Embarrassing problem

[Minemineyours]

Ok I'm aware this is anonymous but I still feel so embarrassed posting this but I'm at my wits end.
My vagina smells fishy! I've had a baby 7 months ago and about 2 months ago I started smelling very bad, a month after that my period returned and I thought ok maybe it was hormones but since then the smells returned and nothing I do gets rid of it.
So I know everyone is going to say its BV! I have done 5 tests for BV and all came back negative, 3 of the tests were from somewhere they were doing research into BV so they were 3 different types of tests.
I use rephresh and caneston every month but the smell still comes back.
I'm on probiotics and I don't have much sugar in my diet at all, I do have lots of Greek yoghurt.
I cant get an appointment at the gp yet but has anyone got any idea what else I might try?
I have had BV once before many many years ago and that was cleared up with antibiotics.

Will try a 0% soap.
I only wear cotton knickers and I usually wear dresses so no tight jeans or leggings
I will look up the probiotics I'm already taking postnatal probiotics by lovebug so I will see of there's a difference between the two

@PortMac I agree, I was going to say wouldn't the acv burn the inside of my vagina! I used to drink it diluted in warm water but even that hurt my throat so I don't fancy putting it up my vag although I do appreciate all the advice from everyone really, I will look into all of the stiff recommended as I'm horrified that this is happned

@Minemineyours

Hi OP

Are you up to date with your cervical smears? If not, please do book one in just to rule out anything sinister. Smelly discharge was one of my symptoms before I was diagnosed with cervical cancer. It's unlikely to be cancer, so please don't worry, but it should be ruled out properly.

Otherwise, please do seek help from your GP. This is clearly affecting your quality of life and should be properly investigated.

It could be aerobic vaginitis, you can get a private swab done by focus labs. Mine showed I have no lactobacilli and two pathogenic bacteria. NHS swabs only test for thrush, but and the bacteria beginning with t which I can't remember the name of. My NHS swabs came back negative. GP had never even heard of aerobic vaginitis.

I was going to suggest this ^

Bacterial vaginosis... caused by the over production of flora in the vagina. Nothing to do with sperm or bodywash or tampons!
See your GP.. get some antibiotics... no need for embarrassment or shame!!

@Bonbon21 I've had 5 tests in total that ruled out BV

Are you eating more fish then usual ? Some people get an odour just by eating it .

Trichomoniosis ?

Never heard of aerobi vaginitis but reading up on it just now I don't havr nay discomfort so I'm not sure it would be that.
I'll look up focus labs depending on how much it is that is as I'm broke at the moment

@Minemineyours do you experience any burning, itching or pain?

I wonder if you are suffering slightly from stress incontinence since the birth of your child.
Not uncommon, especially if you weren’t all that committed to doing your pelvic floor exercises (I know I wasn’t).

If it's BV then I think it needs antibiotics. Will your GP prescribe and see if it works?

I agree with PPs, you need to try and get to your specialist GUM clinic if you can. They can diagnose things that your GP just can’t.

Its probably nothing major, just an imbalance in your vagina’s natural bacteria, but your GP won’t get to the bottom of it - so to speak.

Are you wearing washable san pro? I had this issue. Also detected by my child…I realised it was my washable knickers! I soaked them and then washed them again and it’s settled down.

4 months PP, and this happens to me when I cough/sneeze and pee a little 🤣 I've noticed ever since I've swapped to sanex, no issue. Must be the perfumed products x

Sometimes BV can be caused by pregnancy and hormone imbalance so although you’ve done five tests saying negative maybe it’s hormone imbalance and you need a more thorough test that will go through to the lab?
Definitely speak to your gp about it and try not to be embarrassed (easier said than done) but they are used to dealing with much much worse xx

What is the MN obsession with apple cider vinegar? If you’ve got problems downstairs, the last thing you’d want to do is mess up your vag’s ph by whacking some vinegar down it/up it.

???

there could still be a small piece of placenta or membranes left inside. or (extremely unlikely) a swab or something left in from your c section

OP please, please don't do this!

It's dangerous advice that could worsen things or cause new issues entirely.

Please do not put a tampon soaked in vinegar up your fanny!

Make yourself an appointment at your local GUM clinic, we don’t just deal with STIs. We can examine you and look under the microscope where we can actually see BV, it’s a lot more accurate than home tests.

Could the smell be coming from your underwear? Maybe try some new knickers and see if that helps.

I am contacting my GUM clinic tomorrow.
This is so annoying that nothing is working
I will buy the garden of life probiotics too as they have a lot more strains than the ones I'm currently taking so hopefully that can help.

Garden of lIfe for the win. Pricey but worth it.

Seamed 5.5pH for body wash, get a bottle from eBay.

Don't put vinegar up your chuff, please.

This.