how to get rid of odor while on your period

Deal with Period Smell

Full Answer

How can I Stop my period from smelling?

• Consider probiotics. Probiotics, which are good-for-you bacteria, can help maintain the pH balance of your vagina. ...
• Maintain a healthy diet. ...
• Stay hydrated. ...
• Avoid douches and scrubs. ...
• Wash your genital area before and after intercourse. ...
• Cut out tight clothes. ...
• Wear cotton panties. ...

Is it normal to have a smell after period?

This is typically due to the presence of iron in the blood and is not usually a cause for concern. However, it should not persist much longer after the period ends. A person might notice a bad or rotten smell during their period, which could be a sign of a problem.

How to smell good on your period?

• You’ll want to start by eating less sugar. ...
• Avoid eating processed foods or simple carbs, such as pastries, cookies, and table sugar. ...
• Try to drink at least 12 glasses of water a day, and avoid caffeine and alcohol.

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What causes the smelly discharge after period?

You may have bacterial vaginosis if the “fishy” smell is accompanied by:

• burning, especially during urination
• irritation
• itchiness
• vaginal discharge outside of menstrual bleeding

How do you keep yourself clean and smelling on your period?

The Basics of Menstrual HygieneWash Regularly. Bathe or shower at least once a day to keep your body clean and avoid odor. ... And Wash the Right Way. ... Wipe from Front to Back. ... Consider Your Wardrobe. ... Change Pads and Tampons Often. ... Use the Right Tampon Absorbency. ... Use a Menstrual Cup. ... Practice Safe Sex.

How do you cover the smell of your period?

Here are tips to keep your vagina smelling good during periods:Menstrual hygiene. If your period blood smells like fish, that means you need to change your pad or tampon. ... Shower daily. ... Wear cotton clothes. ... Use menstrual cup. ... Avoid scented products.

When I on my period I can smell it?

It's totally normal for your period to smell a bit. But if the stench is strong — and doesn't alleviate with a simple wash or tampon change — you might have an infection. Let your doctor know if you have any of these symptoms of a bigger problem: fever.

How do you clean yourself when your on your period?

Any contact between the vulva and the chemicals contained in any sanitary products, including feminine hygiene deodorants, should be minimized. Instead, you can use wet wipes or rinse your genital area with water.

Why is my period blood so smelly?

While each body is different, healthy period blood often smells metallic or sweet because of the iron and copper content in your blood mixed with vaginal bacteria. If the mix of bacteria in your vagina (aka your vaginal microbiome) changes, your period blood may take on a different scent.

What is the normal smell of Virgina?

The vagina usually has only a mild odor or sometimes no odor at all. A "fishy" smell or other strong vaginal odor might mean there's a problem. Conditions that cause a strong vaginal odor might also cause other vaginal symptoms such as itching, burning, irritation or discharge.

Can guys smell when a girl is on her period?

You also might find it hard to believe that the menstrual myth of period blood smelling bad is, in fact, a myth. Here's the lowdown. While we each have our own unique scent, menstrual blood itself has no odor.

What causes a fishy smell in the Virginia?

A strong fishy smell that won't go away is worth seeing a health care provider about. Fishy smells are associated with a type of vaginitis called bacterial vaginosis. Health care providers can prescribe medications to treat it.

Why do I have a fishy smell?

Trimethylaminuria (TMAU) is an uncommon condition that causes an unpleasant, fishy smell. It's also called "fish odour syndrome". Sometimes it's caused by faulty genes that a person inherits from their parents, but this isn't always the case. There's currently no cure, but there are things that can help.

What happens if you don't shower while on your period?

The takeaway. When you're on your period, bathe however you feel most comfortable. It's your choice. However, it's important to keep your vagina and labia clean while menstruating, as the extra bacteria can lead to infections, like a urinary tract infection or pelvic inflammatory disease.

How do you maintain good period hygiene?

So, next time you are on your periods, take note of these tips:Change your sanitary pad regularly. Keeping yourself clean is key to good menstrual hygiene. ... Wash yourself properly. ... Wear clean undergarments. ... Dispose of sanitary pads properly. ... Consume a balanced diet. ... When to contact a specialist?

Why does my period smell fishy this month?

Menstrual cycle. Sometimes, a fishy vaginal odor crops up just before the start of your period, due to changing bacteria and acidity levels. During menstruation, the blood (which has an elevated pH) and uterine lining mix with vaginal microflora, subtly altering the smell.

What does BV smell like?

Bacterial vaginitis (BV) can produce a fishy odor that is also accompanied by increased vaginal discharge, irritation, burning and sometimes itching. It is caused by an overgrowth of anaerobic bacteria that disrupts the balance of healthy bacteria that live within the vagina.

Why do I have smelly discharge everyday?

Bacterial vaginosis is one of the most common causes of a smelly vagina, affecting 15% to 50% of women of reproductive age. 'It's a condition where there's an imbalance in the vaginal flora,' Dr Rosén explains. 'The first symptom is often a fishy smell, which can progress to a frothy, grey or green-ish discharge.

Can people smell my discharge?

Many women become concerned that other people can detect the odor around their vulva and vagina. In reality, women are most sensitive to their own odor, and it's very unlikely that others who don't have intimate contact with them can smell it.

1 Start with Good Grooming Down Below

You don’t have to go bare, but if you want to keep period smell to a minimum, make a point of keeping your pubic hair neatly trimmed. You want to avoid blood and clots getting caught in the hair, since this can cause an odor once they are exposed to the air that will be on your radar during your period.

