Both men and women can experience that smelly situation in their private parts. Lack of proper hygiene and certain infections can cause this uncomfortable problem.
Without a doubt, one of the most uncomfortable and most embarrassing problems for men and women is the bad smell in their intimate area. This fetidity leads to problems when living together and, above all, having sex with the couple.
Many people believe that the bad smell in the genital area is normal and that there is nothing to do about it, but it is not so. That situation could even hide even more serious problems.
RELATEDBelow we detail some of the causes that, according to experts, can cause stink in the intimate areas of women and men.
In the case of men
According to Dr. Saúl Umaña, an internist, in most cases, the male genital area has a bad smell due to poor hygiene. According to the specialist, in all men, it does not matter if they are circumcised or not, it is important that the penis and testicles are washed daily, since bacteria and urine remains accumulate in the foreskin, causing a bad smell to come off .
"You should also wash the glans with water and neutral soap, as it is the only way to avoid smegma, which is a foul-smelling secretion that accumulates between that area and the foreskin," says Dr. Umaña.
It is also important that there is always good hygiene in the pubic hair, since it could also give off an unpleasant smell, triggered by sweat or semen remains.
Fetish in men's genitals may be due to the accumulation of smegma, which is a foul-smelling discharge. EDH photo / Shutterstock
The intake of certain foods is another cause that can cause pestilence. If the diet is high in meat, dairy and food of animal origin can cause this problem. It is for that reason that it is recommended to drink at least two liters of water to purify the body and eliminate toxins; It is also convenient to eat fruits and vegetables.
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as gonorrhea, lymphogranuloma venereum, inguinal granuloma and trichomoniasis also cause a bad smell in that area of the male body.
"Men may have a bad smell in the genital area if they have unprotected sex with a woman suffering from bacterial vaginosis, fungal or parasitic infection," says the doctor.
In the case of women
Normal odors of the female intimate genitals are caused by secretions from the apocrine glands. According to the gynecologist Maritza de Olivares, this smell is a resource for sexual attraction towards the couple, which tends to be pleasant and fresh, provided that it carries with it good intimate hygiene and does not have any type of infection in the area.
“The bad smell is produced in most cases by an infection or by improper hygiene. It is best to wash the intimate area only with water and without soap. If soap is used during the toilet, it must be soft or specific for that area, ”recommends Dr. Olivares.
In women, the use of synthetic underwear can trigger the bad smell. EDH photo / Shutterstock
The specialist argues that the bad smell can also be due to the use of tight clothing, wet clothes or synthetic lingerie. For this reason, it is advisable to wear cotton underwear and not wear tight pants or socks.
Another cause could be trichomoniasis, a sexually transmitted disease that, in addition to irritation, causes a very intense and unpleasant vaginal odor. Remains of semen in the vagina can also alter the intimate pH, damage the vaginal flora and cause the bad smell.
Smell in the intimate area of women may be associated with a bacterial vaginosis, an inflammatory process of the vaginal mucosa that alters the flora and is accompanied by an increase in secretion, leukorrhea, pruritus or itching.
“Vaginal odor can be a warning sign that cervical cancer is beginning to develop, especially if it is accompanied by bleeding and abnormal flow. In these cases it is convenient to go immediately to the specialist, ”says the gynecologist.
It is advisable to change sanitary pads every four or six hours maximum. EDH photo / Shutterstock
Buffers and sanitary napkins can also cause a foul odor due to the proliferation of bacteria, which is why they should be changed every four to six hours at the most.
When an unpleasant smell appears in the female intimate area it is advisable to go to the gynecologist since that indicates that something is going well.