Vaginal Odor: How To Smell Good Down There
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This is a topic most women will Google at least once in their lives. And thank God for Google, as this isn’t something most of us would want to ask our mothers, sisters or friends.
Amazing how shy we get about this kind of thing. Especally when you consider all of the crazy things women will openly discuss with other women!
Now, before I continue – this article is being written for anyone looking to smell lovely “down there”. It’s not just for women who’ve had complaints, or think they smell badly. These are little facts and tips that benefit anyone with a vagina. If you have any extra tips you'd iike to add in the comments section, feel free to do so!
First, let's cover the possible culprits that lead to bad smells.
Poor Hygiene: Pretty obvious, so I won’t get into this one other than to say you should be washing this area daily. If not, that’s probably the source of your funk.
Bacterial Vaginosis: This is a bacterial infection that causes a distinct “fishy” smell. It’s pungent and nasty. It’s caused by an overgrowth of natural bacteria – you don’t have to be trampy and sleeping around to get it. It will not go away on it’s on, and you can’t treat it with something like Monistat, cos it’s a bacteria (and Monistat is an anti-fungal). So don’t self-treat if you think you have this, go to the doctor and get a prescription for what you need.
- Yeast Infections: Most of these don’t smell, so I’m not even going to address it. I’m just mentioning it because so many men think they have a clue about a woman’s body, and are keen to diagnose. So I’m just saying – No, nuh-uh, highly unlikely. Next.
Get rid of Vaginal odor!
STD’s: These certainly can smell – but most STD’s don’t present symptoms in women. So it’s unlikely this is the source. That said – if the problem persists, or if you know you’ve been exposed, you should still be tested.
Now let’s talk about the more common causes of vaginal odor:
Funky Urine: The urethra is located on prime real estate, y’all. If your urine is funky, odds are the scent will linger. And that can easily be misconstrued as vaginal odor. Which means you need to figure out what’s making your urine rank. Coffee, tea, asparagus, beets, curry – anything pungent or otherwise strong smelling. What goes in, must come out.
Sweat: If you think you don’t sweat in this area, think again. If you want to prevent odor from building up, carry some baby wipes in your purse and use them a few times a day. Also, there is often a significant decrease in this scent when a woman is clean shaven around the labia. Hair does hold scent – spend 20 minutes in a smoke-filled bar and you’ll see what I mean. Your hair will hold the scent until you wash it again.
Books On Vaginal Health
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The V Zone: A Woman's Guide to Intimate Health Care
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The V Book: A Doctor's Guide to Complete Vulvovaginal Health
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Vaginas: An Owner's Manual
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Tips for getting rid of the funk:
Baby Wipes: A girl's best friend! Carry a trial pack in your bag, and keep a pack in your bathroom. Use them instead of toilet paper and you'll be glad you did!
Cranberry juice: Cranberry juice naturally counters bacteria in the urinary tract system. If you have funky urine, this will help. Drink a glass every day and see if you notice any improvement.
Shave: As I mentioned above.
Pineapple Juice: I’ve heard it claimed, but personally doubt it – I drink quite a lot of pineapple juice and haven’t noticed its significance. Then again, I’ve been drinking 12 or 15 glasses a week for the last 5 years, so maybe the changes happened so long ago I don’t recall.
Baby Oil: Note: Don’t use this internally! But you can always use some of this externally if you don’t mind the greasy feeling. You could try cream as well, but, again, not internally.
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Comments
Thanks, Barry! :)
And it seems deodorants stop working after a few months, so it's good to switch brands every now and then. Non-scented laudry detergent helps as well.
Isabella, I just started on HubPages and this was the first topic that made me want to comment. The thought of a foul vaginal odor makes me want to become a virgin again.
Patty - Yeah, I didn't mention those cos they do more harm than good most of the time. Hadn't heard the non-scented laundry detergent one - can you tell us how that works?
Double R - Sorry! It's not really about bad smelling odor, its just about making things smell good, as opposed to "normal".
This is tricky territory that was handled tactfully and informatively. I'm not female, but I still appreciate knowledge, especially about topics I may not feel comfortable asking about in person.
Good tip on the shaving, I think that'd work for me, too.
