Thread: menstrual

when i get my period i know that every one can smell it. it smells very bad.can someone help me.i don't like to go to work because of it.i lost alot of jobs

Your vagina shouldn't smell bad, period or not as long as you are clean and healthy your vagina should smell like a vagina and not have a bad scent to it.

A lot of women feel they smell bad, particularly during menstruation, because this is how society teaches women. Advertisements for unnecessary 'feminine washes' or scented tampons for example imply a woman's vagina smells bad, and that these harmful products are necessary, when actually they can make things far worse. So be sure this is not just in your imagination, a lot of people worry about smell because they can smell themselves, but others cannot smell them and in fact they are perfectly healthy in the way in which they smell.

Normally a bad smell is due to an infection, bacterial vaginosis is a very common infection that produces a musky or fish-like smell, this is caused when the 'bad' bacteria take over from the 'good' bacteria, and often this can be a result of an imbalance in vaginal pH. Menstruation can bring about bacterial infections such as bacterial vaginosis because your menstrual blood is a different pH to your normal vaginal environment, so if your bacterial balance is already tottering on the edge menstruation can bring about infections.

Anything that can affect vaginal pH can cause infections, this is true of things such as soaps or feminine wipes or deodorants, as your vagina is self-cleaning all you should ever need to do in order to stay clean is use plain water and wipe your labia (lips) free from any dirt or dead ski cells. Your vagina tends to be very good at keeping things in balance on its own, flushing out excess bacteria or dirt out thanks to your vaginal discharge.

If it is specific to your period it is also important you look at your menstrual options, tampons are very well known to cause infections because they prevent normal vaginal cleaning [as mentioned above] and give bacteria the perfect place to multiply, risks are particularly significant with commercial tampons like Playtex or Tampax because they contain chemicals that can effect vaginal pH so in turn vaginal flora that can lead to infections ? truer still for scented tampons.

Commercial pads like Kotex or Always can also have negative effects as these too contain chemicals that are used purely to make them whiter, as with chemicals used in commercial tampons, and like with commercial tampons those chemicals can throw off vaginal pH. Commercial pads are also made from synthetic materials and plastics that keep air from getting to your vulva [external part of your genitals] making it hot and moist where bacteria and yeast can multiply.

You might want to look at safer and more hygienic options, if you prefer internal options then menstrual cups are very safe, as well as being sterile and with benefits of being environmentally friendly, and convenient. If you prefer staying with tampons then try slightly safer options such as sponge tampons or organic tampons as these are made from natural materials and do not contain chemicals, the same stands for organic or cloth pads, as these too are natural materials without chemical treatment.

I would strongly suggest going to your doctor or a gynaecologist, they can then test for infections and treat you accordingly ? normally bacterial vaginosis is treat with antibiotics, but you may want to ask about other options as antibiotics aren't much fun to be on and you need to take them on time for a week. Bacterial vaginosis is not sexually transmitted, however it is best to avoid sex as it can be a little irritating, semen can also be an issue for a lot of women who suffer from bacterial infections. It is a very common infection a lot of women get, largely it is associated with use of soaps, sprays, tampons and other factors that can effect vaginal pH, however sometimes it can happen for no apparent reason ? no shame in it. Bacterial infections can be an issue in that it is not just about treating the infection but also making sure it does not reoccur and trying to establish normal bacterial balance, if this is something you get often you may want to mention this to your doctor to see if they have any suggestions on maintaining normal balance of vaginal flora.