Why can't my GP sort my smelly vag?

[BeyondMortifying]

I'm posting here for traffic under a different name....

I posted about this issue before over a year ago but can't find the thread or username (habitual namechanger)

Basically what the title says... there is a noticeable odour down there so bad that I have to wear a pantyliner and change my knickers mid day. I cant weat the same jeans more than one day as they STINK. Its fucking mortifying. Its deffinatley noticeable to other people aswell, DP was asking about a weird smell in the bedroom.. my knickers which I hadn't yet taken down to the washing machine.

I went to my GP over a year ago, after treating my self for thrush, cutting out scented bath products/ sanitary products and seeing no improvement.
Was treated for BV... over the year I've had 3 different courses of oral antibiotics aimed at treating it and a cream. The antibiotics give me thrush as they are so strong, so then I have to treat that but the smell persists. GP can't keep prescribing them, understandably, and clearly they aren't working. I've had a course of "general antibiotics" just to see if it made a difference. I've had the coil out and a new one fitted. Nothing it working and its just awful.

I cut out onion, garlic and spices from my diet for nearly 2 and a half months but it made no difference. I eat pineapple every day, no difference. I've bought those pessery sort of things from superdrug and tried those. Nothing is bloody working and I'm at a point where I cant go out the house for more than a couple of hours before I need to get home for a wash before I have a waft of rotten vag about me.

Just as a background, one day I smelled totally normal, then over the course of a week I noticed a rank smell which has just never gone. Posters on my previous thread suggested lost tampon but over a year on and one never appeared, I've not died from TSS so presumably that wasnt the course.

GP is getting sick of me, I can tell. What am I missing that could be causing this??

I think you need swabs for sure. Probiotics are a good call while waiting as well.

Just a thought but could it be a smell that is lingering on some of your clothes and underwear rather than your body?
I know it's not exactly the same but I had gym gear and some pants that seemed to emit an aroma when I wore them for 5 minutes. I was clean, they were clean but they smelt like I wore them for a week- nasty! I stopped using fabric softener on these items which helped.
Sorry if this is totally off the track, but I thought I would mention incase it helps. I hope you manage to get this sorted x

I've already had the second coil removed, around September time. Though I've not had any antibiotics since then, so could a lingering infection be a possibility.
So new GP practice, cut out sugar, Amazon for probiotics and smear test ASAP seems like a good start and fingers crossed for a miracle

Not a smear test, though that as well if due. But a swab for infections.

I was treated for BV with antibiotics and gp said I'd need the coil removed if it kept coming back so I'm wondering is it worth doing one more course of antibiotics now you've had it removed? Just in case that was all that was causing it?

Did either GP give you an internal examination?

I am sorry you have not been treated in the way you should be.

Could you go back to the sexual health clinic and ask that they swab again and find out what is causing the smell?

I would also consider evening primrose oil in case it is as suggested by your GP and is hormonal (I doubt it) and a gut cleanse diet to balance your gut and vaginal bacterial, the antibiotics will have wiped out your natural flora; no sugar, dairy, gluten, nuts, fruit, red meat, soya, and use a broad spectrum probiotic supplement and possibly some oregano capsules and natural probiotics like kombucha, kimchi or water kefir. Basically lots of rice, vegetables with some chicken and fish.

You could try eating Kefir every day too, it's femented and great for good gut bacteria

I'd go back to a GUM clinic and request an exam and more tests. Sounds like it is also worth having your coil removed to see if that helps?
In the meantime I really recommend these tablets. They helped me immensely with a very persistent bout of thrush a few years ago.

@BeyondMortifying

Late 20's so unlikely to be menopause related. The poster who mentioned diabetes, that's interesting, the problems started about 9 months after I had DD but whilst I was pregnant I did have problems with my blood sugar. Not sure if that was just pregnancy related and if the issue has since resolved. I'm tempted to find another GP practice.

Interesting it started after the birth. Have you been investigated for a rectovaginal fistula?

Sorry BV, not thrush

I had a similar issue and my gynaecologist (I have other gyn issues so was seeing a consultant gyn regularly) said it was probably a low level mycoplasma that other treatments weren’t addressing. It can be mistaken for thrush or BV. I smelt like rotten meat ‘down there’ and was terribly self-conscious.

Mycoplasma genitalium is resistant to a lot of antibiotics so that could be why it persists. I can remember the exact treatment but it did work. It can have very serious consequences for fertility. I would print out the NHS pages on MG and take them to your GP and ask for a referral.

I had this recently constantly having to change my knickers and having to put panti liners in. Luckily for me the GP finally prescribed antibiotics and it worked was a vaginal infection. I really hope this is sorted for you I know how embarrassing and irritating it is

I had this. Was fobbed off for over a year, told I had pnd and there was no smell. Good friends and DH could smell it. People moved seats on buses. Eventually paid for a private scan which found a medical swab left behind from c section which was happily decomposing. Marched back to GP who rolled eyes, then I raised hell with the hospital. Had it removed and a fuckton of antibiotics and now all is normal.

Demand action OP. If you can pay, do it. Otherwise complain to practice manager, demand a referral to gynae.

I had this very badly many years ago and it was awful. i could smell at all the time and nothing helped until out of desperation I followed advice online via a friend who’d had same issue and used hydrogen peroxide ( mixed with water) internally. I think ratio was 1 part hydrogen peroxide to 2 or 3 parts cooled boiled water and used a syringe to flush inside. Hold it in for a 30 seconds or so and repeat a few times. Smell immediately gone and then did it a few more times over next few weeks and hasn’t returned. Sounds extreme but didn’t hurt, is used by lots of women like this, is cheap easy and effective.

Do you wash down there with soap?

Demand a scan immediately, blow your top with GP, useless sods!

I had BV or something for a long time - kept being treated for thrush and i was sure it wasn't. Definitely push for a referral to a gynae or a gum clinic that can look into this properly.

In the mean time I got desperate and started to use multi-gyn acti gel which is pretty good for balancing ph whatever the issue. I would also use vagisil ph balance wash in the shower. I also started using acidophilus - both orally and inserting the capsules in the vagina over night which is particularly good if sugars are the issue. I rarely have problems now, but I think the main problem was my ph balance was off as occasionally it reoccurs after my period. I think every time I took antibiotics it got worse too.

Has anyone looked for a fistula between your bowel and vagina? Sometimes a very small one will not cause a faecal discharge through the vagina as such but will smell really bad.

Balance Activ pessaries worked well for me when I had a similar problem. They're available from Boots and from Amazon and they're a 7 day course. If ever I feel the problem is coming back I do another 7 day course. Worth a go in the meantime maybe whilst you're changing GP etc? Good luck x

I had trouble before I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

Interesting thread. I too have always/for years smelt quite 'strongly'!

I would just ask for a referral to gynae or see one privately.

Is it just the smell or are there other symptoms, discharge etc?

I had a cervical ectropion which was treated with silver nitrate. The silver nitrate left a grey, silvery discharge which smelt weird. Not a normal vaginal smell, it smelt smoky or like something was burning lol! Your description just reminded me of it

It smells like burni

Yes your plan sounds good OP. This needs action.

Can you go to a private gynaecologist?

I wonder if something like this might help?

www.amazon.com/Probiotics-Women-Probiotic-Supplement-Treatment/dp/B01KVSMTM2?tag=mumsnetforu03-21