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HEALTH

Your Bod

I have odor down there!

Just so ya know, having some odor is very normal! Your privates have a whole lot of sweat glands, which produce a slightly sweet smell. It’s just a fact that every girl has her own unique scent, which no one else can detect (we swear).
But sometimes, if the odor is suddenly more noticeable or seems slightly fishy, you may have an easily treatable problem. If this is the case, see a doctor. Yes, there are a ton of feminine medications at the drug store, but they may not be right for your particular issue. Now, while it may seem embarrassing to go to the doc about this stuff, try not to worry. Your doctor sees these problems every day, and she’s there to help you.
What you don’t want to do is start over-washing your tender tissues. Any odor is almost never due to poor hygiene, explains Dr. Elizabeth Stewart, M.D., author of The V Book. It’s either natural, or it indicates an infection. (Nearly one-fourth of all females get yeast and bacterial infections from time to time. So don’t worry!)
Meanwhile, soaps, sprays and deodorants will only make the problem worse. The chemicals in these products are unnecessary, and worse, they’re bad for you, Stewart adds. Washing with warm water is all you need to do to keep super clean.

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10/18/2009 7:01:00 AM
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