Is it normal for tampons to smell

Simple as that. Greves says. The amount of bacteria in the vagina fluctuates, which can change the smell. A slight change is usually nothing to worry about, Dr. Greves says, but if all of a sudden your period smells seriously rotten, you may want to talk to your doctor. A particularly strong, fishy smell could be a sign of bacterial vaginosis, an infection caused by an overgrowth of bacteria in the vagina. Other symptoms include burning especially during urination , itchiness, and abnormal vaginal discharge.

Any of these symptoms should be a cue to get a professional opinion. Feel around the opening of your vagina for a string or feel inside for the tampon itself.

Think back to your last period… is it possible you put the last tampon in right as your period was starting to slow down? Perhaps you were having just a little spotting and wanted to wear a tampon instead of a panty liner. Maybe the flow totally stopped that day, so you forgot to take out the tampon — oops!

If you find yourself in this predicament, all you need to do is go fishing. The vagina is a closed environment. The tampon did not float up somewhere into your abdomen.

If you can reach it, typically you can, go ahead and pull it out. Does your vagina smell fishy? How do you know if you have abnormal vaginal odor?

A well-balanced vagina will have a pH of 3. Usually, it maintains a balance between vaginal yeast and bacteria, but the exact odor and pH can vary. Sometimes vaginal odor can smell like beer or bread, which have that same helpful bacteria. If a strong yeasty or sugary odor is accompanied by itching, burning, or a white discharge, you might have a yeast infection.

Yeast infections can happen to anyone. No biggie! Just know the signs and symptoms, and confirm with your doctor for a diagnosis and treatment options. There are also a lot of sweat glands in the groin, Dr. Holmes says, so a lot of what we think of as worrisome vaginal odors are often just your normal musk, especially after exercising or a couple of days without a shower. If the funk bothers you, there are easy ways to keep the area clean. Wash the outside of your groin regularly with soap.

A telltale sign of a problem is that unmistakable vaginal odor: Fish.