Vaginal Odour

[canadiangirl]

Hello,
I'm having a problem with vaginal odour and am looking for a way to get rid of it. For approximately the last 6 months I've noticed that had a b.o. (body odoour) smell coming from my vagina. Actually the smell is generally strongest from my underwear, but if I change them then the smell is back in a short time period. I don't smell right after showering, but when I start to smell usually depends on what I'm doing during the day. I've never had this problem before and don't smell anywhere else. I shower at least once a day (more if I smell down there) and change my underwear frequently. There's no discharge, however my underwear is damp enough to be considered wet. I've tried shaving all hair so that there's nothing for the smell to attach to, and I also wash very thoroughly with soap. This all sounds so disgusting I know, but I just want it to go away! Any help is greatly appreciated!

[cugirl]

It could be possibly from a sexual transmitted disease, if you have a watery discharge (maybe the reason your underwear is damp) could mean genital herpes, often herpes is not visable in women and only the change is discharge is noticed.  Atrophic vaginitis also has a watery discharge but usally occurs in women who are post-menopausal or have had their ovaries removed.
Or it could be Bacterial vaginosis which has a strong odor but usually has white or grey watery discharge.  Best thing is to go to the OB/GYN.
Check this site out:

http://catalog.nucleusinc.com/displaymonograph.php?MID=170

[canadiangirl]

ok thanks! so I actually had a PAP last week but was a little embarrassed to ask the doctor face to face (cause it just seems really gross). Are any of these things something that would show up  in the testing? Or is this something I should go back and get specialized tests for?

Thank you.

[cugirl]

I would think they would show up in the Pap but if everything comes back normal you may want to go in and talk to the doctor just in case.

[canadiangirl]

thank you very much!

[lisapep]

A pap only test for cancer... sometimes they can see yeast.. but aside from that no.  You need to get a culture to test for STD's.  you need to go back to the Dr.  Dont be embarassed Drs have seen everything!! good luck

[Alias Lola]

I agree with lisapep.  Don't be embarrassed one iota.  Doctors have seen it all, heard it all.  It's good that you're aware of your body and any variations in vaginal smell.  You should definitely bring it to their attention.

Good luck!

[maryheather]

Also don't forget--everyone has a certain amount of bacteria living in their body all the time.  If you are excessively bathing "down there" then you could potentially be getting rid of necessary bacteria, which allow other bacteria to grow.  I know this from experience.  My OB told me this when I had BV.  Usually, excessive odor is a sign of infection, either yeast, or bacterial, and no, a pap won't check for any of these.  They have to culture specifically for other organisms.

[canadiangirl]

ok..so one last question...obviously I would want to have protected sex. But what about oral sex. Would it be safe for someone to perform oral sex on me? (I'm going with the fact that this is an infection and not an sti since I haven't had sex in a long time and this is recent)

[Alias Lola]

So........ why would you want someone to perform oral sex on you if you have a smelly cooch?  :-)  

I'm just joking, but seriously, go to the doctor and see what they tell you.

[canadiangirl]

that's the thing...it doesn't always smell...(i knew someone would ask that though, i should of made myself more clear, hahaha) But yeah, like it hasn't been smelly for a few days now...so obviously if I smelled I would avoid all contact, but if there's nothing smelling and I'm all clean then I would hope it would be ok!

[canadiangirl]

OH AND....I called the doctor's office where I had my pap done to ask what they test for and they said any of the things mentioned to me would be tested for.

[Alias Lola]

Hahaha...glad you laughed about that ;-)

Yeah, they probably did.  I remember one time I went to the gyn for a pap and was soooooooo surprised when I got a hefty bill from the lab because they did all kinds of cultures.  I thought I was only getting a pap done.  

Anyway, sounds like you don't have anything to worry about.  Sometimes our normal vaginal flora gets unbalanced and we can get minor infections, like BV, and they can clear spontaneously.

Good luck!!

[Jess9]

Sounds to me as though it is Bacterial Vaginosis...I had this when I was pregnant and my doctor waited until I had the baby!!  I told her that I had a bad odor and she looked and she gave me a prescription and it took just a week for it to clear up!!  Remember that your not the first one to have these problems..and I am sure that the doctor has seen and heard so much worse.  Don't be afraid to ask your doctor....sometimes it's worth the embarressment!!

[mymuffin]

I've been having some vagina smell problems.  It's not the usual smell.  I recently treated myself twice with over the counter meds for Yeast infection, then once with antibiotics from the doctor.  I have the wettness (which is not unusual for me), not discharge everyday but the smell is horrible.  I smell it through my clothes.  I recently took additional antibiotics for having the flu so I thought that might be related since it's been three days since I finished the percription and the smell seems to be subsiding.  I'm due back to the doctor this week so I'll definitely inquire.