Beachartist - Thanks! And wow.. that's quite a recipe! Thanks for sharing! :)
FTL - Thank you! I'm glad you liked it. :)
Some men find women who shave a turnoff. Also, I read just today in the newspaper a recommendation that shaving even one's legs be avoided in order to prevent staph infections.
And some women find men who like a lot of hair to be a bit creepy. ;)
Avoiding shaving legs to avoid staph infections is pretty silly, really. Staph is everywhere naturally. Everywhere. Non-immunocompromised persons aren't really susceptible, even to resistant strains.
Keep hygiene.Keep hygiene. Only that you should do. I do.
this is very good information. if u think u have an infection u cant ake plain yogurt coat a tampon and insert it and it will help kill the bad bacteria
That cranberry juice is a good one... I began studying abroad in China the last couple of months, and I realized that I haven't quite been smelling as good. Back home, I used to drink a glass of cranberry and orange juice with lunch and dinner... looks like it did more than just taste delicious :P
Momhence -Yes, I agree! :)
Kris - Thank you!
China - Yes, I think it does wonders, try it again! :)
I have a strong odor,not fishy. I also have a light pink discharge. its been going on for about 1 month....I also feel like my tailbone is broken or bruised. has anyone else suffered from these symptoms before. please help me.....
Christi the symptoms you are describing dont sound like anything Im familiar with, and pink discharge is most probably spotting (blood). If you're experiecing unusal symptoms as youve described and also feel discomfort as youve described, you should see your ObGyn as soon as possible, so they can diagnose and treat whatever is causing those symptoms. Best wishes to you.
Good hub Isabella. Glad someone talked about it. It is always a turn-on a woman or man that smells nicely down there ;-) I do not believe in vaginal deodorants but think that the best strategy is to keep the area clean and ventilated!
Excellent treatment of the subject (thumbs up)
Christi, You should visit your doctor. What you describe can be an ovary problem. An unusual change should be investigated.
Great HUB Isobella. Any way to get people talking about delicate issues is always appreciated.
i know you said cranberry juice will help things stay fresh...what about cranberry pills....i am very prone to bacterial infections if i dont be carefull...i drink cranberry juice but sometimes i get tired of drinking it and ppl have told me to get cranberry pills...will they do the same thing?
i want to make my hair smell fresh and clean.
You're so straight forward it's interesting to read your hubpages Isabella.
Thumbs up* ;)
i think i have a bacterial vaginosis.what can i do to treat it???pls help me.
Very interesting
Your hub is interesting for both sexes.
Pineapple juice is advised to men, too...considering sexual desire...from the opposite side
wow really awesome hub. izy.
I ve heard -but didnt try- " green banana is a real good thing..
try it then inform me :P
Great advice. My girlfriend actually follows several little routines to stay "fresh," so to speak, including: shaving clean and completely bare, which reduces sweat big time; using baby wipes regularly during the day, especially after using the bathroom; and drinking cranberry juice regularly (with or without vodka, but im not sure how that factors into it haha). If good hygiene is observed and obviously there is no infection, I really don't see the need for applying a deodorant. I know for a fact that these measures are enough to keep her smelling and tasting appetizingly fresh. Your boyfriends will love you for it, and you'll surely benefit greatly from that one as well, trust me :). Remember, it's not necesary to kill ALL of the odor. Many women think if they smell at all it is a turnoff or terrible, but remember, we're talking about eliminating excess/abnormal odor here...all women have their own unique natural scent and in many cases this can be a turnon for men while they please you. Enjoy!
Good advice. I'll try some of it. One thing though: I'm very reluctant to shave/wax the hair off completely (although I trim/groom bikini line). I like having the hair down there. Some of us prefer to be a bit natural in that way. I had a boyfriend who didn't really mind, and I suspect most men worth more than 2 seconds of your time won't really mind either. I try to keep that area clean, and I think the most important advice here is what to put, and what not to put in your body. Thanks agin.
ITS A GREAT HUB I LIKE IT
What a surprise..
All the comments were given by only Females.. Males not interested to comment about this Hub?
Good job Isabella! I never thought anyone would write on such a topic here. Hygiene is something everyone should have.I remove the hairs down there once in 15 days and use a perfume on the panties and change undergarments atleast twice a day. I also prefer cotton panties to nylon and wash the area throughly after passing urine.
Haha:D Love ur blog!
