I'm not really concerned but I have noticed that since giving birth (three years ago, so it's not a healing issue), my vaginal odor has never been the same. It's different, sort of metallic-smelling, and that's weird. It's not a bad smell, per se, but it is odd that it doesn't even *smell* the same down there.

So then what do you do when you clean yourself all the time like for me i take showers twice a day and i seem to stll always have this smell.. so what do i do??

Reese, if you've been checked out by the gyno and don't have any infections, just accept that you're healthy, and that's simply your natural scent.

I imagine most (or certainly a LOT) of women wonder about this sometimes. I started noticing several years ago that I had a vinegar-y odor sometimes. And, no, I don't douche. I talked to my gyno about it and she wasn't worried. Then when I found myself pregnant last year, I had, I think, every STD/bacterial infection test known to man. So I feel comfortable that it's not anything like that. Oddly enough, it has seemed to mostly clear up in the past year since I started having more regular sex. When I was married, we had sex maybe 3-4 times a year. My boyfriend of the last year and I have sex 2-3 times a week now. So I can only assume, that healthy, monogamous sex is GOOD for you?!?!

Why do women have discharge and is it normal?

Ok this is my first time but i just found out that i have HPV and I'm not quite sure if i got it from my husband or not is there a way he can get tested and if needed treated so I don't have to worry about going through this again?
If so what all does he have to do and what would the treatment consist of?

please email me your answer at nette198402@yahoo.com
thank you.....
Ann R

Is cum and discharge the same thing? If not how do you know the difference?

Is there anything you can do to eliminate "that smell". Mine is VERY bad and not only does it bother me, but also my boyfriend. He refuses to go "down there" and complains about the smell when we have sex...I am sick of it and will do anything to shut him up. I told him it's normal and lots of girls have it but he is just not understanding.

Smelly, if you have an odor that bothers you, first get checked out by your gyno for infections (especially BV). If you're free of infections, and your gyno says you're healthy, than that's simply your natural odor that both of you will have to accept as part of your body.

A couple of things I've learned about vagina smell/taste over my life:

1. all vaginas, just like all body parts with sweat and oil glands, have a smell to them.
2. clean, healthy vaginas smell great! "great" does not have to mean "like perfume". great = sexy.
3. unwashed and/or unhealthy vaginas can have an "off" or "fishy" smell to them. know your normal smell and pay attention if it changes. changes in smell or taste can indicate an STD or impending yeast infection, etc.
4. things that have had an effect on my personal taste/smell:
- my menstrual cycle (i have a heavier smell the week before)
- hormonal birth control (the patch made me smell and taste vinegar-y. my gyno at the time had never heard of this happening and suggested it wasn't the birth control but a natural change in my body as i matured. bullshit-- a year and a half later i got off the patch and my vagina went back to its sweet old taste and smell again. i've since met 4 women who experienced the same change on the patch and think more people should know about this.)
- BV (bacterial vaginosis). this extremely common bacterial infection was cleared up quickly and effectively w/ a round of antibiotics, but in the meantime made me smell fishy and not myself. bummer.
- semen from most of my sexual partners. for whatever reason, when i've let guys come inside (i think it's super-hot and i love the sensation) (and yeah, this has only ever been in monogamous, sti-free situations!), MOST of them have had semen that causes my vagina to smell and taste ...not quite fishy, but definitely ocean-y. i wasn't stoked on it, so i always ended up rationing out the bareback/come-inside experiences in order to give my vagina a chance to sort itself out and be normal for a while. this is not an issue w/ the current guy and i'd be lying if the fact that his semen doesn't have an impact on my smell isn't one more huge check mark in the Keep Him Around column.
- soap. i wash daily, but if i skip the soap, the vagina smell builds. it's never a bad smell, but skipping the soap for a few days in a row means it can get to be a *strong* smell. some partners have liked it. some haven't. shrug.
5. most people who like having sex with women would rather deal with a vagina, healthy smells and all, than no vagina.

....and
6. one time in Stop & Shop i overheard two men talking about their women, and one of the dudes was over-the-moon pumped about his woman. Why? b/c he thought her vagina smelled/tasted like bacon.

Haha the woman above me hit the nail on the head.....for me it was my mother and all the aunties and granny's in my life that said keep her clean, no need for perfumes, we have hair there to attract and keep the musk around and never never never stick anything in there that hasn't gone through the squeaky clean test....I think in my life that I have learned from these lovely women in my life and great girlfriends (and some guys) that we all have a scent......we all know when something is not right.....and chemistry is key..Also, your ex may say he could stay "down under " all day long with a grin and your new guy could say ....."where is the nose plug and my eyes are watering"......chemistry.....just like if you head south on your lucky feller and "OH NO!!!!" and you all know what I am saying.........even a clean man......chemistry.....your nose~~knows........my gyno has been seeing me since I was 15 (35 now) and I always ask....so how does she look, she does a lil sniff and says......"She is beautiful" thats enough for me......personally...I am yummy sweet with a dash of sass.