Thread: Bad Odor...

Tell us your diet, how old you are, and what the doctors have told you about it (if you don't mind).

I'd also want to know if you douche, and how often; how many times you change undies a day, etc...before I could really suggest anything.

My diet is not the healthiest...I'm a college student and often only have access to processed, fried foods, so I know that could be a contributing factor, but I still feel like I have an extreme case. Also, I'm 20 years old and the doctors have tested me and when they've found infections they have given me antibiotics, which make the itching and discharge go away, but the odor remains. As I said before, the smell is always really bad after I use the bathroom...but I wipe myself well so I don't understand that. I rarely douche...not even once a month, and it doesn't help even when I do. I change my underwear once a day, at night time after I shower.

Aside from the strong odor, do you suffer from itchiness or irritation like swelling or redness of the labia, and/or unusual vaginal discharge? Is the smell "fishy"? As I understand, vaginal odor could be caused by various things. To wit, poor hygiene, yeast infection, bacterial vaginosis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Douching and use of perfumes/vaginal spray or even the commercial vaginal wash could kill off the "good bacteria", hence causing an overgrowth of the "bad" bacteria, which leads to BV. It may also result from recto-vaginal fistula — an abnormal opening between the rectum and vagina, which allows feces to leak into the vagina.

I'm not sure what your case is in particular, but I'd advise you to see your doctor again and be checked, or better yet, go to another doc. In the meantime, stop using scented soap, commercial vaginal wash or body washes and instead use a plain, mild, unscented, hypo-allergenic soap. Gently soap the surrounding area only and use warm water. DO NOT soap your vagina directly - just use warm water. Wash from your vagina down to your rectum not the other way around.

Avoid douching as it sets off the balance of good and bad bacteria in the vagina. Remove tampons or change sanitary pads even before they are totally soaked. (I change my napkin at least 3x/day during my period, and I don't use panty-liners if I don't have any faint drops from my period). Using tampons makes you more susceptible to vaginal irritation and odor.

Improve your diet. Eat organic food - fruit and veggies. Likewise, include yogurt in your diet, as it replenishes healthy bacteria in the gut, as well as the vaginal area.

Try to also change your undies at least 3x or 2x/day. Bring some in school and if possible, wash yourself when you do change. I'm just telling you what I do. Maybe I'm anal, but so far, hubby says I don't have a strong odor at all. I also developed an allergic reaction to toilet paper sometime in the past, so what I did was wash with soap and water every after I pee (I bring a bottled water with me in the RR when I'm at work), and use a small wash cloth to wipe me dry.

I hope you get your issue sorted soon.

One more thing, you said you've been give antibiotics before - that could be a reason for the odor - the natural flora was altered. Have yourself checked for possible yeast infection.

Also, wear clean COTTON panties, cotton absorbs moisture better than other materials.