Seeing your OB/GYN can be an awkward, somewhat nerve-wracking experience. The last thing you want to do is make the visit any more agonizing. And while you may be overwhelmed with burning questions about your lady parts, most of us would rather grin and bear it, to make the process as seamless as possible.
With the help of board-certified OB/GYNs Dr. Jamil Abdur-Rahman and Dr. Idries Abdur-Rahman, here are answers to three embarrassing questions you’re too afraid to ask your gynecologist – because awkwardness is no excuse to stay in the dark about common womanly concerns.
Q: I smell “funny” down there. Should I be worried?
Dr. Idries: Worried may be a strong term but a funny odor is something that should be investigated. Let’s start by establishing the fact that all vaginas make discharge. Vaginal discharge is not only normal but it is actually
healthy. Vaginal discharge is indicative of normal vaginal flora (the bacteria and organisms that should live in the vagina) and vaginal discharge functions to clean unhealthy organisms from the vagina. Most vaginal discharge will have a mild odor, again this is normal. The key is getting to know your body and your norm.
“The issue is when the vaginal discharge has a strong or abnormal odor or if it smells differently than normal. If the odor is fishy, that usually indicates bacterial vaginosis, an infection, and imbalance amongst the normal vaginal flora. Malodorous vaginal discharge can also be indicative of an STI (sexually transmitted infection) like gonorrhea, chlamydia or trichomoniasis. Strong vaginal discharge can also be indicative of rarer things including foreign bodies (retained tampon or condom) and even more rarely malignancies like cervical, uterine or vaginal cancer.
So again, “worried” is a strong term but if a malodorous discharge is present, especially if it is new, it should definitely be investigated by a medical professional.”
Dr. Jamil: Less concerning causes of abnormal odor can include vaginitis. This is typically a non-STD infection like candidiasis (i.e., a yeast infection) or bacterial vaginosis. Additionally, consumption of large amounts of dairy, alcohol, etc. can affect the vaginal pH and result in an odd odor.
Q: How much daily discharge is normal?
Dr. Jamil: There really isn’t a “normal” amount. The amounts of daily discharge can vary widely depending upon
whether or not a woman is pregnant, postmenopausal, premenopausal, in the early portion of her menstrual cycle, has just ovulated, is on some form of contraception, etc. I normally tell women to be less concerned about the amount of vaginal discharge and more concerned about the consistency and character of the discharge. If the discharge seems “different” than it normally is, that may be an indication of an issue. If it is thicker than normal, thinner than normal, has a different odor or is associated with “symptoms” (i.e. abdominal pain, itching, odor, painful urination, etc), then that may be an indication of a problem.
Q: Why am I no longer interested in having sex?
Dr. Idries: The answer to this question is not always easy. The most common cause for female hypoactive sexual desire disorder is psychological. This doesn’t mean that women who have less interest in sex are crazy. This means that for women, sex is both physical and emotional. If there is a lack of emotional intimacy in a relationship, the desire for physical intimacy also takes a hit.
Another major cause for lack of desire in women is simple aging. For both men and women, hormones play a big part in both sexual desire and functioning. As women age, levels of estrogen, progesterone and testosterone (yes, women have testosterone) decrease. As these hormone levels decrease, women frequently notice a decrease in desire.
The causes of decreased desire can also include medical conditions. Think about the two Ds because depression and
diabetes are two big ones. Medication side effects can also cause a decrease in desire as a side effect.
Decreased sexual desire is often a complex multi-factorial issue and women should not be embarrassed or hesitant to discuss it with their medical providers.
Did you know? The word ‘vagina’ wasn’t actually used until 1682. Before that, the most common word was one that’s considered a curse word today. It’s actually pretty daunting to know uncommon facts about an organ that females live with every single day.
It pays to know a thing or two about your lady parts. Find out more facts you may or may not know below!
1. It’s like a self-cleaning oven.
See discharge often? White or clear discharge is generally
nothing to worry about. The vagina is actually very good at cleaning itself and this just shows it’s doing its job.
2. Most women have or will experience thrush.
75% of women will suffer from thrush in their lifetime. It’s caused by an overgrowth of yeast called candida albicans, which is found in the vagina and on the skin of many women. It can develop when conditions in the vagina change – such as when taking antibiotics, when hormone changes occur due to pregnancy, when you have diabetes or if your immune system is weak.
3. Smelling fishy – can actually mean your vagina’s way too clean.
If you notice a fishy smell down below, it could indicate an imbalance in pH levels – and might actually be caused by being too clean. Our vaginas naturally contain bacteria that keep them healthy, so if you douche, wash internally or use too much soap, you actually remove good bacteria and bad ones can take over which can cause that fishy unpleasant smell.
Leave your vagina to clean itself as much as possible, that means opting out of perfumed soaps and using more natural cleaners and even rinsing with just warm water.
4. A vagina can heal itself within 2 days tops!
Your vagina is better than most other parts of the body at
healing itself, as the cells replenish very quickly. Rips and tears can actually heal within 48 hours.
5. Your emotions are directly connected to your vagina.
The vagina is essentially a tube, around 10cm long. When you’re relaxed, the walls touch – then when you get excited, they widen by 7.5cms and stretch 5cms longer, to allow penetration to come easy.
Vaginismus is a condition where the muscles at the entrance to the vagina shut tightly, sometimes preventing penetration or making it very painful. It usually has an emotional cause, brought on by fears or concerns about sex, perhaps because of a negative experience in the past.
6. As cool as they are, tampons are not our friends.
They can actually give you vaginal ulcers which can make you more susceptible to STIs. To avoid them, don’t use tampons with a higher absorbency than you need. This can also cause toxic shock syndrome, especially if you leave your tampon in for longer than the recommended eight hours.
Tia Muhammad, BS, is an award-winning freelance content & media creative, copywriter, blogger, digital designer, and marketing consultant. She owns the boutique content and digital media company, jackieGLDN|studio.
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