2 Use Tampons on Heavy Flow Days

Since tampons are worn internally, you don’t need to be concerned about exposure to the air creating an atmosphere that will allow period smell to fester on heavy flow days. If you are concerned about leaking that will lead to an embarrassing smell, wear a pad or a liner as a back-up, and be sure to change your protection frequently.

3 Daily Bath or Shower

Regular bathing should be part of your routine anyway, but it’s especially important during your menstrual period. While menstruating, your sweat glands can go into overdrive, which increased your general funkiness in addition to the smell of blood you will be producing. To stay fresh, hit the bath or shower every day.

4 Baby Wipes to the Rescue

Some heavy flow days are particularly messy, and if you want to keep period smell at bay, you need to make sure that you get as much of the stuff off of your nether regions as possible.

5 Wear Cotton Undies

Give your crotch some much-needed breathing room during your period by wearing cotton underwear. During that time of the month, avoid wearing clothing that won’t breathe like pantyhose or tights, if possible. Layers of clothing can trap bacteria and the resulting smells in.

6 Eat Yogurt Every Day

This is more of a preventive measure, but it is worth mentioning. Including yogurt that contains lactobacilli in your diet on a daily basis will help to keep the natural bacteria in your body in balance and will help to keep menstrual smell to a minimum.

7 Switch to a Birth Control Pill that Gives You a Regular Period

Some women like the convenience of only dealing with having a period a few times per year. They pay a price for not dealing with menstruating each month though, in that the flow they get can have a stronger odor than one that is shed more regularly. Switching to a different type of birth control can be a solution to this period smell issue.

How to stop menstrual odor?

Proper hygiene habits can help combat the usual odors associated with menstruation. This can be as simple as making sure you change tampons, liners, or pads every few hours.

What to do if your period smells?

If your period smells and you notice unusual symptoms , see your doctor. There could be something else going on.

What does it smell like during your period?

Any odors you might notice during your period can also fluctuate. “Healthy” periods can have a slight smell of blood. They may even have a slight metallic smell from iron and bacteria.

What does it mean when you smell fishy?

You may have bacterial vaginosis if the “fishy” smell is accompanied by:

Why does my poop smell like it's down there?

A strong odor from “down there” may be cause for worry, as it could be a sign of an infection. In such cases, the odors are accompanied by other symptoms, such as vaginal discharge or pelvic pain that’s not related to normal menstruation.

Why does my tampon smell rotten?

A “rotten” smell can occur when a tampon is left in for too long or forgotten. This can happen at the end of a period, when you don’t have to insert a new tampon as often and you have no further bleeding.

Why do women have vaginosis?

While the exact cause of this overgrowth isn’t understood, bacterial vaginosis seems to be most common in women who are sexually active. Douching may also increase your risk for this type of infection.

Why does my period smell?

This is a normal odor as your period marks the shedding of your uterine tissue; however, if you can smell it while sitting or walking, then it may be a cause for concern. This intense odor is often associated with not changing your pad or tampon, or dumping your cup, frequently enough. As your period winds down, you may feel the need to worry about your hygiene less, but this is usually when cups and tampons are left in for too long, resulting in a pungent ‘decay’ odor.

What are the three odors that women experience during their period?

Most women suffer from the following three odors at some point in their adulthood: rotten, fishy, metallic. These odors can happen any time during the menstrual cycle, but are sometimes pronounced during and immediately following your period.

Why don't you leave tampons in?

Don’t leave tampons in for extended periods of time just because you’re not bleeding much. If your vagina is too dry to insert a tampon frequently, use smaller sizes of tampons so there is less absorbency. If your cup doesn’t slide in as easily, get your cup slightly wet or use lubricant.

Why do my tampons smell like decay?

As your period winds down, you may feel the need to worry about your hygiene less, but this is usually when cups and tampons are left in for too long, resulting in a pungent ‘decay’ odor.

Why does my period smell metallic?

Toward the end of your period, the metallic odor is usually caused by pH changes in your vagina and the discharge containing that different pH. I experienced this issue a lot during the last year that I wore tampons– with tampons, the abnormal pH discharge sits against the vaginal wall, absorbed in the tampon.

What does it smell like when your socks get wet?

It’s like if your shoes and socks get wet and you wear them all day– your socks are going to be very aromatic by the time you get home, and every pair of socks you put on inside those wet shoes will smell that way until the shoes aren’t wet anymore.

Can you use perfume on your vagina?

Do not use perfumes or scented washes on your vagina. Do not douche. Ever. Do not wash the inside of your vagina– the inside of your vagina is self cleaning so cleaning inside of it will disrupt the flora and potentially make the odor worse. When using unscented soap, only use it on the outside.

What to do if you don't have time to shower?

If you don’t have the time to shower twice a day and after your workout, opt for an all- organic feminine cleansing spray that’ll provide some freshness. Note that an all-organic cleansing spray is fragranced with natural scents and not by manufactured artificial scents that are damaging.

Can you get pregnant while on your period?

The Pavilion for Women, associated with Texas Children’s Hospital, wants to remind you that you can definitely still get pregnant while you’re on your period and “you’re more likely to get a sexually transmitted infection (STI) or pelvic inflammatory disease as consequence because the cervix is slightly dilated.”

Can you use soap on your hands during menstruation?

Just to be safe wash your hands before and after you start handling your pad, tampon, or menstrual cup. You can use a natural feminine safe soap for your hands, menstrual cup and vaginal area.