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Why Do I Have Prolonged Vaginal Odor?
Ever since I got my period at 12 (almost six years ago), I’ve had problems with vaginal odor. Admittedly, I didn’t have the best hygiene practices when I was younger, but I’ve been regularly showering and taking care of my vagina since I was 15 years old.
I can’t really describe the smell coming from down there, and I’ve tried to google it many times with no results. It’s not fishy, not like bleach, but just bad. It’s caused so much discomfort in my life, and I feel terrible about it because I’ve been to the gynecologist multiple times and all they keep doing is testing me for infections, which keep coming up negative. The only vaginal related problems I’ve had were ovarian cysts (2015 - present) and a torsion (2015). Other than that, I have anemia and get kidney stones (2017 - present). I was on the pill for a while, and I used the nuva ring for a few months, but whether I’m on or off birth control the smell has stayed.
At first I thought the smell might have been normal, but I for sure know it’s not. Girls my age can sit with their legs open and I don’t smell a thing, which makes me so jealous because I’ve never been able to do that. I’ve even had sexual partners comment on it, so I know it’s not just me imagining it.
I think everything about my vagina other than the smell is normal, discharge is a whitish color, no bumps or itching. I had one yeast infection that I got cleared up, and my period isn’t regular but I’m sure that’s due to stress. I can’t even think about what it is that’s been causing years of vaginal odor, and I just want to know if there’s anything to do to fix it or lessen the smell even.
Some other info to know is I have never used a douche, and I wash down there every day gently with a washcloth and water, never putting any soap in my actual vagina, but sometimes using summer’s eve on my vulva if I bother to buy it. My diet is vegetarian, but no matter how I eat the smell is still there. I’ve reduced sugar and dairy in the past but the odor still stayed. I’m not very active except at work (always on my feet in the store). I don’t really have sex either, the last time I had consistent sex with someone who had a penis was when I was 15, and the only other consistent time was over the summer and the person was of the same sex.
To summarize: I’ve had years of bad vaginal odor with no infections or stds, and the other health problems I have had are ovarian cysts, a torsion, kidney stones, and anemia, and I don’t even know if they affect vaginal smell.
I can’t really describe the smell coming from down there, and I’ve tried to google it many times with no results. It’s not fishy, not like bleach, but just bad. It’s caused so much discomfort in my life, and I feel terrible about it because I’ve been to the gynecologist multiple times and all they keep doing is testing me for infections, which keep coming up negative. The only vaginal related problems I’ve had were ovarian cysts (2015 - present) and a torsion (2015). Other than that, I have anemia and get kidney stones (2017 - present). I was on the pill for a while, and I used the nuva ring for a few months, but whether I’m on or off birth control the smell has stayed.
At first I thought the smell might have been normal, but I for sure know it’s not. Girls my age can sit with their legs open and I don’t smell a thing, which makes me so jealous because I’ve never been able to do that. I’ve even had sexual partners comment on it, so I know it’s not just me imagining it.
I think everything about my vagina other than the smell is normal, discharge is a whitish color, no bumps or itching. I had one yeast infection that I got cleared up, and my period isn’t regular but I’m sure that’s due to stress. I can’t even think about what it is that’s been causing years of vaginal odor, and I just want to know if there’s anything to do to fix it or lessen the smell even.
Some other info to know is I have never used a douche, and I wash down there every day gently with a washcloth and water, never putting any soap in my actual vagina, but sometimes using summer’s eve on my vulva if I bother to buy it. My diet is vegetarian, but no matter how I eat the smell is still there. I’ve reduced sugar and dairy in the past but the odor still stayed. I’m not very active except at work (always on my feet in the store). I don’t really have sex either, the last time I had consistent sex with someone who had a penis was when I was 15, and the only other consistent time was over the summer and the person was of the same sex.
To summarize: I’ve had years of bad vaginal odor with no infections or stds, and the other health problems I have had are ovarian cysts, a torsion, kidney stones, and anemia, and I don’t even know if they affect vaginal smell.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Well, that's so hard and I'm sorry you're dealing with this. I've heard of this trick, I'd give it a try if I were you. Antibacterial soap used on the outside. All the creases and folds, wash with the antibacterial soap. You can do that for underarm odor that is persistent as well. And instead of summer eve's wipes, what about trying vagisil wipes which are for fungal issues. Perhaps that is going on. I'd first try the antibacterial soap and then the vagisil wipes. How is your weight? Are you over weight?
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