It usually happens when I’m pmsing or on my period, but then I also crave McGriddles around that time so idk if it’s the diet or the period. Outside of that week and a half I usually don’t even eat sugar so I don’t think it’s my over all diet. What do you think? Show Humans, at their most basic, are smelly beings. So many things about us have a scent, be it our sweat, hair, mouth, or freaking feet. And even if it smells bad, that doesn't necessarily trigger cause for concern. (After all, my husband's feet smell to high heaven after a hot workout, but that's normal.) What's not normal is when the scents you're accustomed to start to change. Like, when you usually can't smell your pee, yet all of a sudden sweet-smelling urine starts showing up. Or when your poop smells worse than usual. These are potential signs of something being off with your health, in which case you may need to call a doctor. So if you notice any of these body smells, don't ignore them — start dialing. More From Redbook1. You can actually smell your pee.Normally urine is scent-less, or if it has a scent, it's usually a very subtle, ammonia-like smell, says Scott Sullivan, M.D., a professor of OBGYN at the Medical University of South Carolina. So if you get a big whiff of sweet-smelling urine without even trying — and it's accompanied by pain when you pee — schedule a gyno visit. You could have a urinary tract infection (UTI), which means you'll need to cycle through a dose of antibiotics. If there isn't any pain, your diet may be to blame, Sullivan says. "Urine smell is extremely variable and could change a number of times over the course of a week; that's perfectly normal," he says. Strong-scented foods, like asparagus or garlic, could have an impact, as could dehydration. 2. Your sweat smells all sorts of nasty.Let's be frank: Sweat is not a sweet-smelling scent, um, ever. But there are certain areas of your body — like your pubic hair and underarms — that naturally give off a stronger scent than your hair, chest, and back. So if you smell yourself in those "stronger" areas, don't freak out right away — as long as things smell the way they normally do, you're probably fine. But if you notice a stronger foul smell coming from those more subtle regions, pay attention. Sullivan says a rancid scent could mean your body is struggling with digestion issues. "It's rare, but it happens," he says. It may just be a matter of changing up your diet and adding in more high-fiber foods, but your doctor can advise you on the best course of action. This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. It's not the sexiest thing in the world, but if you have bad morning breath you may be snoring or sleeping with your mouth open. Those who do tend to have dry mouth, which typically lowers the flow of saliva in your mouth. Saliva is responsible for cleaning out food particles and protecting the teeth and gums from bacterial infection, says Alice Boghosian, spokesperson for the American Dental Association. If that's the case, your dentist can prescribe an artificial saliva mouthwash to help fix the problem. If dry mouth isn't the problem, have your dentist do a thorough checkup to rule out any dental health issues, like gum disease, which Boghosian says can be caused by plaque. Then head to your doctor, as bad breath could be a symptom of various medical conditions such as sinus or lung infections, bronchitis, gastric reflux, a tonsil infection, and even some liver or kidney diseases. 4. Or it smells like a bowl of fruit.Just because it's a more pleasant scent than say, garbage, doesn't mean you're out of the woods. In fact, if your breath smells like you just noshed on the entire grapefruit section of the grocery store, then head to your doctor immediately — it could mean you have diabetes, says Boghosian. According to the American Heart Association, getting too many calories from protein, which is usually the case for those eating low-carb, can result in not enough insulin in the body, and that forces us to start burning energy from our fat stores. When we burn energy from fat, it releases chemicals called ketones. (An energy source many are now turning to on the keto diet.) "One of the signs that ketones levels are too high is a fruity smell to the breath, and if that happens it can be very serious and dangerous to one's health," says Boghosian. The scent could also be evident in the vaginal area, Sullivan says, so if your partner notices it while he's pleasuring you (Sullivan notes about 50% of his patients' partners notice problems first), that could be another warning sign. 5. Your vaginal discharge smells like fish.Having discharge is normal. But having it come out clumpy or smelling like the raw fish market is not good, and it could be a sign of a yeast infection, sexually transmitted infection (STI), or chlamydia. As soon as you notice these symptoms, get to your gyno. Regardless of your diagnosis, it's likely you'll need a course of treatment. 6. Your vagina smells sour."Most women have a very subtle, sort of acidic or vinegar-y odor, and it's usually one you wouldn't notice from a distance; you'd have to be very close up," Sullivan says. But if you notice your scent has become strong — and it's likely a fishy, sour, or even musty smell — that's a telltale sign of bacterial vaginosis (BV), an inflammation caused by the overgrowth of bacteria (usually gardnerella) normally found in the vagina. "It can happen to anybody, and we don't understand all the ways it can happen — it could be anything from having sexual relations with a new partner to not getting enough sleep or exercise — but this foreign bacteria helps bad bacteria, like chlamydia, do its dirty work," he says. Treatment typically involves an antibiotic, either through a topical gel or oral medication, and can be cleared up within a week in most cases. 7. Or it kind of smells like something died down there.It doesn't paint a pretty picture, but it can happen, and it may mean that a foreign object (like a tampon, female condom or diaphragm) has been left in your vagina, Sullivan says. "That foreign object will start to attract bad bacteria, and that buildup is where the smell comes from," he explains. Usually there won't be a major problem — having your gyno take out the object should clear the odor in a few days — but in rare, extreme cases, it could lead to a bacterial infection and toxic shock syndrome (a severe disease caused by staph bacteria). If you notice the smell and are experiencing a high fever, contact your doctor immediately. This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
