Having an embarrassing issue relating to my smell

[fanjoconcerns]

Hello. I'm currently experiencing an ongoing issue relating to the smell of my vagina. I started noticing it a few months ago and it seems to be getting worse. I initially thought it might be BV (bacterial vaginosis) but now I am not sure. It's not an STI as I'm not sexually active and haven't had sex for over a year. I wouldn't want to have sex while the smell is present anyway. The smell is pungent and very prominent. As soon as I do anything that involves getting undressed, it hits me right away. The smell comes back quite quickly after I shower or have a bath. I'm also having to change my knickers at least twice a day. There are no other symptoms other than the unpleasant smell. No discharge, pain, discomfort or anything else.

Nothing has changed regarding my diet or medications I take, and I don't use any specific cleaning products (femfresh etc) on my vulval area other than plain water. I have always been told you aren't supposed to use them. So far I have tried the canesten gel which is supposed to treat BV, but it hasn't worked for me which is why I am not sure that it is BV. Is there anything else I should try or does it generally require a GP appointment to fix if it is indeed BV? With my GP you have to tell the reception staff what your issue is when you call them, and I'm not looking forward to saying what it is on the phone.

I know ,I'd be humming 🤢

You don't need soap. You can wash with just water. Aqueous cream can also be used as a soap substitute

Sorry I disagree with this. Water is not adequate to wash an area that you pee from, have periods, discharge or indeed has folds! I use Sanex. Never had an issue ever. Clearly you don't wash inside your vagina but your vulva needs more than plain water! I can guarantee that is what the issue is.

It's revolting. How on Earth can you think that water is adequate for an area that is a breeding ground for bacteria? Weird.

Exactly!

Aqueous cream is a suitable soap alternative, a pp was right.

It is what is used by people who can't use soap for allergy or other medical reasons and is often recommended by those who work in gynaecology.

It is an effective, gentle cleansing agent and can be bought cheaply from pharmacies.

There are some crazy answers on this thread. You need to go to a doctor and have it treated, whatever it is. You certainly don't need to shave and you should absolutely not start washing the vulva with soap unless you want to add an itchy yeast infection to your problems.

You may have left a tampon in there. It will smell as it slowly makes its way down.

Do you have an IUD such as Mirena? Its hormones change your smell.

Just like inside the nose and the mouth, then.

These are all mucous membranes that depend on a healthy flora of good bacteria to keep the bad ones and yeast in check. You don't want to wash them with soap and wipe out that good bacteria.

If it makes you feel better, use one of the specifically formulated "gentle feminine products" made to use in the genital area but never regular soap.

I would really consider whether you have a tampon stuck up there. I did once and I could swear that I took it out, but obviously I hadn't. It was lodged right at the top of my vagina and didn't naturally work its way down.

@CoteDAzur the inside if your nose and mouth is nowhere near the same as your vulva. it's ike your vagina !

It does sound like it’s probably BV. I think that usually needs ABs to treat.

Like PPs, I use soap to wash the external parts but obviously not the vagina itself.

Totally disagree with PP that you need to remove hair. I don’t remove any hair in that area and have no problems with smells because I keep the area clean and do not have an infection. Removing pubic hair causes huge problems for me with ingrowing hairs, itching and soreness. No way I’m doing that either for aesthetic reasons or for some misguided belief that it’s somehow cleaner.

@CoteDAzur No! Your vulva is not like the inside of your vagina which of course you shouldn't wash. It does that job itself. Wearing knickers, jeans, trousers, tights or whatever all day, pubic hair, natural secretions, folds of skin. You need to wash properly. Water is just not going to do the job. I've gone into toilets after women who absolutely stink to high heaven. That's not normal. You wouldn't wash your hair with water and expect it to smell clean and fresh. I've used unscented soap on my vulva for as long as I can remember. I'm 54. I've never had an infection. Also, do people just use water after sex? Surely not 🤢

Sexual Health Nurse here.