Bought new Cosmo mag and it claimed that vagina can smell and taste sweet like honey, pungent like vinegar, or earthy or musky like a mushroom! Anyway, we joke around at the bar where I work that if my co-worker keeps on drinking pineapple juice long enough (I said for 3 months;) I will mess around with him (LOL note its a joke) and now I was looking for something that claims to make my downunder smell sweeter - so be it cranberry juice! How convenient at work!
There is some girl I go to school with who seriously needs to read this blog. That girl smells like fish!
Who knew shaving and cranberry juice will do the trick! I believe I ought to do that now.
Another good one! My grandma always taught me to keep myself smelling nice down there. She used to crack me up with her stories about young girls that smelled like "fish" back when she was in school. I have to say, the best thing I've found out there are those feminine sprays by Eve. They smell great and are nice and subtle! Cranberry juice definitely works wonders.
drinking kefir(best mixed with young coconut water) and taking probiotics is amazing for the vagina inside and out. Not wearing underwear is really great too, for keeping a good air flow (not sweating) REALLY helps. My obgyn has agreed with me on this by the way. Keeping it trapped up in panty hose and undies for hours makes it build up an odor. Gotta let that girl get some air. I dont recommend anykind of spray unless its natural essential oils.
I work with a naturopath and a excellent solution to help fend off the yeast that causes odor is adding acidophillus or bifidophillus to your daily routine.
Very very nice hud Isabella! I was trying to find a solution for strong odors for a friend of mine and I ran across your hub! Work of art!
I've heard the cranberry juice one too but i can't seem to find a cranberry juice that doesn't have more sugar in it than actual cranberry juice! Doesn't too much sugar in the diet create the smelly odor down there also? Because apparently the more sugar you intake, the more your vagina tries to counter-act with that by producing the pungent smell.
Thank you sooooooooooooooooo much. I started to smell down there and I was getting REALLY freaked out. I didn't want to tell my mom cuz I'm super shy about things that have to do with developing and stuff. This really helped me. I'm only 13 and I didn't know this is some what natural.....................I thought I was the only one! lol thank you so much. I know I'm not weird now lol.
thank you.
Thanks, this was truly a help. I didn't event think of the baby wipe idea, love it!
THANKS ALOT FOR THE TIPS...THATS GREAT! =]
It could be that you forgot to remove a tampon or there is a piece left in there, you need to go to OBGYN! they will remove or tell you what
My wife smells really bad "down there" to the extent I have a real problem being
"up" to the task. I don't want to hurt her feelings but, can't women smell that? I've tried to make her aware of the problem but I guess she just doesn't care anymore. It has made me pretty much unfuctional with her and is making both of us both very
ShyGuy you should really just tell your wife that she has an unusal odor down there that she has not had in the past and that you think she has a bacterial infection, which is most likely the case. Personally, I would rather have a small embarrassing moment with my husband than a crappy sex life, plus she might be feeling like you aren't attracted to her anymore b/c you are avoiding being intimate with her. That will probably hurt her a lot more in the end than a little embarrassment. She needs to know. Wouldn't you want her to tell you if it was you in her spot. If you have hinted around and she hasn't gotten the hint (or maybe shes to embarrassed to discuss it with you), maybe you should just sit her down and say look... there is something we need to talk about and go from there.
Now as far as pineapple and cranberry juice, cranberry juice will make your urine smell better than well it smelled before by diluting it and helping with bacteria but the pineapple can actually cause your vagina to smell and taste sweeter, or at least according to "The Doctors", the new show with the 4 doctors that Dr. Phil helped start.
this helped me out alot. thank you all
i think that its all in what you eat!! i have tried this for one week i have ate nothing but fruit and my hubby tells me that i smell and taste sweet and i have ate meat for a week and he tells me that i have a nasty smell and if you drink water it will clean you out but you will also have that fishy smell so i would say eat more fruits and veggies good for your heath and your funk...the baby wipes help too
to richard. right on. natural scent of a woman is the ultimate turn-on. not perfume or deoderant. great hub iz! for men and women.
Try dinking a cup of Korean Ginseng Tea everyday. I have a Korean friend and she says it works. They eat a lot of pungent foods especially Kimchi and shrimp paste.
