To wonder why my period suddenly smells so bad?

[OneShyEagle]

Sorry, I know this is TMI, but hoping I can get some advice.

I wear tampons, but for security, wear period underwear to bed, as I often bleed too much for a tampon. Aware you’re probably not supposed to use tampons at night, but it’s always been fine for me.

Anyway, this morning I woke up, after having the heaviest day of my cycle, so I had definitely leaked a lot.

The really weird thing is, it smelled awful! This has never happened to me before and I’m late 30’s. I’d say it had a fishy odour. I’m so embarrassed writing this, but wondered if anyone has any suggestions as to why, or has experienced this before?

i washed as normal and have been worrying all day in case I smell, but if there is a smell now, it’s much less obvious than it was.

If anyone has experienced this, I would be so grateful to know what had caused it? Please help a very embarrassed mum.

I am mortified, and it’s obviously not the sort of thing I want to ask a friend irl.

Sorry to hear OP. I don’t have any answers but recently I’ve had a similar thing!

It might just be your pants? Mine definitely get a faint smell if I've had them on overnight or over a long day (I wear them as backup for a mooncup)

Definitely check that you haven’t left a tampon up there. It’s very common and easily done and it smells dreadful! Have a good old root around…

You haven't left a tampon up there, have you?

I’ve tried to check for a tampon but can’t feel anything.

Sounds like BV: https://onlinedoctor.superdrug.com/vaginal-odours.html

Possibly bacterial vaginitis

My thought was a left tampon also. You might have added a 2nd one, thinking you'd removed the 1st one. Sometimes, they can lie sideways so not easily felt. You'll need to squat down and forage about I'm afraid to check.

I came in to say this…..have a rootle around just in case x

Vaginosis I mean

Had the pants been washed before use (ie from new, not suggesting you’ve worn dirty pants!). Wondering if any chemicals have made it stink once mixed with blood.

The pants had been worn before so were not brand new.

Do you use fabric conditioner on the pants? That can coat the fibres and make them smellier after a few uses. A bit like how you’re not supposed to use FC on gym gear.

It’s totally normal OP, as we age our bodies and odour start to smell different.

Speak to your GP just in case but it’s normal.

A fishy smell usually indicates an infection. As others have said , BV or a missed tampon. You can buy BV treatment in the chemist/the supermarket

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Balance-Active-THR-Pack-Tubes/dp/B0027RFTIW

I gave up wearing period pants because they always smelt fishy to me. Even with “light use”.

When I say the smelled bad, they really smelled horrific. I can’t understand how it could be that severe. My first thought was a missed tampon, but I’ve checked, and just had a double check, and I can’t feel a thing in there.

I went through a period (no pun intended) when my periods smelled awful. Like rotten meat has been dipped in fish guts, vomited on, and left in the sun for a weekend.

I realised it was my period pants.

You need to wash them at a very high temperature, biological powder, vinegar, no fabric conditioner, a couple of drops of peppermint oil in the whole wash load, air dry until they're absolutely 100% dry.

Not saying its definitely that but it was for me.

When I had BV the smell was there all of the time, absolutely no let up (it was a truly awful time). I wouldn't have thought it just magically appears for a period and then eases off, in fact periods made me smell less as I assume the flow cleared some of the bacteria.
I could be wrong but it sounds more likely to be an issue with the underwear.

I second this. A change in odour is worth getting checked out.

I know this sounds gross. But I was even wondering if somehow they had ended up back in my drawer dirty. I know there’s no way that could have happened though, so it’s all very strange!

Classic symptom of bacterial vaginosis. You can smell it but your underwear doesnt necessarily smell the same.

There's a PH imbalance, order some BV gel from amazon or get it from a pharmacy.

I will buy some of the gel. Thank you.