Dear DOLLY DR, I am 16 and have been having sex with my bf for about six months. He is my first and only. Lately my vagina has been smelling really bad. It's so embarrassing. People can smell it and someone at school has even said something. Could it be an effect from having unprotected sex?
Rhiannon.
The vagina does have a unique smell of its own and the smell will become stronger if you have unprotected sex and he ejaculates inside you — this usually only lasts a few hours. If the smell is persistent and is very offensive, it usually means you have an infection or an overgrowth of bacteria or yeast (such as thrush) in the vagina. These may or may not be sexually transmitted, but it's important to find out so you can be treated if you do have an STI.
There is one STI called Trichomonas which causes a very fishy smell. If you have this, you and your boyfriend can both be treated with a single dose of antibiotics to clear it up. Alternatively, you might have an overgrowth of bacteria that normally live in the vagina that can become smelly — this can also be treated if you would like.
Some of these infections give other symptoms, such as a discharge or vaginal itch. Sexually active young people under 25 should also be tested at least once a year for Chlamydia, which is an STI that can lead to infertility if untreated, but which can be cured easily if detected. Testing for Chlamydia involves a simple urine test and can be done confidentially. You can also talk confidentially to your doctor about contraception.
