OK TMI: Why Can I Smell Myself Through My Pants?

Imagine this: You're sitting down in your car, at your desk, or on your couch, and suddenly, you get a whiff of something. You remembered to put deodorant on this morning, but could it still be coming from you? Turns out, other parts of your body can get equally as sweaty (and smelly) as your armpits, especially in the summertime with warm and humid weather. It's totally natural to smell yourself from time to time, but if you've ever thought I can smell myself through my pants, you may be wondering exactly why.

While the temperature outdoors or your favorite tight workout leggings could be potential culprits, there are other health-related reasons why you might have more groin odor and sweat. For some, a quick shower and a fresh set of undies should do the trick, but for others, you may need to make a trip to your doc.

Read on to learn the top causes of groin and vaginal odor, why you smell yourself through your pants, and ways to feel and smell fresh again ASAP.

9 causes of odor from your groin area

If you have a vagina, the first thing to keep in mind is that vaginas have an odor. This is normal and natural, and there’s no shame around that. “A vagina typically will have a tangy, sour, kind of fermented type of odor,” says Anna Cabeca, DO, board-certified OB/GYN and menopause, hormone, sex, and intimacy expert in Dallas, Texas. This is due to the presence of lactobacilli bacteria, a “good” bacteria that produces hydrogen peroxide and lactic acid to maintain the vagina’s pH and protect against the growth of harmful bacteria, she explains.

But this odor is usually mild—meaning, if you notice a stronger smell (especially one through your pants), there may be a problem like an infection, says. Dr. Cabeca. Here are other possible causes:

1. Hygiene issues

The first possible reason for a smelly vagina or groin area is your hygiene. Maybe you just worked out, or you went on a walk in the hot sun and promptly returned to your desk to fire off some emails. If this is when you're noticing the smell, it could be due to sweat, says Dr. Cabeca. Once you hop in the shower and into a fresh change of clothes, the smell should clear up. But if you can smell yourself through your pants even after showering, it may be something more.

2. It’s your clothing

Anything with non-breathable fabric, whether it's underwear or leggings, can trap odors. “If you were wearing something more breathable, like cotton, you might not notice that same odor,” says Kelly Culwell, MD, MPH, a California-based board-certified OB/GYN also known as "Dr. Lady Doctor." Sweat and vaginal discharge can get trapped in this area, which can stimulate the growth of bacteria and odor on the skin, Dr. Culwell adds.

If you notice you're particularly smelly "down there" while wearing certain workout pants, jeans, or undies, they may be made of fabric that traps odor-producing moisture.

3. Yeast infections

If you smell yourself through your pants, your first thought might've been yeast infection. While trapped moisture can increase the risk of yeast infections, “these don’t typically come with odor,” says Dr. Culwell. The symptoms of vaginal yeast infections are typically the following, per the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG):

• Itching and burning of the vulva (that worsens with sex and urination)
• Redness and swelling of the vulva
• Increase in vaginal discharge
• White or lumpy discharge

That said, if you notice these symptoms along with a change in odor and are concerned about a yeast infection, call your OB/GYN before using over-the-counter (OTC) yeast medications.

4. Bacterial vaginosis

If there’s one gynecological problem associated with foul odor, it’s bacterial vaginosis, or BV. “BV is not really an infection but an imbalance of normal bacteria that live in the vagina,” says Dr. Culwell. “We have "good" bacteria that help to keep the vagina clean and protect against STIs, but if "bad" bacteria thrive, it can cause a foul-smelling odor that tends to be fishy,” she explains. You may also notice an increase in discharge or discharge that develops an “off-color,” like yellow or green. Because of the uptick in discharge, you may also feel some irritation.

Sex is one culprit of BV if your vagina is coming into contact with semen. “You may find that your odor changes after sexual activity because the pH of semen is "basic," while the vagina is acidic,” says Dr. Culwell. “Semen temporarily raises the pH of the vagina, and certain people are particularly prone to developing an imbalance in the vaginal microbiome,” she says.

5. STIs

One sexually transmitted infection your doctor may consider when you mention groin odor is trichomoniasis. Dr. Culwell explains that this STI can cause vaginitis—an umbrella term for inflammation of the vagina—just like yeast infections and BV can, per the ACOG.

The majority of trichomoniasis infections are asymptomatic, but you may notice a change in vaginal discharge—i.e., a difference in color (clear, white, yellow, or green), amount (more of it), or smell (fishy or foul), per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). And if you have a penis, trichomoniasis can cause itching or irritation, burning after peeing or ejaculation, or discharge. (Odor is not mentioned, but it's still an STI to have on your radar.)

Medication treats trichomoniasis, but without treatment, the infection can linger for months or years, per the CDC.

6. Hormonal changes

An odor could be the result of a hormonal fluctuation, says Dr. Cabeca. When you’re menstruating, your vagina will have a stronger smell compared to when you’re not menstruating, she says. If you’re in perimenopause or menopause, these hormonal changes also increase the pH of your vagina. “This can cause more of the "bad" bacteria and stronger odor, and also makes us more susceptible to infections,” she adds.

7. Trapped tampon

We know this sounds unlikely, but it is possible to get a tampon stuck in your vaginal canal—or forget about it entirely. "A less common cause of odor—though it happens more than you’d think—is forgetting to take a tampon out or another foreign body like a diaphragm for birth control,” says Dr. Culwell. “I’ve seen patients come in complaining of bad discharge and we see, oh wow, there’s a tampon that’s been in here for a while,” she says.

