Foul odor?? Need help from a gynecologist please....?

Question

So Ive recently have been to the gynecologist and had my annual exam including a pap smear, HIV test and screening for STD's and everything is in order and well. However, for the past year and a half or so, usually before I get my period (about 1 week or 2 before), my discharge changes and carries a really STRONG fould odor. It smells like something very spoiled and rotten...ugh its soooo bad! So stong that I worry that the smell can be sensed by others around me, and can be smelled through my clothes. My gynecologist at first said that it might be a change in hormones, and then she said that it might be my birth control method. So I stopped birth control, got back on, and nothing. It still hasnt gone away and is obviously not an STD or STI of any kind. Can someone please help me with this? I dont wear clothing that is too tight, I wear only cotton undergarments and use a sensitive feminine wash. I dont know what to do. It is very uncomfortable and very unpleasant.

Answer 1

If you need help from a gynaecologist then I would suggest going to another gynaecologist to get a second opinion.

Hormonal changes will result in change in discharge throughout your menstrual cycle, as well as cervical mucus and menstrual flow of course, but nothing that should smell bad, has anyone else actually smelt you? An odd question however a lot of women are overly concerned about the natural smell of their vaginas and so think they smell worse than they actually are.

A bad smell is normally the result of a bacterial infection, it may be that you have a slight imbalance in your normal vaginal pH or bacterial levels and your cervical mucus during ovulation or some outside factor may be throwing that further out of balance, thus causing a bacterial infection. In which case you need to get the balance back, which can be difficult but is possible, generally using common home treatments for bacterial vaginosis should help do the trick – I'd particularly recommend plain pro-biotic yogurt both inserted into the vagina during this time, left in overnight and washed out in the morning, and I would recommend eating pro-biotic yogurt as well as help you from the inside out, this should help your natural balance.

There are factors to consider as well as not wearing tight or synthetic clothing; your sexual partner as some women can have bad reactions to certain partners semen, your menstrual options as tampons or commercial pads can cause infections options such as menstrual cups or cloth pads are healthier, washing powders on your clothing could be too harsh for your body or you could have a specific sensitivity to a certain chemical, keeping clean and drying yourself well, good diet, etc.

I would also say if you are using hormonal birth control then that could be a contributing factor, just coming off for a few months will not get rid of the problem if this is what is contributing to the smell because if your problem is hormonal it takes a long time for your body to get back to normal after hormonal suppression through hormonal birth control. Whether you are on hormonal birth control or not you may still want to stabilise your hormones by using evening primrose oil or black cohosh capsules taken daily, these can be gotten from any health store, most pharmacies/chemists or even from your local supermarket. I personally would say hormonal changes are going to be the cause of the problem so first step would be to come off hormonal birth control and see about regulating your menstrual cycles again, if that fails then your gynaecologist should be able to investigate further.

STOP USING FEMININE WASHES!

Feminine washes would make the problem far worse, your vagina is self-cleaning and as such as it needs you to do to keep it clean is shower regularly and wash with plain water, using your hands to clean areas where dirt and bacteria could collect within the inner labia of your vulva. Feminine washes, just like soap, contain chemicals that not only can be harmful to your health but that will also affect the vaginal pH that in turn would cause infections. The washes are marketed to play on women's insecurities about their normal vaginal smells and are completely unnecessary and in fact detrimental to vaginal health, being more likely to cause bad smells then prevent them.

Answer 2

You may have a bacterial infection. Are you using pads? I'd stop using them because they will hold moisture against you. What type of panties are you wearing? I would try 100% cotton to absorb moisture.

Also, I had a friend who wore pantyhose every day to work, and she experienced that problem. She switched to knee highs and the odor stopped.

Answer 3

is it possible that it is something you eat. Usually the heaviest discharge is when your ovulating (1 or 2 weeks before the start of your period) and that is why you only notice the smell then. This is gross but, when men eat a lot of Cinnamon they can change the taste of their semen. Maybe something similar is happening to you. do you eat a lot of garlic or strong spices. try having a really bland diet and see if it helps, couldn't hurt

Answer 4

you definatlely have a vaginal infection, see you doctor and get a medication for it, or you can go to ther drug store and pick up a 7 day treatment ( it work better) make sure the box reads "cures most vaginal infection" if that dosen't work you may have a more serious problem and you will have to go to ther gynecologist.

Answer 5

If i were you i would go to another dr. b/c there must be something wrong going on????????? You should not have a foul odor if you are ok????????????? GOOD LUCK