Extremely strong smell, and really hot pads

[malicious-pengy.livejournal.com]

Question 1: Okay, this is another wonderful scent post. I didn't see anything in the tag section, and I just read the recent smelly post. I know vaginas smell. I even like how vaginas smell. The problem is, I'm on my period, and I don't just smell right now, I SMELL. (My roommate keeps picking up her can of air-freshener and spraying it every half hour. When I asked, she just wouldn't say what it smelled like, so I can't confirm it's me, but it's really getting on my nerves.) Unless I keep my legs tightly crossed and don't move, this period-smell just wafts up. It's really horrible. I've been washing as much as I can, but there's got to be something I can do, to cover it up if nothing else. Oh, and it doesn't smell different than normal, except in quantity. Forgot to mention that.

Question 2: I just realized this week that when I rearanged my room, I put all of my pads in the drawer that the heating ducting runs right behind. This evil drawer melts chocolates, and spoils any food I put in it. Does heat do anything bad and bacteria related to pads? I think it affected the adhesive a little, but it would be good to know if my pads are dangerous.

Comments

[yourkisshello.livejournal.com]

To avoid the smell, I would maybe change your pad/tampon as often as you can. Also, Playtex and other brands make special scented cleansing wipes for women on their periods. Consider picking some of those up and wiping as often as you change your pad as well as when you go to the bathroom. Good luck! :)

[mangofandango.livejournal.com]

Scented things are bad news for your vagina. They can upset the delicate pH and bacterial balance of your vagina, causing yeast and bacterial infections. Scented things should basically be kept far away from your crotch. :) Using scented stuff just covers up a smell anyway, so it's not really solving anything.

[egalitarianism.livejournal.com]

I ALWAYS smell horrible on my period and no matter what I do, the stench still lingers even after I take a bath. It's very annoying to say the least. I just drench myself in whatever smells nice, wear two pairs of panties, put on a pad and a tampon. . . then you can't smell me. A little extensive, but hey! It works!

[mein-liebe.livejournal.com]

I (and apparently others, now that boyfriend has mentioned it) notice that the smell gets very strong while I'm menstruating- I'm also a pad user.

I know that I wash and I'm in good health, so if someone mentions it, if I'm feeling polite I'll shrug and tell them nothing I can really do about it; if I'm not, well, it's a vagina and it has its own smell. They have a mouth to breath through if they're that troubled.

[lucypevensie.livejournal.com]

I have noticed that disposable pads give me a very distinct odor whether I am menstruating or not -- I always thought it was just the blood-smell, and it was reduced with the DC (much less surface area to evaporate smell from), but I wore pads recently in conjunction with YI treatment and -- same stink. It dissipated eventually in the absence of pads.

Another reason to try washables, I guess?

As far as the heating is concerned, I don't think there's any reason it would mess up pads. (Unless you melted them or something.) There is some distinction between sanitary/sterile/etc. that I'm not quite versed in, but I'm pretty sure pads are hygienic shouldn't have too many microbes in them (or, for that matter, much liquid to help said microbes flourish).

[dama-imperfecta.livejournal.com]

My smell decreased with washables, and they don't chafe, yay!

[whiteraevyn.livejournal.com]

Same! Far less funk with the washable pads.

[fourwordsapart.livejournal.com]

same here! the plastic-y disposable ones trap heat and moisture in my coochie area and make for yucky odor

[lucypevensie.livejournal.com]

:D

I'm definitely making the switch; I just haven't quite got round to checking out my local selection. (The first time I saw Lunapads, I just couldn't get over how cute they were!)

[loonylupinlover.livejournal.com]

I doubt the pads are bad for you, but they may be contributing to the stronger smell. I don't think they're bacteria-infested or anything, but the heat may have done something wonky to the absorbent that interacts negatively with your menstrual blood. Do you have tampons or different pads around? You might try one of them to see if it's you, or the pads.

[mangofandango.livejournal.com]

For me, wearing a menstrual cup, tampon, or reusable cotton pad makes a *ton* of difference in how comfortable I am and how much the menstruation smell thing becomes an issue. You want stuff that will allow your vulva to breathe, and disposable pads? Not so much with the breathing.

Other stuff you might try? Drink tons of water, make sure your vulva is carefully dried after washing, and change your pad more often. Good luck!

[restlesspoetry.livejournal.com]

I second, third, fourth, whatever the number is, the suggestion of cloth pads. They are way more breathable and oh so comfortable! Having flannel against your sad girly bits when you're crampy is so much nicer than having that weird whatever-it-is that disposables are made out of.

[panicqueen.livejournal.com]

i've always had the problem with a seriously strong odor while i'm on my period, and i use disposable pads (am seriously considering making my own reusable pads, as there are so many different kinds of fabric that i see and like at the fabric store!). i recently bought the playtex cleansing wipes, and found that it helped a LOT. i don't use them often, seeing as how it's scented and upsets the ph balance of the vagina, but for desperate emergencies--IE, when i can't bathe anytime soon--i definitely go to that.

[rianwyn.livejournal.com]

Make sure to dry properly after a bath/shower before you cover your vulva up with pads and panties again, if you have a robe just walk around in that a bit (provided that your flow is light enough) to allow it to dry.

Also, I've recently discovered the pubic hair *really really* holds on to smells, so especially when I'm on my period I seriously shampoo my pubes (careful not to get it all inside!), and that helps a lot with lingering smell.

[oboegoddess.livejournal.com]

I would recommend using something other than pads, as the blood is freely flowing and I definitely notice a stronger smell when I've used pads. I use a reusable menstrual cup now (divacup), and I don't notice any smell at all. In fact most of the time, unless I have bad cramps, I even forget I'm on my period!

[hoodwink.livejournal.com]

I've been thinking about using a menstrual cup, I heard they help with the smell?

[sexxyful.livejournal.com]

Ya, I can't smell myself at all when I'm wearing my Diva

[hoodwink.livejournal.com]

cool:)

[remey.livejournal.com]

okay. that just helped me decide to get a diva cup. i've been thinking abiout it and i think i shall as soon as possible...

[auraesque.livejournal.com]

Consider cloth pads or a menstrual cup? I've noticed that my scent is a lot stronger when I wear a disposable pad as opposed to a cloth pad, cup r nothing.