To wonder why my period suddenly smells so bad?

I had this with period pants. I’ve given up on them. Even washing them as directed and using Napisan, etc, I found that they always honked.

Use pads at night instead of tampons. It doesn't sit there too long and less likely to be forgotten

OP please make an urgent appointment at a sexual health clinic or with a nurse at your GP surgery to check for a lost tampon before the weekend. If there is one, it’s very likely you will not be able to find it, & leaving one lost is so so dangerous. Please go! They will have seen it before - no need to be embarrassed.

It has happened to me twice - and the angle of my cervix meant I had no hope of finding it myself either time.

I don’t know what a “strip wash” is but 40 degrees is only just above body temperature - that’s not going to kill bacteria. Use cotton underwear and wash at 60. No need for anything else beyond biological washing detergent. And definitely no vile fabric conditioner.

This happened to me, I was baffled. Eventually, whilst in the shower, I put my fingers as deep as I could possibly go, even when I thought I must be insane, and I found a tampon that was blackened and rotting. What you don’t realise is that if you forget a tampon, you’ll shove another in on top of it and push it back further than even you would realise.

Use night pads instead, two if you need to. The pants are overrated imho. Plus as I’m sure you are wash morning and night.

Could it be smelling because of having a tampon in overnight?? I always used sanitary towels for night. If you are worried I would contact your GP x

Since when has that been official advice for night time?

Women are now expected to what - set an alarm for 3am?

Period pants can definitely pick up odour and need a “reset” wash now and again. As a general rule after use make sure you rinse in cold water before washing normally but no conditioner. Cold is important for blood, hot “sets” it. To reset, put all your pants in a cold wash in machine with white vinegar in the drum. Then wash normally and air dry. Outside is best. Sometimes they just need throwing away but a reset wash with white vinegar normally works. The ModiBodi website has good advice on washing them too.

This, they pong something rotten!
I just change them more often, but overnight is normally pretty stinky

Have you changed contraception?

I REEKED when I had a copper coil. Embarassing didnt cover it. Got the bastard thing out as quick as I could.

Please be careful in future OP, toxic shock syndrome is dangerous and why we are not supposed to use tampons too long and at night.
The fishy smell does sound like an infection, so keep an eye on any other symptoms. Be well!

Mine has started to stink, just as you describe, the second I started using period knickers.
I think there's bacteria in the pants, which has now transferred to my vagina and causes the stink.

If you feel at all unwell or start to run a temperature get yourself seen as soon as possible. I don’t want to alarm you but leaving in tampons overnight can cause an infection and can be dangerous if left.

My vote is that it’s the period pants that smell rather than you OP

Sorry if this sounds crude. Have you checked there isn't a tampon in there ... happened to me once and that's what it was. Get your fingers in there and check please.

It was a burst fibroid for me as well - I first noticed it when wearing period pants as well weirdly. Horrible horrible smell, like something rotten. I tested for BV and it was negative, then got tested by my GP for every STD and infection under the sun, nothing. It was only when they sent me for a scan that they found what the problem was.

My daughter wears modibodi and they absolutely stink when she puts them for washing. I’m having to soak them and wash them twice to get them to smell clean.

Sounds mental but I was the same once, and realised it was a combination of tight knickers with a sani pad, and I'd used a bath bomb earlier on in my evening bath
🧼 🛁 😨
So my ph level must have been out of whack? 🤷‍♀️
I hope you get it sorted
@OneShyEagle

In your shoes I'd wait until my period was finished and then get to the GP if there's still an odor. They can swab to test for BV and prescribe antibiotics.
Happened to me once and it was mortifying but I think it was bubble bath that caused it and I am very careful with products ever since.

Yes definitely due to the period pants I would say.
I chucked mine out and stopped using them for that reason, no matter what I did there was always a smell to them. Shame as it's such a great concept in principle!

I didn't realise that period pants have a life limit. Most say between 50 and 100 washes. I had some M & S ones that got this foul smell to them and I realised that I'd gone well over that amount of washes. I've gone back to sanitary towels as it's less hassle.

I have had this when I have worn period pants for longer times eg overnight.

This is TMI:-

I had this once, searched for a lost tampon but I felt 'empty' then a few days later as I was having a poo and pushing a tampon came out. It was hidden.