Answers to those Questions that you’re too Embarrassed to ask your Gynecologist

Just because it’s awkward to ask doesn’t mean you have to be in the dark about your lady parts.

Honestly, none of us ladies look forward to our annual health exam, especially when it comes time for spreading our legs for the dreaded Pap test. Talking to our gynecologist about extremely personally matters such as our almost nonsexual libido or worrying about how you smell down there, is uncomfortable enough. Maybe that is why we tend to avoid asking those questions we have been dying to ask but never had the courage to do so.

We chatted with some of the top gynecologists to get some of the answers to those tricky questions that you’ve been too embarrassed to ask.

What Should My Vagina Smell Like?

An urban myth is that a woman’s vagina should smell like tuna fish, nothing could be further from the truth. A healthy vagina and vulva should smell like nothing particularly.

If you have a fishy smell after having sex or before your period, it could be a sign of a bacterial infection or Trichomonas. Trihomonas also produces lots of yellow and green discharge and is a sexually transmitted infection that can only be treated with antibiotic.

Should I Worry About that Itchy Sensation Down There?

There can be a number of reasons for the itch down yonder, such as a yeast infection, wearing damp clothing for too long or synthetic panties or even a sexual transmitted infection. It can be hard to pin point the actual cause but if you find the itching persists, after you shower, then you should play it safe and make an appointment with you health physician.

Why do I Have a Low Libido?

There are many reasons that your libido is low and you don’t feel like having sex, as it could be related to psychological, emotional or a physical reason. Or you just had a baby or premenopausal, which can take a toll on your hormones and emotions.

If you find the issue has been going on for more than a few months, then you should ask your doctor to first rule out physical issues such as hypothyroidism or low estrogen levels. Also certain prescription drugs such as anti-depressants and certain supplements have side effects that decrease your libido.

If you are as healthy as a horse, then maybe you need to talk to a sex therapist. Sometimes, the lack of sexual drive is from being in a long-term relationship that just needs to be jumpstarted into the next gear.

Are There Any Rules for Cleaning My Vagina?

Our vagina is deigned to keep the good bacteria in and the bad bacteria out, but sometimes the pH levels of the vaginal fluid gets unbalanced. When this happens the good bacteria dies off and the bad bacteria takes control, causing infections. Antibiotics or sperm can cause a bacterial infection that will be need to be treated with a vaginal antibiotic cream or oral antibiotics.

Recently there has been an online trend, thanks to Gwyneth Paltrow, of steaming your vagina, which removes all of the lactobacilli. Basically, it strips your vagina of everything, leaving it too clean and a prime candidate for infections. Instead, look for intimate washes that are pH balanced and irritant free.