Let’s get one thing out of the way right now: Despite what your awful ex or the latest douching ads say, your vagina is supposed to have a bit of an odour. Sometimes a little musty “Just like with the gut, the vagina has its own microbiome filled with different bacteria and yeast, many of which are incredibly helpful,” says Dr Mary Jane Minkin, a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at the Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut. And, yep, those bacteria give your vag its signature scent. But uh, what does that typically smell like? “The acidic pH naturally found in the vagina might make it a little sour smelling, sometimes a little musty,” says Dr Christine Masterson, obstetric-gynaecologist and chief of the women and children’s service line at Summit Medical Group. “But it shouldn’t be an overwhelming odour.” Still, there are times when you catch a waft that smells a bit... off. The cause can be as innocuous as sweat or as troubling as an infection, says Dr Minkin, so it’s worth taking a deeper whiff (yes, really), especially if the unusual aroma is accompanied by symptoms like itching or discharge. Scan through the scents below to see if your smell is on our list, but don’t hesitate to get yourself checked out by a professional either way. FishyThe most likely culprit behind this scent is bacterial vaginosis (BV), the most common vaginal infection in women ages 15 to 44, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The infection can creep in when the vagina’s pH gets thrown out of whack by an overgrowth of “bad” bacteria, says Dr Minkin. Docs aren’t sure why this happens, but BV isn’t an STI, stresses Dr Minkin, so BV on its own is pretty harmless. Still, you may be able to re-balance your vaginal acidity with some over-the-counter “pH warfare”, says Dr Minkin. Check your local drugstore for a pH gel, which is designed to balance out your vagina’s pH and nix odours. If this doesn’t take away the smell within a week or so, see your ob-gyn. You might need an antibiotic to clear up the infection, or you might actually have trichomoniasis, a common and easily treatable (via antibiotics) STI. Read more: Seriously, why is my vagina so itchy? YeastyMost yeast infections aren’t terribly smelly, but occasionally the thick, cottage cheese-like discharge that’s a hallmark of the itchy nuisance has a faint scent of beer or yeast. If you notice redness or burning around your vagina, or have pain after you pee, this is the likely cause, says Dr Minkin. Diabetic women may especially notice this since yeast feed on sugar, and diabetic women tend to have more glucose (a.k.a. sugar) in their vaginal secretions, says Dr. Minkin. See your doc about what’s going on down there, and she might prescribe something or recommend something you can buy OTC. MuskyTwo questions: Did you just pound out a major sweat session at the gym and are you wearing synthetic underwear (think: nylon or polyester)? Exercise and non-breathable knickers can cause a musky smell from trapped sweat, says Dr Minkin. It should go away as soon as you shower (use just water or a mild soap). To minimise the scent in the future, switch to cotton undies (or at least ones that have a cotton lining) and don’t sit around with sweaty clothes. RottenOf all the scents your vagina can have, this is definitely the most concerning one. A tampon that’s been left in your vagina for days or longer can smell rancid or foul. “The scent is brought on by an overgrowth of bacteria in a confined space,” she says. To dislodge it yourself, lie on your back or squat with one foot propped on the toilet, then reach into your vagina with clean fingers to search for the string. No luck? See your ob-gyn who can use a speculum to get the job done. One thing to note, though: If left behind too long the bacteria can sometimes (but rarely) trigger toxic shock syndrome, a deadly condition linked to tampon use. If you know your tampon’s been in for more than eight hours (or, tbh, you can’t remember the last time you changed it), and you’ve got flu-like symptoms (fever, nausea, achiness), it’s time to see a doc, asap. Read more: 10 reasons you’ve got bumps on your vagina MetallicBlood (you know, from your period) can change the pH of your vagina, making it smell coppery or tinny, says Dr Minkin. You can wash your vulva with soap – just avoid going crazy with strong scented soaps because they can throw the pH even further out of whack, says Dr Minkin. But other than that, you’ve just gotta ride this one out. BleachyThere’s a couple different reasons why your vagina might take on a chemical smell of bleach or ammonia: Dr Masterson says that BV – which, again, usually smells fishy – can sometimes smell like ammonia instead. There’s also a chance that the smell is actually coming from your urine, especially if you’re dehydrated. Lastly, Dr Masterson says that intercourse (specifically the low-acid pH level of sperm) can trigger an ammonia smell, and so can any lubricants and spermicides you might have used. Basically, you can wait this smell out a little bit to see if it fades on its own. If it doesn’t in a few days, check in with your obstetric-gynaecologist. Read more: So, um, why is my discharge brown? SweetIf you notice a sweet smell down there, you might not be super inclined to think anything is wrong (it’s better than a rotten smell, right?!). And you’re pretty much right: Dr Masterson says this is usually diet-related. “Sometimes citrus fruit can cause a sweet odour,” she says. “Asparagus and garlic are known to change the way urine and discharge smell, too.” That said, she adds that yeast can sometimes cause a sweet odour, so if you’re also having symptoms of a yeast infection, grab an OTC treatment or check in with your doc. This article was originally published on www.womenshealthmag.com Image credit: iStock |