HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

question-icon

Using Tampon For Bad Odour And Noticed Traces Of Blood. What Could Be The Problem?

default
Posted on Fri, 29 Nov 2013
Question: I have had an odor in my female area for over 5 years. I have had to use a tampon everyday since in order to address the odor. Recently, I noticed that when I change tampons, there are traces of blood on the tampon. This has occurred for over 3-4 months.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Aarti Abraham (10 minutes later)
Brief Answer: INFECTION / ATROPHIC VAGINITIS LIKELY. Detailed Answer: Hello Thanks for your query. There is a very strong possibility that you are having a pelvic infection. The odour is very strongly suggestive of that, and substantiating symptoms would be - pain in abdomen, itching, painful intercourse, vaginal discharge etc. Let me know if you are having any of these. Even if not, the characteristic odour in itself should be investigated. For a patient walking into my clinic, I would recommend a thorough per vaginum and per speculum examination, and a vaginal swab to diagnose the specific organism causing the infection. According to the results, antibiotic therapy should be initiated. Also, another strong possibility is that you are 44, and around peri menopause ( transitional changes, which can begin in your body some time ahead of actual menopause ). During this period, the body's hormones fluctuate rapidly, leading to disturbances in the pH of the vagina. Also, the vaginal mucosa and uterine lining become quite fragile, delicate, prone to easy breakability and thus hosting infections easily. This could explain the mild spotting seen on your tampon ( atrophic vaginitis and atrophic endometritis - due to extreme thinning of the lining membranes ). Perimenopause in itself can lead to erratic spotting - often anxiety, stress, weight gain, hypothyroidism, endometrial hyperplasia , travelling and erratic sleep and diet - can exacerbate these issues. Please have a gynecological examination ( per vaginum and per speculum ) , a vaginal swab test, pelvic ultrasound, blood tests ( FSH, LH, TSH ) , urine examination . This would yield a definitive diagnosis. As general pointers - Wear cotton non allergic undergarments. Avoid keeping the private parts damp and wet. Do not douche / clean / rub / rinse vigorously. Use plain lukewarm water for cleaning, instead of medicated soaps / perfumes / cleansers . Have a balanced diet and regular exercise in moderation. Take care. Please feel free to ask for further clarifications.
Note: Revert back with your gynae reports to get a clear medical analysis by our expert Gynecologic Oncologist. Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Aarti Abraham

OBGYN

Practicing since :1998

Answered : 6004 Questions

Ask me a question
premium_optimized

The User accepted the expert's answer

Ask a Gynecologic Oncologist
Share on

Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties

159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM Blog Questions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction
backtotop2
Using Tampon For Bad Odour And Noticed Traces Of Blood. What Could Be The Problem?

Brief Answer: INFECTION / ATROPHIC VAGINITIS LIKELY. Detailed Answer: Hello Thanks for your query. There is a very strong possibility that you are having a pelvic infection. The odour is very strongly suggestive of that, and substantiating symptoms would be - pain in abdomen, itching, painful intercourse, vaginal discharge etc. Let me know if you are having any of these. Even if not, the characteristic odour in itself should be investigated. For a patient walking into my clinic, I would recommend a thorough per vaginum and per speculum examination, and a vaginal swab to diagnose the specific organism causing the infection. According to the results, antibiotic therapy should be initiated. Also, another strong possibility is that you are 44, and around peri menopause ( transitional changes, which can begin in your body some time ahead of actual menopause ). During this period, the body's hormones fluctuate rapidly, leading to disturbances in the pH of the vagina. Also, the vaginal mucosa and uterine lining become quite fragile, delicate, prone to easy breakability and thus hosting infections easily. This could explain the mild spotting seen on your tampon ( atrophic vaginitis and atrophic endometritis - due to extreme thinning of the lining membranes ). Perimenopause in itself can lead to erratic spotting - often anxiety, stress, weight gain, hypothyroidism, endometrial hyperplasia , travelling and erratic sleep and diet - can exacerbate these issues. Please have a gynecological examination ( per vaginum and per speculum ) , a vaginal swab test, pelvic ultrasound, blood tests ( FSH, LH, TSH ) , urine examination . This would yield a definitive diagnosis. As general pointers - Wear cotton non allergic undergarments. Avoid keeping the private parts damp and wet. Do not douche / clean / rub / rinse vigorously. Use plain lukewarm water for cleaning, instead of medicated soaps / perfumes / cleansers . Have a balanced diet and regular exercise in moderation. Take care. Please feel free to ask for further clarifications.