It's absolutely OK to just wash your labia and vulva with just water - infact we recommend it.

You do not need to shave your hair at all. Please don't start using anything like soap, shower gel or femfresh/vagisil unless you really want to ramp up any BV or add thrush to the mix. As well as giving you itchy, sensitive skin.

Just water, or an aqueous cream is perfectly fine. Plain white cotton undies, avoid lycra, don't use fragranced or chemical panty liners or sanitary towels/tampons.

I often have women who come with discharge and this is the guidance we all give. Majority of the time any smell isn't noticible to anyone but the individual, who can become overly sensitive and aware of it. Checking whether it is or isn't BV or thrush is where to start. And I would also rule out an STI (many don't give symptoms initially). Metronidazole is a temporary fix for BV as it strips away all vaginal flora (discharge disappears), then it comes back just the same if not worse. When I prescribe it for BV I always advise to follow the advice I gave above to settle it longer term. I always find lactic acid gels are better long term.

As a PP said, make sure all Cx smears are up to date. I would go to a Sexual Health Clinic to check. You need to know whether it is or isn't BV/thrush or something else.

But please don't start washing your labia with shower gel or soap!!!

I use soap on the outer labia but not the inner (basically the, erm, hairy bits get the soap!) is that ok @MrsFinkelstein? I exercise a lot so get sweaty there.

"sexual health nurse"
do you advise people to just rinse their hands with water too after using the loo or getting any pee/poo/blood/discharge/sweat on them? ridiculous and totally incorrect.

You are clearly not a sexual health nurse, or you’re not a good one. As you are posting nonsense. The guidance has never been we should not wash our genitalia, it is not wash our vaginas. The bit inside. The outside, clearly needs to be washed with soap and water, we sweat, we pee, we poo. Not washing with soap and water would have you stinking.

op, give yourself a good wash with soap and water. If the smell persists see a doctor.

but be very clear where you think the smell is from, you say your vagina, which means it’s coming from inside you, the outside area, the vulva is fine? If you actually mean it’s coming from your vulva, then give yourself a proper wash and see where you are after that

This is like the smelly bum crack thread recently where it turns out it was smelly because she hadn't washed it with soap! The vulva definitely should be washed with soap. I think a lot of people are getting confused with vulva and vagina.

https://www.devonsexualhealth.nhs.uk/your-sexual-health/genital-hygiene-our-tips/

Well this says pretty much what MrsFinkelstein said so clearly that is what the NHS say.

I recently had BV and was treated with a week of Metronizadole. I was diagnosed over the phone with a GP who prescribed the antiobiotics but also left a swab at reception for me to do in the toilets there and the results came back quickly that it was BV. My symptoms were a fishy smell after sex, a watery discharge and an unpleasant bleachy/strong smelling discharge.

Washing hands after toileting is required because you will likely be handling food/eating etc after wiping faecal matter and its to reduce transmission of infectious diseases.

I use simple soap, or unscented femfresh its the right PH for that area. Cant use normal soap it makes me itch

Charming. I'll tell my degree, specialist diploma & Prescribing qualification that.

I'm following local & national policies. Here are screenshot, but I'm happy to link to the actual guidelines if you prefer.

I can also link to more national guidelines if you like: I've just used BASHH & WoSSHMCN which are viewed as gold standard.

Only the outside area i wouldnt feel clean with just water

Then if you don’t wash, and you sweat you’re going to stink. No way round it. Utterly honk.

Just to say regarding stds just because you haven't been sexually active for a year doesn't mean you haven't got one. The more likely thing is thrush get yourself to the drs there's nothing to be embarrassed about and you will actually feel much better getting it sorted out

I’d say definitely go to gp, I had this and was so embarrassed but when it was sorted it was such a relief and a release! I use femfresh wash, it doesn’t irritate down there and afterwards I feel well fresh really! Don’t be embarrassed at all and good luck x