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.  

[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!!!