My vagina stinks

[timewarp6]

I can't live with it anymore, it smells horrible even 2 minutes after showering. I don't use soap down there and I don't have an STI. I have been treated for thrush and no change.

It's worse in the hot weather but I'm feeling self conscious all the time. I can smell it when I'm sitting down on the sofa. People say it's normal to have an odour but when does it become abnormal?

I can't even describe the smell - it isn't fishy but it's unpleasant

How can anyone think their vulva washes itself??!
That would be like thinking your armpit washes isn't self.

Of course you shouldn't get soap inside your vagina but you should be washing around the outer area!!

it is absolutely fine to just wash your vuvla with water. It is a self regulating environment

Seriously? How can you think this? What do you think you’ve the equivalent of a car wash in your knickers?

If you have faecal particles on your vulva you’re not wiping properly.

Definitely not normal to be able to smell your or anyone else's fanny unless your face is right next to it.

@seren that's not how particles work..

Well that consultant gynaecologist who writes for the guardian agrees with me that water is sufficient. I’ll carry on with my happy fanjo thank you and leave you all to your dodgy smelly ones.

you're not meant to even have your toothbrush too near the loo because they get covered in it, but you think your vulva escapes

I’ll carry on with my happy fanjo thank you and leave you all to your dodgy smelly ones.

Christ that escalated quickly, what a lovely way with words you have.

@Baskininthegarden do you flush while sitting on the loo after you’ve pooed then?

I think the bigger question is do you not fart or wee..?! what's your secret

You can get a gel for BV in little applicators from Superdrugs or Boots. Just put it in and squeeze the gel in. Also second not using soaps or femfresh down there or at least not inside. The vagina is a self cleaning organ. I just take the shower off and have a really good wash and scrub with a non soapy sponge

vulvas are not self cleaning. By what witchcraft do you think they are self cleaning? Vaginas are self cleaning because vaginas have discharge that come OUT of them. That is how they self clean. That discharge settles in the folds of the vulva. Vulvas are just folds of skin. They have no self cleaning system. Things do not magically self cleanse. I despair. DO you actually know where the vulva is? Do you know the difference between the vulva and the vagina?

Al I k ow is that I can’t smell my fanjo when sitting on the sofa, I’ve never had BV, haven’t had thrush Ora UTI in over a decade. So I must be doing something right!

As an HCA I have been trained to wash female patients' vulvas with something nice like Tena wash cream which we are provided with & water. NOT inside the actual vagina though but definitely everywhere else.

We look out for sore areas & thrush etc etc.

You should really Not be able to smell your vulva & vagina even at the end of the day when fully dressed sat in a sofa... if you can then it's certainly time to get in the shower.
If you can still smell an unpleasant odour then see a gp.

OP, speak to a female gp. I know it's embarrassing but it's important.

You've had some good advice already but when I had this problem, it was a forgotten tampon. Quite distressing.

Oh my god, I have read before about how you shouldn't wash your genitals with anything other than water and have always been like 'what, fuck that!' and have always used soap! Obviously I don't put soap up there, douching (is that what's it's called?) is a no go, and as others have said, the vagina itself is self cleaning because it's cleans out with discharge etc but surely you are supposed to clean all the bits around the vagina, including all of your vulva? Thank god for this thread because I always wondered if I was wrong for washing my fanjo area with soap and was risking all sorts, so I'm relieved to know that it literally is just up the vag you aren't supposed to go!

Trichomoniasis smells like somethings died up your foof, it also comes with a frothy discharge.

Yikes!

I’ll carry on with my happy fanjo thank you and leave you all to your dodgy smelly ones

I mean this gently but do you think maybe you don’t know the difference Between your vulva and your vagina? As in you don’t know what your bits are called? For want of a better phrase? It’s the only explanation.

Do you actually open your lips and clean inside there?

Of all the superior threads I've read on MN I think the great fanny washing debate is my new favourite.

wash everything you can reach without going inside the hole..

Of all the superior threads I've read on MN I think the great fanny washing debate is my new favourite.

🤣🤣🤣🤣

A course of Metronidazole (prescribed by your GP) or something similar should clear things out within some days, if it's coming from inside you and is BV.

As others have written, keep your vulva and surrounding areas washed and clean, using products that don't irritate you. Your normal soap is fine or something gentler if your soap isn't already.

Use Mitchum spray around the vulva area after shower daily (or 2 to 3 times a day) if you find that you sweat easily down there. That should keep things feeling and smelling fresh.

Hope you get sorted soon.

I use soap down there.

I had a coil years ago that gave me a nasty pong.