It wouldn't hurt you to try. Hope this helps:)
I've read that fast foods, spicy or salty snacks give you a pungent smell, an overindulgence of booze, coffee and ciggies will leave a bad smell, asparagus, broccoli, onions and garlic add a bitter scent and bland foods like pasta and potatoes give a sweetish note to your character.
I think i read somewhere about putting vinaga in your bath or wiping yourself with cold black tea will help? im not sure how this would work? but was wondering if anyone had heard bout this or could possible see why this would work? i have begun the tea but not sure if it will help or make it worst? i cant use any chemical product including wipes and soaps cos it seems to irrritate the area and makes it worst! can anyone back up the tea theary?
nice one. very informative. keep it up!
make sure to pat the area dry after urinating and or showering it will hel decrease bacterial count and i heard that using anti bacterial soap will help freshen up
another product great for controlling odor is a product call represh it helps balance your ph whcih elimates odor
The healthy clean natural smell of a vagina is heavenly. I can't stand a woman that always smells like flowers are growing out of her. Humans put forth pharamones and washing them away kills the natural chemistry that continues to spawn sexual excitement. Besides always douching causes the flora in the vagina to alter and yeast infections will ruin a man's day with his woman. So stop and smell your rose and appreciate it. MMMMMMM!
what thats so wired how would i go without undies anywhere??
commando for life! most comfortable change in lifestyle i've ever made. and if you do this you will be more conscious of your smell and will be more likely to change it. cranberry juice for sure, and shaving or trimming.
I get brazillian waxes which help, but also use SebaMed from Canada, a soap free cleanser which has a low pH sepcifically for the vaginal area.
I can smell clean for up to 8 hours with it. Huge bonus, because then I'm never self-conscious.
The tips about drinking lots of water, and which foods to avoid (like meat and asparagus and garlic) are true, and apply to both sexes, actually. Alcohol and cigarettes will make women or men taste badly too...
I struggled with BV (bacterial vaginosis) for almost 2 years. The antibiotics the GYN gave me made me sick as a dog and I was tired of going to the doc spending money, let alone the embarrassing smell. I started making my own coconut oil, which you can buy at the store already made up. I find the satisfaction in making my own medicine very rewarding. Coconut oil is known for it's anti-viral, antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. Anywho, after no luck of ridding myself of such a burden, I decided to try coconut oil on a tampon. One time cured my problem which was the high ph level and the ratio of good\bad bacteria. It is now 5 months later and I have had no signs of it coming back. Another thing to try is a clove of garlic wrapped in guaze tied with some floss (I just cut another piece of guaze and tied it off with that) inserted into your vagina with the floss or guaze left out like a tampon. I hope this helps!
Ashley,take it from a 34 year old woman--Wait. You have plenty of time for that. I lost my virginity at 21 and that was still too young. If I had known then, what I know now, I would have waited until I got married. . .
My GF does not wash hers. How can I get her to do that without it being akward?
RE: tim...
take baths with her, take it from a woman... girls like having baths and if the man wants to get in then its all the better... baths are good way to soak and let it clean to
thats really good avice even lemon works
wow this is really good
does all this stuff work when your on your period though?
I always wash my vag with Johnson and Johnson baby shampoo. (the OUTSIDE of the vag ONLY) and it keeps it smelling nice and doesn't irritate or hurt it.
Great hub! And may I add, wearing cotton undies as opposed to nylon or other synthetic fabrics is a lot better because it allows your vag to breathe through.
I find instead of baby wipes the new wipes you get on the always pads work very well to
I've tried to hint, then ask and finally beg her to "clean up", it's gotten to where we aren't "intimate" much anymore because it grosses me out and I can't stay "up" for the occasion. Why don't some women think they could possibly smell?
Wow I found Femanol and it worked as advertised.
Great hub as usual :)
Smoking is the worst thing for smell and taste in men and women.
In my experience it's like licking an ashtray :/
The best food I've found to sweeten your taste is Papaya, I buy the dried stuff from a health food shop. It's good for sweetie cravings too :)
Also, I've had no more problems with yeast infections/BV etc since coming off of my hormone based contraceptive.
Eventhough I douche once a month just because it helps for me, I also drink plenty of water, fruits and pineapple and cranberry juice. I also use baby wipes in the restroom and I always wear a pantie liner and it really makes me feel secure down there.