[alwayshavequestions]

Hey lately Ive been having this clear discharge that has a odor. Im not sure whats going. I dont have a rash or anything but as more discharge comes out I begin to itch. I shower everyday about 2 to 3 times a day. So can someone tell me whats going on

[laxgirl]

this isnt a comment but a question...i have the same problem with really bad smells in my vaginal area.  i smell it sometimes when i am jst sittin, and my boyfriend its so bad he wont go down on me anymore.  I dont kno wht it is or wht i can do to stop it. i shower and wash down there daily but it doesnt seem to help. I dont think its an infection of any sort cause ther is no itching or buring. if there is any one that can help me please let me know. thanks

[debee]

hey girls.
regarding the vaginal smell i had tht a while back and the dr did say it was bacterial vagismosis and i wanted to tell yall that it could come from what yall eat in my case if i have strawberries which i love it causes that strong odor in face when i eat strawberries my husband goes after i eat about 6 thats enough it isnt embarrassing now to us we are more comfortable because we know now what caused it so look at your diets and see if yall have strawberries or something similar.

[midoricutiex]

i have the same thing going on.. but i was wondering about something. im new to this. i mean ive had one obgyn visit EVER. bc i needed birth control. what do they have to do to check you for that stuff? and the symptoms i have could be a lot of different things.. i even saw somewhere it could be a symptom of HIV. should i get tested for everything? and what do they do to "test" you for that stuff? pleaseee comment me back. worried :-\

[pumpkin78]

Usually it is a simple blood test and they also do some lab tests from the specimen they get from your vagina when they do the pap.  Trust me, you will feel better once you go and get the results back.  I recommend an annual(every year, that's why they call it an annual;)) exam after 18, especially if you are sexually active.  You can have them test you for everything right there and then.  I am really surprised at how many women don't get their annuals done!!  Good luck!

[NICK999]

I'VE HAD THIS TERRILE SMELLING VAGINAL DISCHARGE FOR A WHILE NOW. IT SMELLS LIKE AMMONIA OR DEAD RAT AT TIMES. I'VE BEEN TO MY OBGYN AND THE PAP AND CULTURE TEST CAME BACK NEGATIVE. WHAT CAN BE WRONG. I TAKE A BATH TWICE A DAY. IT'S VERY DEPRESSING. I'M MARRIED AND I FIND MYSELF AVOIDING SEX BECAUSE I'M AFRAID HE WILL SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THE SMELL.

[NICK999]

I'VE HAD THIS TERRILE SMELLING VAGINAL DISCHARGE FOR A WHILE NOW. IT SMELLS LIKE AMMONIA OR DEAD RAT AT TIMES. I'VE BEEN TO MY OBGYN AND THE PAP AND CULTURE TEST CAME BACK NEGATIVE. WHAT CAN BE WRONG. I TAKE A BATH TWICE A DAY. IT'S VERY DEPRESSING. I'M MARRIED AND I FIND MYSELF AVOIDING SEX BECAUSE I'M AFRAID HE WILL SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THE SMELL.

[oOjanedoeOo]

Ive had the damp undies and the oder for a while now.. the past year and now i havent had my period in months... ive been with the same partner for 4 years now and him with me.. is it possible someone whos used our home bathroom could have passed something to me.. std wise? My fiance doesnt mind the smell cause most of the time its very sweet  and not sour at all but sometimes it does smell like ammonia...my doctor said that im not ovulating because of the lack of periods and im not on birth control so everythingis backing up on me.. could that be my smell.. im sick of changing my undies 3 times a day and like some of you i smell it thru my pants and im sooo scared people will notice.. do any of you pee a little when you sneeze or cough or even stand up?

[kik90210]

hi!!

ok i'm only 17,still a virgin but i too am having weird odours an sometimes damp undies an the odd time i get abit itchy i am getting very impatient over it lik i do have a boyfriend but won't even mess around with him anymore incase he will smell it like i shower nearly 3times a day over it i dunno wat to do please help cos i haven't a clue wat it could be an am too embarrassed to go to the doctors or anything like tat this is my only option

[kas2]

I 2 have had the wet undies and the ammonia smell.  I went 2 the dr and got tested for all std's but all came back negative.  my pap was also normal.  I don't know what's going on with my  body but I'm getting really scared because I don't think this is usual.  It's really freaky always wondering if you are smelling and if someone is smelling you.  If you go to the dr and they find out something please post it.