Why does genital sweat smell different

The extra presence of bacteria can cause an unpleasant smell. Treatments include antibiotics to treat the infection and surgical removal of dead tissues. If left untreated, it can prove deadly. Some people may need reconstructive surgery to treat the condition. Some underlying causes of groin smells affect both people with penises and people with vaginas.

Examples of these include the following. Refraining from regular bathing can lead to dirt, sweat, and dead skin cell buildup that leads to strong smells through your clothes. You can reduce these effects by showering regularly and washing with mild soap and warm water. Sweating in the groin area can attract fungus and bacteria that can lead to a bad smell. Showering after exercise or athletic activity can help reduce the bad-smelling effects of smells related to sweating.

Putting on clean, dry clothes after a sweat session can also help. Avoid tight-fitting clothes, which will make you sweat more.

Eating some foods can temporarily affect the way your body smells. This includes the smell of your sweat or urine. Foods that may cause strong body smells include asparagus, garlic, onion, chili, vinegar, marinated fish, and fermented milk products. This is true of some antidepressants , including the following:.

This can be for a number of reasons. Vigorous sex can cause sweating that increases the smell. If you or the other person has an active yeast or other infection, the smell could increase. Instead, you can just use soap and water. A UTI occurs when an excess of bacteria invade the urinary tract. Symptoms can include:.

Treatments for a UTI may include antibiotics, staying hydrated, and taking over-the-counter pain medications to reduce pain. Sometimes, urine leaking can cause urine to build up on your underwear or skin.

This can lead to a smelly groin. If you have a urinary tract infection, you may especially feel like the smell lingers. Deodorants make your underarms less hospitable for bacteria. They also help mask body odor with a fragrance. Antiperspirants block sweat glands to reduce perspiration. If you don't sweat much but still get body odor, deodorants are a good choice. If you sweat a lot, look for a product that is both an antiperspirant and a deodorant.

If you have strong body odor, look for a product with higher amounts of active ingredients. If over-the-counter products don't seem to help, talk to your doctor. Natural fabrics like cotton are better than polyesters, nylon, and rayon at controlling body odor. Natural fibers breathe. This lets sweat evaporate. Avoid fabrics that trap sweat against the skin.

These create a better breeding ground for body odor. When working out, choose moisture-wicking fabrics. Remove or reduce spicy or pungent foods from your diet. This includes foods like:. These foods can cause a more pungent sweat. Even alcohol can change the smell of your sweat. If you eat these types of foods regularly, try eating less of them or stop eating them altogether. This might help improve your body odor. Apocrine glands are concentrated in areas covered by hair.

This includes the armpits and the pubic area. Hair holds sweat and makes a good home for bacteria. Removing hair can help control body odor. Consider shaving your underarms. If you'd rather not go bare, try trimming the hair short. This can also help reduce body odor. Daily showering, anti-bacterial soap, and the right underarm product can help control body odor.

You can also try wearing breathable fabrics, avoiding certain foods, and shaving or trimming body hair. If you've tried these tips and haven't seen an improvement, call your doctor. Something else may be causing your body odor, such as a fungal infection.

Or, you just may need a stronger treatment. Some options include:. Body odor is caused by bacteria breaking down the sweat from the apocrine glands in your armpits, groin, and pubic area.

You may be more prone to body odor if you are overweight, eat certain foods, have certain health conditions, or are under stress. Genetics may also play a role.

You can prevent body odor with lifestyle changes like daily showering and choosing the right underarm product. The sweat from apocrine glands contains protein. Bacteria break down this protein, which can produce a distinct odor.

Excess sweat around the groin area may also cause itching and can sometimes lead to infections, such as bacterial vaginosis and vaginal yeast infections.

Sweating is usually a sign of a good workout. Exercises that specifically focus on the legs, such as running, can cause more sweat in the lower half of the body. It is impossible for a person to avoid sweating at all while exercising. However, wearing cotton or other breathable materials can help minimize sweat production. People can also try wearing underwear that the manufacturers have designed specifically for exercising in.

Athletic underwear should help remove moisture and keep the groin dry during workouts. The apocrine sweat glands in the groin area secrete fluid into hair follicles. Pubic hair can trap bacteria and moisture. A mass of pubic hair can trap heat in the skin and cause apocrine glands to secrete excess sweat.

Bacteria may also build up in pubic hair, which can lead to infections if a person does not clean the area properly. Wearing breathable cotton underwear can help reduce pubic sweating. Manufacturers often use nonbreathable fabrics and synthetic fibers to make female underwear. Not only do these types of underwear hold in heat, but they do not absorb moisture, which means that sweat remains on the skin. A person can reduce sweat around the vagina by wearing cotton underwear.

Cotton is a light, breathable fabric that absorbs moisture. It is also a natural material that is durable and nonallergenic. Females tend to carry most fat around their stomachs, hips, and thighs. Excess fat in these areas can lock in heat and may cause excess sweat production. People who carry excess body weight around their hips may sweat more in their pubic region. Streicher says, and that can cause an odor to form.

Typically, the smell will clear up on its own within a day or so—or after you shower—but if it persists, call your doctor. Shepherd says. Blood has an elevated pH, and that can throw your vaginal flora off a little during your period. You probably associate yeast infections with a certain discharge, but they can also cause a particular odor to develop.

OTC yeast infection medications should help clear up the infection—and smell, Dr. In addition to a foul-smelling vaginal discharge, it can make your genitals itch and cause painful peeing, though many people experience no symptoms.

Gonorrhea and chlamydia can also cause foul-smelling discharge, says Dr. And just like with trichomoniasis, you may not experience symptoms. If you notice any unusual discharge or have pain during sex or urination , see your doctor to rule out an STI. PID happens when sexually transmitted bacteria—possibly from an untreated chlamydia or gonorrhea infection—travel from your vagina to your uterus, ovaries, or fallopian tubes, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Tightly-knit fabrics that are meant to trap and wick away sweat can sometimes cause a musky smell. The type of undies you choose matters. Certain materials trap in heat and moisture, affecting the overall balance of good and bacteria—and yes, your vaginal odor.

While there is some variation with normal vaginal odor, smells that are a tip-off that something is wrong can generally be divided into three camps: fishy odors, zoo-like smells, and yeasty scents. It could be a sign of bacterial vaginosis. But a fishy smell can also be a sign of trichomoniasis, the CDC says.