Intimate wash for thrush prevention

[Usernamaste]

In the last couple of years I’ve developed a horrible musty smell between my legs. I’m guessing it’s menopause-related as I have never smelt anything like it before. I feel so self conscious as I can smell it through my clothes so I imagine other people can too.
I used a BV treatment (had BV in my 20s and it smelt completely different but thought it was worth a go). It didn’t really help.
I used a thrush internal treatment and it helped briefly but then the smell came back.
I’ve recently used Canesten cream on my vulva and it does seem to have got rid of the smell, but possibly only temporarily.

I don’t want to keep using thrush treatments, but can anyone recommend an unperfumed intimate wash designed to keep thrush at bay please?

I don’t currently use any soap that might aggravate it, just water. I use unperfumed washing powders, and haven’t started using new products that could be responsible. I use HRT but am thinking of asking for a higher dose as it doesn’t seem to be helping with anything much at the moment.

I use Vagisil wash to stop me getting thrush from swimming. It works. Might be worth a try?

Dermal wash made me really sore. Was diagnosed last year with lichen sclerosis and then vulval eczema, now using Epaderm cream as a wash and moisturizer. (Plus estreo cream and pessaries twice a week. After a year of crying with pain/burning, unable to walk,I saw a private dermatologist £150, scripts were sent to GP

Op, I definitely changed smell when I hit peri/meno. I started sweating there far more especially at night - now on HRT I’m still often damp of pant in the morning - it’s just so gross! But not usually stinky (for which see below) I found it varied according to foods - curries/onions/garlicky food meant I would wake up pretty stinky! you have to wash this out especially as odours cling to hair. So just water won’t cut it.

I wash that area with plain perfume free soap. Dove doesn’t hit it. I also trim pubic hair very short (buzz cut) so there’s less for odours to ‘cling’ to. I use vagisil deodorant powder on days where I think I’m going to be hot/stressed. Anxiety makes me sweat more so I plan ahead. And always wear cotton underwear, cotton clothes if at all possible, cotton nightwear. I replace them regularly, every year or so I Chuck all pants and buy fresh. I often take spare undies and change halfway through the day if I want/need to. Don’t wear non-washable dry clean clothes because dry cleaning just doesn’t wash out smells like a proper wash.

this has all helped enormously. Hrt has stopped the night sweats. But still, often around period/bleed, i wake up pongy, and can often link it to allium based foods. It’s actually quite fascinating, but quick wash and keep hair short and you’re laughing. Good luck!

@hattie43
Thanks, but this has perfume in it, which I definitely don’t want as perfumed products aren’t recommended.

Try washing with aqueous cream rather than soap

op are you actually getting the telltale horrific itch/pain/swelling of thrush? If not, I don’t think thrush is your issue. I used to suffer terribly with thrush when younger and drank more/bad diet/lived hard, but the telltale sign was the itch, the smell was entirely secondary.

id go to the GUM for a thrush test and to rule out any other nasty before trying to address.

If you can run to it,get a private dermatologist or gynaecologist appointment,I'm in the SE UK,cost £150, for the initial consult. You have obviously spent a lot of money on over the counter products, which is what I did.Last year I had a couple of nurse practitioners phone consults, which I had to wait 5 weeks each time for. I know you haven't got the pain/rawness I had. Most of the things mentioned on here,are a big no no,Dove isn't soap...it's a cleansing bar. Auqeous cream isn't recommended anymore. I had to change to plain white cotton pants (difficult to find 100% pure cotton) I was on HRT from 42, and developed a weird smell, I would go round sniffing, realised with horror,it was me, but underarm. "Live" yogurt only contain a tiny amount of pro biotics, which are pretty much useless with the gut acid.20 years ago,it was recommended you insert a tampon dipped in natural yoghurt to stop thrush.

I have used this Lacacyd Femmina
for years and prevents thrush as I used to get it lots before I started using it.

https://www.boots.com/lactacyd-femina-daily-wash-200ml-10115778?cm_mmc=bmm-buk-google-ppc--PLAs_HeroCompare---_-PMax:+UK_Smart_Shopping_Healthcare_Other&gbraid=0AAAAADrIajVWMaIg-ix01uHBpbSS6exPx&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIvc6Yu9DVgQMVyoxQBh1JzAG6EAQYASABEgK13fD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I use Lactaycid Fem

https://www.boots.com/lactacyd-femina-daily-wash-200ml-10115778?cm_mmc=bmm-buk-google-ppc--PLAs_HeroCompare---_-PMax:+UK_Smart_Shopping_Healthcare_Other&gbraid=0AAAAADrIajVWMaIg-ix01uHBpbSS6exPx&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIvc6Yu9DVgQMVyoxQBh1JzAG6EAQYASABEgK13fD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

The smell is probably down to HRT which is not natural. I (44) cannot take HRT after my hysterectomy so started taking supplements. Black cohosh is magnificent. Magnesium, vitamin D, E and Primrose oil. No menopausal symptoms since except occasional hot flush.

I can't imagine that washing with only water is going to eliminate smells from the area, especially if you are sweaty. I understand your caution around soap, though if your skin is not generally sensitive you may actually find it's OK for you. But what about aqueous/sorbolene cream to at least? Cream helps pick up the oils on your skin so they (and the smells they are holding onto) can be rinsed away.

Have you been swabbed to make sure it is thrush? If an odour is your only symptom then I would want to be sure it is actually a yeast infection. Regardless, not sure a body wash recommendation would help as the yeast generally thrives inside the vagina and you would not be washing in there anyway.