Genuinely bad vulva BO

[B9Benny]

So like I know that a lot of people think they smell bad or smell really strongly but they don’t….but like I actually do. I can smell it a lot, usually when I’ve been sweating (which makes sense). I don’t use soap on my vulva, I just wash gently with water when I take a shower. I sometimes forget to change my underwear but I try to wear a fresh pair everyday. It’s all cotton.
I don’t have sex and I’m not itchy or anything and discharge is normal
BUT THAT GUY IS PUNGENT
I’m really insecure about it and my best friend (who doesn’t have the best filter) has mentioned it to me multiple times. I’ve also been sitting near people and they’ll say that the room smells bad or something.
It’s really embarrassing and I’m not sure what to do about it besides wash my shorts a lot more (I often rewear shorts or pants when they aren’t visibly gross.)
It’s this sort of stuff worse when you’re a teen/will it go away as I get older? What can I do to not smell as much? If you have a vulva and are on testosterone do you just have this as a curse?
I feel like Slimer

[Heather]

Hi there, B9Benny.

I'm so sorry you've had to hear about this from friends, talk about a way to make a guy feel bad! I get not having a filter -- I really do -- but you know, folks need to learn how to have enough of one in the world not to say things to people that violates their privacy or some sense of boundaries around their body. I hope you know you do get to tell people that it actually isn't okay to remark on how you smell to them if you want to set that boundary.<3

You absolutely should be able to just wash with warm water, so that shouldn't be an issue. Same goes with rewearing clothes that aren't your base layers. Most often, a really strong smell does indicate an infection or imbalance, and those won't always come with itching or weird-looking discharge. Have you ever had any reproductive healthcare? Are you open to a visit with a provider to make sure this isn't something that you need treatment for?

If you are, and it turns out it is, then you'll have your answer. If it's BV or yeast, which would be the two most likely kinds of infections with a smell that aren't sexually-transmitted, those are often easy enough to treat. If it isn't, then your next step might be to try using a gentle wash that's safe for genitals to see if that helps.

For sure, though, also know that yes, during puberty everyone's discharges and smells tend to change, even if everyone doesn't notice their own or someone else's as much (it may also be that your friend or others feel safe saying that out loud about you, but not about anyone else -- again, boundaries and a lack of them may be part of what's afoot here, too). Those aren't temporary changes, but bodies do tend to settle into them more over time *and* everyone gets more used to people's bodies smelling different than they did in childhood, too.

[Heather]

One more very important thing!

You just mentioned in another post you made that you're on T. Adding more testosterone to your body absolutely changes how your body smells, including your genitals, generally to a smell a lot of people experience or categorize as more "masculine" -- more musky and strong than they might usually experience with cisgender women. So if this only started with the T, then disregard my concerns about possible infections, but know that adding some safe soap/wash still might help.

You also might keep this in your pocket if needed or wanted when setting boundaries, letting people know that this is also common for those using T, be it for gender-affirmation or menopause or anything else. Again, it's not cool to talk about people's smells in general, but it's kind of extra not-okay when it's something coming from health conditions or side effects of medications, things people often can't do anything about.

[B9Benny]

I have a feeling it is related to being on T because I noticed my sweat smelling different once I started it. For a doctor to figure out if it’s an infection or not would they have to take like a swab and test and such, or would they be able to know my looking (I ask because my regular doctor recently did a quick exam because of something else)? Thanks

[amber]

Hi B9Benny!

Yes, most tests for infections and such are done through a swab. Still, having had a doctors appointment recently does make it seem even more likely that this change is from starting T.

This is a very common occurrence for folks on T so you are certainly not alone!