I have smelled bad down there for a while and I have tried almost everything.. I went to my doctor and he ruled out yeast infection but I used a medication for yeast infection anyways! I do not know what to do! My boyfriend doesnt seem to mind too much but i feel bad. I also have alot of excess discharge. could that be causing it? help!
How long do you leave the garlic clove or coconut oil tampon in? Does it really work?
Sad guy:
Grab her, take her in the bath and scrub it. also make her drink cran juice with breakfast! By her baby wipes too!
very imformative..from now on .. ill drink cranberry juice and use baby swipes evrytime i go to the bathroom...thank you
thanks this will help millions of girls/women because its hard to talk to friends about this.
Thank you so much. Im 14 and I sweat alot on my vagina and it leaves a very musky smell. Im so glad somebody understands wat im going through :))
Just really want to know the very best ways for when you are on your period.
Baby Wipes for sure but anything else?
You can try one of the specially pH balanced vaginal cleansers up there in the Amazon.com box.
When im on my period, i seem to have an odd odor coming from my vagina,especcialy when removing a tampon. I don't like cranberry juice. I am 13 and i do not like talking to my mom or friends about this kind of stuff. I do shave down there, but i have sensitive skin and the razors irrtate the area. Any advice on that? Also i don't like veggies, but i love fruit!And how long do u leave the yogurt tampon in for? And can not wearing panties at night but wear them during the day help? please help
Excellently worded. I follow most of the rules, and they work. I wanted to add a few though. I have heard that cotton panties help because unlike many other materials they help you breathe and not sweat as much. Also drinking a lot of water every day will help keep your urine odorless as well as keep you healthier. Possibly even avoid cranberry juice if your not a big fan of it, like me. Just a few more tips. Thanks for the blog its people like you that help many with things they are afraid to ask.
Last night my fiance told me that I smelled "down there" and suggested that I douche or have doctor check for yeast infection. I was so embarrassed, mortified, totally freaked out that I ended up crying uncontrollably in a chair. He tried to comfort me but, omg, this was the most humiliating moment of my life. I don't think I can bear to look at him again because now every time I see him, I'm thinking am I fresh or offensive? I told him that he had done the right thing to tell me and that he was being sweet/caring but I don't think I can deal with seeing him again. I told him I was ending the relationship, which kills me but omg, how totally horrible. I am someone who irons her clothes (really) every day, showers every day, washes hair every day, and uses deodorant, of course. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would hear these words. Thanks for your article. As I sit here, still crying over the embarrassment, I find solace in your helpful words. Thanks for writing about this.
Mary- don't let a good thing slip away-most guys laugh or talk behind your back-love made him tell you. I rather be with a guy who is honest rather than lies, then turns around and talks behind my back. He wanted to have something deeper w/ you not cast you aside. Think about how he felt the entire time,debating on telling how he feels. Isabella the article is great! I wish more could be discussed publicly. There are conversations at night about sex and only god knows what else but not about what women and there partners need to know.
This is an awesome blog. I'm just curious how do you know if your PH levels in your vagina are off. I wanted to by some cleansers because mine has a smell..but its not like 'let me go throw up because its a horrible' smell. Its just an unusual smell
im doing the whole coconut oil on a tampon right now but i dnt knw how lng to leave it in?? does any one know?
wow my daughter is 13 and I dont let her use tampons yet. Should I? Ive always heard puerto rican women have a good smell down thr and all the ones I know love pineaple juice lol. maybe thrs somethn to that! :)
This was so informative thank u so much
never knew all this things but from ma experience try the cranberry jus,,and drink plenty of water,,try not to drink a lot cafeine,,tea,and orranges,
drink a lot milk as well,,put on coton underwears,,nad wash it regulary,,,,all the best gals
By jingo's, if only mother could have told us some of this stuff earlier on? To Mary, relationships (real relationships) have little bumps that we would like to perform memory wipes on.....don't worry, one day your boyfriend will get his testes caught in his zipper & will need your help, imagine how much he must care for you if he was willing to put himself on the line like that. Great blog, keep up the fantastic work!!
hi i am a 23 year old and i have been having this odor in my vagina for more than a year.this odor is so strong i feel that anybody can smell it atleast three feet away.. i take a shower to try to take the odor away and like ten minutes later the smell is back again.. please anybody with some help let me know..
