My girlfriend's average trip to the bathroom takes her far, far away. When the cap comes off the shower foam the scents mix in with the steam and she will set adrift - to one frangipani-filled weekend in the Maldives.

Some evenings, however, after she has shed day-long meetings and day--old clothes behind her, she finds herself diving into the shower and shooting straight to Tokyo. Specifically, when she is standing in the old Fish Market at closing time... and the smell of sushi rises to the nose and mind.

Granted, her malodorous rendezvous in the bathroom with platters of fruits takes place about two or three days a month - at long and regular enough intervals for her not to seize up in fear. But they still leave behind giant question marks the size of panty liners - with wings.

Is there something inherently wrong with her? If not, how can this funkiness possibly be a normal part of her menstrual cycle? And is there something she can do to take the edge off her scent:

And the most embarrassing question of all: If she couldn't stand herself smelling this much sharper than she look, is there someone on the train suffering the same nasal assaults from her.

She did what any woman would do in her situation: She met her girlfriends over wine and cheese. With the artfully camouflaging the stench of her third degree, she managed to corner every woman into raising her stink with her.

From their suddenly poor elocution. She was certain that she wasn't alone. Everyone had been wondering in silence - whether they suffer not from body odour, but vaginal odour!

The same complaints emerged, mixed in with complications from various infections and pregnancies. To combat smells, try eating yogurt to bring acid levels down.

Fortunately, none of women would ever "sniff another woman- or one another- from a distance. Up close, however, it's a different picture.

Some men, who have natural visitation rights, have told her that womanly smells are a turn-on.

It was time to consult the men who have seen more than their fair share of close-ups

Q: Does every vagina have a smell, even when the woman is healthy?

The normal healthy vaginal scent is often very subtle, with hints of corn starch, freshly peeled potato or diced water chestnut. Like kissing a clean mouth, it stimulates rather than repels.

Q: Are some women sweet-smelling all the time?

You wish: The smells will change, depending on whether their ovulating or close to their period, depending on their hydration and hygiene state, depending on their food intake, and also depending on whether you've washed up from unprotected sex last night... but you will almost never smell sweet.

The vaginal walls are continually producing secretions necessary to provide lubrication, to cleanse the vagina, and to maintain the acidity needed to prevent infection. So it's normal for the amount of discharge and scent to change throughout a woman's menstrual cycle. It can become stronger and milder at times.

Q: Since women smell changes throughout the month, how do they know when to run to the gynae?

When things get unpleasant, abnormal odours and discharge are probably due to an infection. The most common cause of vaginal odour is bacterial vaginosis, resulting from an overgrowth of organisms normally present in the vagina. The odour, usually described as a "fishy" smell, may be more obvious after sexual intercourse. They could say that in this case, it could smell like a busy fish market. The smell could also be caused by cancer of the cervix or vagina, which attacks their normal architecture and function. They also become more prone to infections.

If women smell urine or faeces, there may he something seriously wrong with them, such as incontinence or a fistula, where faeces leaks into the vagina through an abnormal opening caused during trauma at childbirth.

Q: If women smell fishy on certain days of the month, and it happens every month, with no other symptoms, is that normal?

Fish- is not normal. You may have a chronic infection that comes and goes and only becomes noticeable for a few days each month. Also fishy-type bugs may be passed to their partner, so he may also need to be treated.

As for feeling well, a vaginal malady may not affect the rest of their system, so you should still get them checked. But if this woman has already seen her gynae, and no form of infection is found, then that could be just a scent that's unique to her.

Q: Are there less drastic causes of vaginal odour?

It's probably due to poor hygiene (see story below). Vaginal odour could also be caused by excessive sweating (known as hy-perhidrosis) in the vaginal area because a sweaty environment may allow bacteria to proliferate.

Or they could have "lost" a tampon in their vagina, where it rises to the upper part of the vagina and lodges there. A forgotten tampon can result in a vaginal infection, which can produce an unpleasant odour that's a bit like dried cuttlefish. Changes can also occur because of emotional stress, nutritional status, pregnancy, usage of medications and sexual arousal.

Q: Does a woman smell different on her fertile days?

Ovulation signs and symptoms are often subtle. The most obvious and reliable predictor of ovulation is an increase in cervical mucus, which results in a clear and stretchy discharge that has the appearance of raw egg whites. But no, there's no smell.

Q: Women on oral contraceptives. Could they cause a smell?

The oral contraceptive pill can increase a woman's vaginal discharge but doesn't cause any unpleasant odours. The oral contraceptive pill can increase the risk of yeast infections, though.

Q: Is there anything they can do to smell better?

Of course: They will release the smells of the food that they eat, so watch those mutton chops at midnight. Cigarettes, alcohol and sugar (which can increase yeast infections) should be avoided, as should heavily spiced foods. Notice how sweat smells differently after you've eaten spiced food.

Try and eat as naturally as possible (food free of additives) and make sure to drink lots of water. There are a number of companies that claim to sell food supplements that can change the smell of the vagina but there seems to be little medical evidence that this works.

Eating garlic with its powerful anti-fungal properties may help prevent fungal infections, but the downside is that it will affect the smell down there, too. Eating yogurt that contains active lactobacillus cultures may sometimes help reduce recurrent vaginal yeast infections. There is little medical evidence on this, but if it works then great.

Q: Can fellow passengers in the train or bus tell when women having a bad VO day?

Not when you're having the standard problems. Those usually smell at close range, and only between your gynae and women!

Use this checklist to keep smells at bay.

^ Wash the vulva daily with lots of warm water and a small amount of unscented, gentle soap with mild antibacterial action. You may wash more often as and when you think you smell.

^ Wear underwear and exercise clothes made from materials that "breathe", such as cotton. And change your underwear daily.

^ Wear loose bottoms or a nightgown - or nothing at all - to let the vulva "breathe".

^ Don't douche. It may wash away the normal protective secretions and actually increase the risk of further infections.

^ Avoid vaginal sprays and deodorants.

^ Use only unscented pads and tampons.

^ Remove damp swimwear and sports clothes a soon as possible.

^ Avoid tight-fitting clothes and wearing synthetic materials next to your skin.

^ Wipe from front to back when washing up.

^ Avoid long exposure to hot, sweaty conditions like saunas.