TMI question: vaginal odor

[Anonymous]

I shower daily or almost daily. But I always seem to have a faint aroma down there that I can detect while I’m sitting in my office working or if I bend over to pick something up. How does this happen? What can I do? I am grossed out by myself and I’m not sure what would be the best method although I know douching is no longer recommended. I am 40.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I shower daily or almost daily. But I always seem to have a faint aroma down there that I can detect while I’m sitting in my office working or if I bend over to pick something up. How does this happen? What can I do? I am grossed out by myself and I’m not sure what would be the best method although I know douching is no longer recommended. I am 40.

Have you had a GYN check-up lately? If not, now is a good time. Could be a bacterial infection. Keep in mind, some people have stronger BO than others. Could be simply that.

[Anonymous]

I would check for bacterial vaginitis. I think a “scent” is natural but I don’t know that you should be smelling it through your clothing. Or are you working at home, in your underwear?

[Anonymous]

This happened to me, it was BV. An rx cleared it up.

[Anonymous]

I notice I have an odor towards the end of my cycle. I put in a pantyliner and change pantyliners during the day.

[Anonymous]

I had this issue previously too, OP. I bought a PH balancing shower gel for down there to get the issue under control and at the same time, I stopped using any shower gels with fragrance (like bath and body works shower gel, which I would use as a final freshening step). I think the shower gel had the opposite effect and threw my Ph balance off, creating an odor. It cleared up in a couple of weeks. I still use the bath and body works in the shower, but I DO NOT put it "down there", ever. This has cleared up my issue. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Do you notice the smell when you don’t have clothes on? Depending on what you’re wearing (the types of fibers) they may not getting fully clean in the wash.

[Anonymous]

Avoid wearing leggings and synthetics. Could try an OTC treatment for yeast (maybe? I don’t recall whether it’s BV or yeast that causes odor).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Avoid wearing leggings and synthetics. Could try an OTC treatment for yeast (maybe? I don’t recall whether it’s BV or yeast that causes odor).

It’s BV and that one needs an rx.

[Anonymous]

I tend to be lots of vaginal lubrication naturally, so I have a stronger smell. In modern terms, my WAP, comes with downsides. I just use pantyliners.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I tend to be lots of vaginal lubrication naturally, so I have a stronger smell. In modern terms, my WAP, comes with downsides. I just use pantyliners.

OP.. hello? How are you doing?

[Anonymous]

I had something like this happen a few years back when I had a persistent yet mild yeast infection. I had self treated with the 3 day Monistat which got rid of most of the symptoms, but I still had quite a bit of discharge with a strong smell (not a really bad smell but definitely strong). Didn’t realize what was happening until I went to my gyno for my regular checkup after about a month and she said I had a yeast infection, prescribed Diflucan, and that took care of the problem immediately.

[Anonymous]

Are you wearing cotton underwear and drying the area well before you put them on? Also consider diet. But yeah, as otters have said, it’s BV.

[Anonymous]

Is it a new smell? If not, it’s probably normal.

[Anonymous]

I read a tip on here to put a swipe of coconut oil on after the shower and it really works for me.