Love the blog. The suggestions are great. I had a baby 6 months ago and ever since I have had a odor down there. My Dr. said it was normal, but it has never smelled like this before. I drink a ton of water everyday. I bathe every day. So I am going to try some of the suggestions that have been made. I love cranberry juice but I can't fine any without a ton of sugar. Any suggestions? Or does the sugar really matter?
Danyell you may have a non-STD vaginal infection. You should see your doctor. If you do have one it can be cured very easily with medication.
First I've heard of the Pineapple juice, great read!
Isabelle, an absolutely brilliant blog, thanks!
Just a thought to Life's a Stage. Every month during our menstrual cycle we do get a "funky" smell down there ;), smells a bit like butter gone bad. This is actually our "mating smell" to attract men! Could it be that perhaps?
Once again thanks for a great post!
now i just need to find a way to tactfully tell my girlfriend about this....
I have a problem where i leak a white smelly discharge and it is really embarassing! Help!
First of all, thanks for the article. It is good to know all of this tips. I am a 20 year old guy and i have been with my GF for over 5 years. It really helps me to approach and talk to her about the situation because sometimes she does smell funny, and i really like to go down there, but sometimes the smells backs me off. I am going to try to get her into the cranberry juice process, since she is not a fan of that juice, but i will definetally buy the wipes, and implement the fruits in the diet and buy her cotton underwear exclusivelly!!! Thanks for the help!
I find it difficult to maintain hygiene as a plus size women. Whenever things get heated down there it is on! Any suggestions. I wear cotton underwear and drink plenty of water??
Hello,
I am a 21 year old virgin with body image issues. I hate every part of my body, including my vagina and I'm insecure about sex. Some of these comments really aren't making me feel any better about my situation.
I've had this problem for a year or so that I've become obsessed with washing my vagina and now I worry that no men will ever want to have sex with me. As if being unattractive isn't bad enough, my vagina kills any chance I have with men.
To Just Me: Honey, you don't have to be so insecure. Your vagina has nothing to do with it, because some guy will find you to be the most amazing person, and won't give a damn about your downstairs. If you feel insecure or depressed about your self image, just remember beauty is skin deep; Beauty fades.
Remember, to find love, one must first love themselves.
Also, try going by these tips; They're harmless and helpful, kay?
My boyfriend and I were talking and we got on that subject, and it was brought to my attention that sometimes I have an odor, about 4 months ago I was told by my OBGYN that I had bacterial vaginosis. I took the antibiotics for about half a week and stopped because they make me very nauseous and shaky, sometimes I actually will throw up. I thought it would just go away, but evidently it hasn't and now it smells sometimes. What are some home cures for bacterial vaginosis?
In the mean time I am going to buy yogurt (does it have to be plain yogurt, I really like the organic french vanilla will that be okay?) and I am going to buy cranberrry juice even though I hate it (any certain type of cranberry juice?), as well as Pineapple Juice, and some fruit (any specific recommended fruits?).
Also I just ordered something online called cider vinegar tablets I read those are supposed to help, is that true?!
For about a year and a half now I have been getting a really bad odor in my vaginal area, especially when I sweat. There is always a clear to whitish discharge accompanying it. This smell is present even five minutes after taking a bath. I've tried yogurt, cornstarch, deodorants, pure loose cotton underwear and I am a frequent cranberry juice drinker. I wash my vagina constantly, even at school. Lavender body wash seems to alleviate it a bit, but only in comparison to doing nothing at all. I am thirteen years old, and it frustrates me to no end that I can smell like sunshine and roses under my arms and on my back and everywhere else, but the bad odor coming from my vagina kills it. This occurs most in P.E. Another thing--I seem to have an extra-thick hymen, because I literally cannot insert anything into my vagina. The tip of my finger won't go in, let alone a tampon. I am going to go to the doctor tomorrow to see if there's something that will help me, there, but many articles I've read say that the medicines prescribed for vaginal bacteria often have adverse side effects. Does anyone have any suggestions for me?
wow great hub isabella. a work of art.
barryrutherford says:
2 years ago
nicely worded block. Oner of the issues that most of us face is we dont smell our own odour. At least I dont thats because ive had several nose operations. I can smell but only when i deep breath through the nose. Anyway i keep clean & spray with anti- perspirant. I have yet to find the ideal product...