Smelly Snap Dragon

Freida Flower asks:

Amy,
I'm embarrassed to admit that i've been having a lot of unprotected sex lately. I used to have a really clean smelling "lotus", but up until recently, the lotus has turned into a "snap dragon", if you catch my drift... could this possibly be an STD? I really didn't think that any of the guys that i had intercourse with were contagious- know one told me about anything, so i figured it was fine, since i was on birth control... If a guy gave me something that smells like this, why wouldn't his sperm smell too? None of them had anything out of the ordinary- appearance wise, however, there was one guy that had an odd smelling taint. I know everyone smells differently though, depending on various factors. Could this have carried into my "lotus" ?

Thanks, i hope you can help me replenish the fresh scent of my flower.

-F

Dear Freida:

The smell of your “lotus” is not necessarily relevant to whether or not you have contracted an STI. There are certain STI’s that may cause a foul or unusual odor, but this is not always the case. Body odors may also change due to hormones, age, ph balance, and diet. This is not to say you should ignore the snappy new smell coming from your vagina. If you are worried that you may have contracted an STI, you may want to consider seeing a doctor ASAP. Many STI’s show little to no symptoms, and can cause serious health problems if left untreated.

It may also be a good idea to make an appointment with your local gynecologist even if you do not think you have an STI. Because you are having sex with multiple partners, it is a good idea to get checked out regularly (perhaps every time you have unprotected sex with a new partner) for your own safety, as well as that of your partner. Just because you cannot see or smell anything unusual on your partner does not mean they are completely STI-free. Furthermore, while you or your partner claim to be clean as a whistle, it is possible for either of you to carry an STI and not even know it. This is another reason why you should consider seeing a gynecologist regularly if you have not already done so.

For more information on STI's, safe-sex, or perhaps to make an appointment with a gyno, check out plannedparenthood.org.