nothing helped, i mean nothing. I carried whipes and extra pads around because of it. Took 3 bathes a day, that didn't help.  I mean just the most horrible smell you could ever imagine. I'm glad to have found the tampon! So if you have a terrible smell and drops of dark smelly blood. Its the tampon that was full of blood at one point ringing itself out as you urinate and take baths inside of you. I mean this thing looked ancient when I pulled it out. So glad I don't have to go to my doctor tomorrow and be embarrassed because I made and appointment, I thought something was really wrong until I found this blog! Thanks soooo much every one! Now if you have a smelly kitty! GO FIND THE TAMPON!!!! (try toward the back, its there)

[Sadsky00]

Omg. I had the same symptoms for a week after my period and my mom and other females told me it was "normal" sometimes to have bad smelling discharge after a period. The smell was so bad a drop got on my panties and I could smell it through my clothes. I had to go home and change clothes! I thought. This can't be normal!? Si glad google search lead me here. I would have never guessed I had a tampon stuck up inside me. No idea how I didn't notice!? Thank you so much guys!!

[Amandam9]

Omg- this post could have saved my life!! My period was dark red, yucky, reeked- the whole 9... but the suggestion to squat down is a must!!! I had one way up there turned long ways. It took 3 tries and 30 mins to get it out.... and that smell made me gag! Thank you all for your posts!!

[Tssaware]

I cannot believe that all these posts lead me to do the same thing.  Down to the bathroom.  Squatted... bore down and what would you know!  The rankest skankest stankest tampon. Lord knows how long it was festering up there.  The relief and shock was immense! I thank you all for sharing. Straight down the quacks tomorrow to get myself on some antibiotics.  Hot water bottle as suggested by my sister helped ease my mind and belly after. . Just feel so sorry for my poor hubby who had been put off halfway through making love at the stench...check yourself ladies at the 1st sign of bad odour

[lightbox]

I was certain I had not left in a tampon and I was right.  BUT... after reading these posts I checked one more time in the way that another poster suggested and there was a large piece of an old tampon stuck in there. I must have taken out a dry tampon which disintegrated and left some inside.This was indeed the culprit and I am so grateful to all you other posters as I was worried sick! Thank you.

[AnotherGal]

I was fairly worried because the smell was just foul - and sure enough after reading the posts i marched to the ladies room and could not believe I felt a string up against my GD uterus.  Im horrified about forgetting and hope it was recent...  But between the smell and others not going in all the way should clue us in for next time, god forbid it ever happens again!!

[ThereseW42]

Thank you. Ditto to all your comments. Just now at 2am I found the culprit. Now I can rest easy. Thank you for this post.

[mrsclooney918]

I cannot even believe that something on the Internet was actually true! I'm so glad that I read this because I didn't know what was going on. And doubting that my condition was waaaaay more serious than what I was reading I went in, so to speak, to cross this off the list. Sure as sh*t that's what was going on! I'm so relieved and the issue was resolved immediately.

[Jderdosome]

Add me to the list.... Horrible smells like I've never smelled before. The best word to describe it would be rancid. Like rotting flesh.... And it's just that. I checked for a tampon the other day and nothing , BUT YOU HAVE TO SQUAT AND CHECK! That saved me! I'm not even sure how long it was in there. A week maybe? Thank you ladies!!!!

[renstokes]

Omg I am sooooo disgusted but SO grateful to you ladies right  now. I'm 35 and have never had a foul smelling period. Well, today my period started and when I went to change out my tampon at work I noticed the most horrific smell. Came home tonight and kept  noticing. Finally googled and saw this. Went in bathroom to check and OMG I am disgusted, but YES an old tampon lodged way up there. No wonder my tampons kept going in weird. I have no idea how  long it's been in there, but at least a month.... how is this  possible!!??? Wouldn't I have gotten TSS or some sort of fever or infection?? Lord knows how long it was in there. I never check that sort of thing but from now on I will regularly!!! Thank you!!!