[Ayasil]

Hello~
I'm sorry I'm new here and I never really joined forums so I'm a little lost on how to go about this. I guess I'll just jump into the subject.
I've recently been very concerned about my general health and with this came of course my need to come in contact with my whole body, including this one spot we rarely ever see: the vulva. And to be honest, I am quite lost in how to detect abnormalities there.
Of course, during menstruation, that area smells bloody and fleshy but what worries me is how after my few days of bleeding, I get this fishy, repulsive smell. It takes a week or two for it to leave and return to the mild smell that I consider "normal" but I can't help thinking that this "fishy" period is not right. During that time, my vaginal area seems dry and looks.. red-ish? All in all, it doesn't seem fresh and I feel bad about it.
I suspect it might be because during my period, I tend to switch from toilet paper to the bidet? Do any of you think the douching might be affecting the vaginal flora or something? I really don't know much about this subject and I don't have a doctor to talk to about this and I'm uncomfortable talking about it to any of the female members of my family, since they themselves aren't exactly very sex+
In case it wasn't clear, I'm looking for the cause of this smelly period and how to stop it
In case it might be helpful info, I eat healthy, I am not sexually active, have never had any STDs/STIs and use pads during menstruation.
I hope someone can help me xD and I hope this wasn't tmi..

Thank you in advance <3

[Bladyn'smommy16]

You mention something about douching.. NEVER DOUCHE.. You will mess up your vagina's PH balance. And can cause infection. Vaginas are self cleaning. There is no need to douche and it will harm you more than help you!!!

[Ayasil]

Is the effect of just water really that bad? I don't use any type of scent products or anything else on my vulva and none of the water actually enters my system (at least I don't purposely try to make it enter my system) It's just a mildly strong jet of water around that area.
Also, about this.. I feel like I can't help it? I tend to menstruate quite a bit so I feel the need to wash all that blood off..? This cycle I tried to make sure the water pressure wasn't too harsh on my vaginal area but the fishy period still came about. Is any type of water pressure directed towards the vulva that bad?

[Bladyn'smommy16]

Any kind of douche is bad.. Your vagina has good bacteria the same kind you find in yogurt. If you wash it away it causes infections and dryness. Even yeast infections.. So I advise you to stop putting water up there.

[Kiwicherry]

When my period is over, my vagina also smells different from usually, stronger and somehow not that healthy... You know what I mean? Plus, it is dry and sometimes itchy. I think that is because the pads withdraw not only the blood but also the natural moisture of the vulva. But in my case these uncomfortable feelings and also the smell turn back to normal after two or three days. Maybe your skin down there is just very, very sensitive and reacts that strong on your pads... Maybe you could try other ones...
And it is okay to wash the outer area around your vulva, but there is no need to let water come inside because vulva and vagina are self-cleaning.
Well, I just wanted to let you know that you're not the only one with this problems, maybe it helps a little bit.

[Ayasil]

When my period is over, my vagina also smells different from usually, stronger and somehow not that healthy... You know what I mean? Plus, it is dry and sometimes itchy. I think that is because the pads withdraw not only the blood but also the natural moisture of the vulva. But in my case these uncomfortable feelings and also the smell turn back to normal after two or three days. Maybe your skin down there is just very, very sensitive and reacts that strong on your pads... Maybe you could try other ones...
And it is okay to wash the outer area around your vulva, but there is no need to let water come inside because vulva and vagina are self-cleaning.
Well, I just wanted to let you know that you're not the only one with this problems, maybe it helps a little bit.

Yes thanks a lot, it really does help to know I'm not alone xD
I also thought the pads might be doing that. I never try to get water inside the vagina which is why I was skeptical that just jets of water on the outer parts of the vulva would be the cause of what seems like bacterial imbalance but I'll cut that out and wash the outer area more gently from now on (yay, more sensitive skin tissues to pay extra attention to for me!). It might be both pads and harsh washing that causes the dryness and "unhealthy smell". Who knows~
I guess I'll try other period products as well and hope things go better during my next cycle.

Thanks again

[CHANDLERS WISH]

health care professionals state that douching is dangerous, as it interferes with both the vagina's normal self-cleaning and with the natural bacterial culture of the vagina, and it might spread or introduce infections.

Wikepedia .........quote.



What you have described does sound like BV.. Bacteria Vagnosis.

There are quite a few threads on this in our Forum, if you would like to read up.

Remember guys " offer opinions" please when replying to our members.

CW