8. Rectovaginal fistula

A fistula is an abnormal internal connection between two body parts—like organs, blood vessels, or tissues, per Mount Sinai. A rectovaginal fistula, in particular, means a channel between the rectum and vagina has developed, often as a complication of vaginal birth or surgery, Crohn's disease, or even certain vaginal, cervical, or rectal cancers, per the National Library of Medicine (NLM).

Some symptoms of this complication include the following, per the Mayo Clinic:

• Foul-smelling discharge, from stool or gas moving from the rectum to the vagina
• Pain during sex
• Bleeding

While some cases of rectovaginal fistula can be diagnosed with a pelvic exam, you may also need to get a CT scan or MRI, according to Mayo Clinic.

9. Certain cancers, in rare cases

In rare instances, cervical or vaginal cancer can cause groin odor, says Melanie Bone, MD, an OB/GYN and medical director at Daye. This happens if dying cancerous cells cause an infection of the tumor, leading to a foul-smelling discharge reminiscent of rotting meat. Unusual bleeding is another possible sign of cervical cancer, per Moffitt Cancer Center. Just remember: There are much more likely causes of groin odor than cancer.

What causes groin odor in people with penises?

Groin odor doesn't just happen to people with vaginas. If you have a penis and notice a smell coming from "down there," it may be one of the following:

• Sweaty scrotum: Trapped heat and moisture can create a stink. After all, you have apocrine glands—a type of sweat gland—in both your pits and genital area. These glands produce a thick fluid that, when mixed with bacteria on your skin, makes things smelly, according to the International Hyperhidrosis Society.
• Smegma: Described as a cheese-like mix of dead skin cells, oils, and moisture, smegma hangs out underneath the foreskin. It can have an odor, but washing around the foreskin takes care of it, per the Cleveland Clinic.
• Balanitis: An inflammation of the head of the penis, it happens in up to 1 in 10 people with a penis in their life, according to the NLM. Also look out for redness, pain, and a foul-smelling discharge around the foreskin.
• Fournier’s gangrene: This rare infection happens in just 1.6 per 100,000 people with penises, and is more likely in folks with diabetes, per October 2021 research in Cureus. However, it can be life-threatening. At the onset, there are often no symptoms, but you should watch out for unexplained pain in the genital area; if the skin grows darker and there’s an odor, seek out medical treatment asap.

How to get rid of groin odor

If you want to get rid of vaginal odor at home, here are some doctor-approved tips for keeping your downstairs fresh:

Wash regularly

Basic hygiene practices like bathing regularly and using mild products is the key, says Dr. Culwell. You don't need to go overboard with feminine washes and products, though. Washing your vagina/vulva with water and fragrance-free soap (or no soap at all) can help keep irritation at bay. And never douche, BTW.

Wear loose-fitting clothes or cotton underwear

Another great vaginal health tip? Let it breathe. “Make sure you have some "air down there,"” says Dr. Cabeca. Yoga pants or spandex-like fabrics tend to trap moisture, but cotton is much more breathable. And if you prefer silky or satiny underwear, but sure to find some with cotton gussets (the crotch part).

Trim your pubic hair

If you’re bothered by your odor, one way you may be able to decrease it is to trim your pubic hair, says Dr. Cabeca. “Long hair holds onto sweat and can increase odors,” she says.

Replace tampons regularly or consider a menstrual cup

Tampons should be switched out every four to eight hours, according to the FDA. (If you tend to forget, there are tampon timer apps that will send out helpful reminders.) You can also consider the switch to a menstrual cup, which you can keep in for longer time periods—up to 12 hours, according to the Mayo Clinic Health System.

Practice hygiene around sex

Sexual activity can lead to a bacterial imbalance that contributes to BV. Practicing safe sex by wearing condoms can cut down this risk, per the CDC. Dr. Bone also recommends peeing shortly after sex. Doing so will help flush out bacteria that can throw your bacteria balance out of whack.

Avoid scented products

It can be difficult to ignore the messaging that you need to "fix your vaginal odor" with products, but doing so can cause more problems. (It's normal for vaginas to have a certain natural smell!) "Never put anything scented inside the vagina,” says Dr. Culwell. That includes scented tampons, suppositories, and external products like scented pads or wipes that can make their way from the outside to the inside.

“The vaginal microbiome is a delicate thing. It functions really well when you don’t mess with it,” she says. Try to use unscented products when possible, Dr. Culwell advises.

When to see a doctor about groin odor

While it's normal for your genital area to have an odor, smelling yourself through your pants likely means you need a shower, to change your clothes, or that you have trapped sweat that needs to be dried. That said, if your groin odor is persistent, strong, and foul-smelling, you should let your doctor know, Dr. Bone says. This is especially true if odor comes with other symptoms like itching, burning, pain, or unusual discharge.

If you're hesitant to bring this up, "don't be embarrassed—your doctor is there to help," says Dr. Bone. With your OB/GYN's advice, you can get to the root of the issue—to not only feel better, but also prevent any possible complications from things like infections, she adds. “There is nothing shameful about having an STI or a vaginal infection. They are incredibly common and [most] are harmless when caught and treated on time.”

—reviewed by Andrea Braden, MD, OB/GYN