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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

...to be annoyed that even women will say that lady parts "smell of fish"?

95 replies

puzzledbyadream · 18/02/2016 12:06

Reading the scented SanPro thread and I noticed a woman saying that lady parts didn't smell nice because they smell fishy. Now unless you have a nasty case of Bacterial Vaginosis (easily sorted) then your lady parts do not smell of fish and it's weird to say they do. It sort of perpetuates this whole "vaginas are gross" thing imo.

OP posts:
magimedi · 18/02/2016 12:08

Just as annoying as calling vulva/vagina 'lady parts'.

Fratelli · 18/02/2016 12:08

Yanbu at all! I have a friend who said vaginas are disgusting! She's also a doctor!

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 18/02/2016 12:09

It's a really misogynist thing. I remember at school the boys joking about "close your legs - it smells like a fish shop" and "ewww, fishy fingers etc"....

puzzledbyadream · 18/02/2016 12:09

Magimedi, I would usually say vulva but thought that might be a bit upfront in the title of a post!

OP posts:
BeardMinge · 18/02/2016 12:10

Funnily enough, mine do a bit if I've eaten fish the day before. I presume it's just a bodily secretions thing, like when you eat a lot of spices and garlic and your sweat smells different.

But YABU generally. Women who are squeamish about their genitals need to have a word with themselves.

BeardMinge · 18/02/2016 12:11

Sorry, YANBU.

Pigwitch · 18/02/2016 12:12

YAnbu. If your vagina smells fishy then you have an infection or an aversion to hygiene.

Arfarfanarf · 18/02/2016 12:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LionsLedge · 18/02/2016 12:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Lweji · 18/02/2016 12:16

vaginas are disgusting! She's also a doctor!

Maybe she only sees disgusting ones?
Is she a gynaecologist? I presume not.

Arfarfanarf · 18/02/2016 12:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

JeanGenie23 · 18/02/2016 12:18

If it smells fishy then you have a problem.

Yes when it's that time of the month your bits don't smell in tip top condition but if you are hygienic and clean then it won't smell bad.

They aren't the most eye pleasing part of the body though, neither are men's penis' let's be honest!

magimedi · 18/02/2016 12:22

puzzled am relieved to hear that - and am also sure that MN would not find vulva too upfront!

goodnightdarthvader1 · 18/02/2016 12:24

Indeed, I've never smelled any fish that smelled like my vagina.

Sallyingforth · 18/02/2016 12:26

Just because you aren't into them doesn't mean they're horrifying.

Nicely put! :)

LionsLedge · 18/02/2016 12:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Fratelli · 18/02/2016 12:34

Lweji no she isn't, she was making a reference to the appearance of them. She genuinely thinks all vaginas look disgusting.

dontcallmecis · 18/02/2016 12:46

Cats don't follow me around, so I think I'm ok.

bodenbiscuit · 18/02/2016 12:54

YANBU - and anyone who thinks vaginas are disgusting has unresolved issues - probably the fault of their parents.

NotMeNotYouNotAnyone · 18/02/2016 13:08

I had an ex who gave me such a complex about oral sex because he found it so disgusting (in general not just with me) that I spent years avoiding it

It took a partner who loves giving it for me to be comfortable about it

PennyDropt · 18/02/2016 13:12

Surely the fishy smell is stale urine. Solved by wiping properly. And can apply to anyone who pees, male or female or anything in between.

BertieBotts · 18/02/2016 14:05

Actually I think semen/precum does have a slight similarity to a light fish smell, like cod, not unpleasant. Vaginal fluids are more musky though.

ManneryTowers · 18/02/2016 14:07

I think if you can smell your own genitals it's time for a bath.

wibblypig1 · 18/02/2016 14:16

There is a recognised medical condition - fish odour syndrome I think it's called - your genitals can really smell of fish if you've recently eaten fish. The oils aren't broken down enough and you excrete them through your urine. You have cranberry juice to alter the ph and stops it smelling...

Mumoftwoyoungkids · 18/02/2016 14:17

I always think semen smells a bit like chlorine.