Fact: Some stomach smells are good. Despite the marketing to the contrary, there is probably nothing wrong with genital odor. It’s perfectly normal and normal to have some kind of genital odor. And no, this fragrance is unlikely to be a field of wildflowers. It’s a pussy, not a perfume meter.
You must smell nice. But if you notice a persistent change in genital odor, it’s best to talk to your doctor. Here are some things that can cause vaginal discharge from its natural odor.
What do genitals smell like?
Vaginal odor is the smell of your genitals, especially your secretions. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), some level of vaginal odor is considered normal. But if the odor is strong and noticeable, you may have another infection or problem, says ACOG.
How and why does genital odor appear?
There are several things that can cause genital odor:
- I accidentally left a tampon.
It happens — and maybe more often than you think, Lauren Streicher, MD, associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, tells SELF. Some people may only insert a tampon when their period is near and they forget it and don’t remember how to put it on before putting on a new one, or they forget and start having sex with it. He says it’s displaced to the side behind the cervix. “Every gynecologist has met a woman who has perfume, realizes it’s a forgotten tampon and goes crazy,” she says. - You have a bacterial infection.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), bacterial vaginosis (also known as B.V.) is the most common vaginal infection in people between the ages of 15 and 44 and occurs when there are high levels of bacteria in the vagina. Regulates vaginal pH.
Experts don’t know what causes B.V. Or how other people get it, but you know it usually happens with vaginal and sexual partners. Shower users are at higher risk of B.V. The odor is actually caused by vaginal pH changes when the balance of good and bad bacteria is disturbed, says Jessica Sheppard, MD, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology and director of non-invasive gynecology at the University of Illinois College. Medicine in Chicago, according to SELF. Fortunately, B.V. About antibiotics says Dr. Streicher.
- I ate something terrible.
You may have heard that eating pineapple or citrus can make your smell sweeter, and that fried foods can aggravate your stomach. “I hear it all the time, but it’s all anecdotes,” says Dr. Streicher. “So there’s no scientific evidence for that, but scientists certainly believe it’s happened before.”
If you find that your sense of smell is damaged and you know you’ve just eaten a lot of spicy food (e.g. if you’re unsure if the change in smell is related to the food or something else, see your doctor to investigate.
- You just had sex without a condom.
You may notice that things look a little different after sex, and that’s understandable. Your water mixes with other people’s water and possibly sweat. In addition, sperm have a high pH, the doctor said. Streicher and stinks. The odor usually goes away on its own within a day or after bathing, but if it persists, see your doctor. - You have your period.
You may have noticed that your vagina has a strong odor when bleeding, and that’s normal, says the doctor. Shepherd. Blood has a high pH, which can cause some damage to the vaginal flora during menstruation. It’s usually not a big change in the smell and goes away when your period ends, she said. - You have a yeast problem.
You may associate yeast infections with other secretions, but they may also produce a different odor. Dr. Streicher says over-the-counter yeast infection medications should help clear up the infection and the odor, but if you’ve tried it once and it doesn’t work, see your doctor. - You have trichomoniasis.
A smelly butt can be a sign of infection, says Alyssa Dweck, MD, a gynecologist in Westchester, New York, and assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Mount Sinai College.
According to the Mayo Clinic, trichomoniasis is caused by a small parasite that is passed between people during sex, and is very common. In addition to foul-smelling vaginal discharge, it can cause penile itching and painful urination, although most people have no symptoms.
- You have another STD.
Gonorrhea and chlamydia can also cause foul-smelling discharge, Dr. As with shingles and trichomoniasis, you may not experience any symptoms. If you experience a strange discharge or pain during sex or urination, see your doctor to rule out an STD. - You have pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
PID occurs when sexually transmitted bacteria—perhaps from untreated chlamydia or gonorrhea infections—move from the vagina to the uterus, ovaries, or fallopian tubes, according to the Mayo Clinic.
In addition to heavy, smelly discharge, you may experience lower abdominal and pelvic pain, bleeding during or after sex, fever, cough and painful urination, according to the Mayo Clinic. Smelly discharge and painful urination or bleeding between periods can be signs of an STD, and prompt treatment of an STD can help prevent PID, so if you’re dealing with these symptoms, see your doctor right away. Do it
- Have you exercised recently?
Dr. Doak’s harsh mouthwashes designed to trap and remove sweat can sometimes leave you smelling musky. And remember: you don’t need anything crazy to clean your penis—plain water or mild soap will do the trick. - You are wearing the wrong underwear.
The type of pants you choose is important. Some ingredients get stuck in heat and humidity, affecting the overall balance of good bacteria—and yes, your genital odor. The classic advice when buying underwear is to use cotton, but there is no scientific evidence that synthetic materials (such as polyester or silk) are harmful to you.