Stinky

[emmy09]

Hey! Im on the lo loestrin pill since the end of august and ive just recently started to feel way stinkier, like everywhere. Pits, feet, down there... I haven't been this stinky and gross since I was 10-12 during the brunt of my puberty. I'm 16 now and I'm not sure what caused this change. Is it because of the pill? Because I'm sexually active (since September)? Because I wear more perfume? Like??? It's especially bad down there, I have to wear pantyliners or else the odor is too strong and internet says that wearing them makes it worse?! Idk what to do.

[char]

Hi emmy09! According to my research, so far there are no reported cases of increased body odor intensity from people who use Lo Loestrin. But since you're 16, the more intense body odor could be an ongoing effect of puberty; the process makes your body produce more sweat, which in turn makes it more likely for bacteria to stay and create the smell.

As you may have figured by now, maintaining hygiene like showering, using deodorant or perfume, and wearing clothes out of breathable materials can help with managing the smell. That said, when it comes to your vulva, it's important not to use vaginal perfumes or douche since it can affect the self-cleaning nature of the vulva-vagina. (You can read about why douching isn't a good idea here: Out, out damn smell!) Also, pantyliners do not necessarily make the smell worse as long as you replace them regularly, not just for the potential smell but also for hygiene.

With all of that said, I'd also like to invite you to consider that everyone's nose sensitivity is different. Some people may be more sensitive to stronger smells (like one of my family members, for example), but others may not (like myself). Everyone smells in one way or another, but unfortunately, some people act a bit crappy to those who smell more strongly than others. As I've mentioned, having stronger body odor is a normal part of puberty (and life in general), so it could just be that.

How does all of this sound to you?

[Heather]

I want to quickly add a couple important things!

10-12 would not be the burnt of anyone's puberty, it would only be the beginning. For most people, puberty lasts anywhere from the late teens to the mid-20s. So, by all means, at 16, you're still going to be very much in the thick of it and there will still be changes now and more to come. That can for sure include a change in how you smell. The pill and other hormonal contraceptives do also cause the vagina to be drier, and for those with noses sensitive to smells, you might notice a scent change as a result.

However: a particularly strong vaginal smell is something that should always be investigated, especially if you don't think you *are* something with a particularly sensitive sense of smell. That can be an indication of infection, especially infections like yeast or bacterial infections, or STIs like trichomoniasis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea, which are going to be risks, especially if you're using the pill but not condoms. If you're feeling like your vulva and vagina, specifically, are extra stinky lately, do you know how to access sexual healthcare?