11 Possible Reasons Why You Can Smell Yourself Through Your Pants

It’s natural to feel concerned or self-conscious about an unfamiliar or unusually powerful odor coming from your vagina — especially if you can smell it through your clothing. It happens to lots of people, for lots of different reasons.

Understanding what’s happening can give you the confidence to accept or address it. Ob/Gyn Oluwatosin Goje, MD, is here to help.

What causes vaginal and groin odor?

How your groin and vagina smell (and how much they smell) depends on many factors, from body chemistry and activity level to diet. In other words, your smell is as unique as the rest of your body. And slight variations in the type or intensity of feminine odor are typically no cause for concern.

“The human body is a living organism,” Dr. Goje says. “We’re not metal or plastic. Everything about us is alive.”

But there are times when a strong vaginal odor is a sign of illness or infection. Dr. Goje lays out 11 reasons you might be able to smell yourself through your pants — and what to do about it.

1. Sweat

Sweat is a common and unavoidable cause of groin and vaginal odor. Though sweat itself doesn’t have an odor, that changes when it interacts with the bacteria living on your skin.

Like armpit sweat, the sweat from your genital area comes from your apocrine glands. It tends to be thicker and richer in fat and protein than sweat coming from other parts of your body. And it also tends to have a stronger odor.

The amount you sweat doesn’t dictate how strong your personal smell is. But Dr. Goje says that for some people with hyperhidrosis or diaphoresis, treatment can help keep odor in check.

2. Skin folds

Everyone has areas of their body where skin overlaps and moisture gets trapped, causing odor. If you have overweight or obesity, those areas might be larger. You may also have more of them.

Your thighs and genitals form a triangle that can be particularly tough to keep clean and dry throughout the day. The same goes for a panniculus, if you have one. Sometimes called an “apron belly,” panniculus is the medical name for skin from your abdomen that rubs against your pelvis or legs.

Dr. Goje explains that the smell of sweat trapped in these folds can mix with the normal, natural smell of your vaginal microbiome — the delicate bacterial ecosystem that keeps your vagina healthy.

“Both of these smells are a normal part of a woman’s anatomy,” she clarifies. “But some people might feel that the resulting smell is more pungent.”

3. Urine

Sometimes, what you’re smelling through your pants isn’t your vagina: It’s pee.

“Some people just have very concentrated urine,” Dr. Goje says. “If you didn’t wipe completely, you can be left with a lingering smell.”

Leakage can also leave you with a stronger smell than you’re used to. And it can happen for lots of reasons, from the medications you take to hormone fluctuations.

4. Your diet

What you eat can sometimes affect the way your sweat and urine smell — which, in turn, can temporarily turn up the volume on feminine odor. Examples include:

• Garlic and onions
• Cruciferous veggies and asparagus
• Fermented milk products like kefir or buttermilk
• Fish and red meat
• Alcohol and vinegar

“Have you ever heard someone say that they ate something very garlicky and feel like it’s coming out of their pores? It's the same idea,” Dr. Goje reports.

5. Medications

Some medications can make you sweat more, which may increase groin and vaginal odor. Common examples include:

• Certain antidepressants and antipsychotics
• Diabetes and thyroid medicines
• Hormone therapy
• Chemotherapy drugs
• Opioid pain medications

6. Hormonal changes

Puberty, periods, pregnancy and menopause all cause hormonal changes that can affect the amount and quality of your vaginal odor. Your hormones can also become imbalanced because of medical conditions like:

• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• Diabetes
• Thyroid disorders

When your hormones shift, so does your vaginal pH. And when your vaginal pH changes, it affects the delicate balance of bacteria that make up your vaginal microbiome. Hormone changes can also make the sweat glands in your groin more active.

7. Bacterial vaginosis

If your vagina has a strong, fishy smell and your vaginal discharge is off-white or gray, you may have an infection called bacterial vaginosis (BV). It happens when something throws off your vaginal microbiome and causes bacterial overgrowth.

If you notice that your vagina smells different (or more) after sex or your period, Dr. Goje suggests contacting your provider, especially if you’ve been prone to BV in the past.

“The vagina is acidic, meaning it has a low pH,” she explains. “Bodily fluids, like semen and blood, have a very high pH. They can offset your vaginal pH and create an imbalance called dysbiosis.”

8. Something stuck inside

If you’re suddenly smelling yourself through your pants, it could be a sign that there’s something in your vagina that shouldn’t be there. Dr. Goje says it happens more often than you might think.

“Children sometimes put things in their vaginas. Adults sometimes forget to take out a tampon and put a second one in. And sex toys can break,” she notes. “Any kind of retained foreign body could cause odor.”

9. Urinary tract infection

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) can change and increase vaginal odor for several reasons. The bacteria in your urine can introduce odor. Ditto for vaginal discharge, which often takes on a foul or bleach-like odor when you have a UTI.

Research also suggests that our body odor changes when we’re sick. It’s evolution’s way of trying to protect us.

10. Yeast infection

Fungal infections can change vaginal and groin odor just like bacterial infections can.

“If you smell yeasty — like beer or bread dough — and you have other symptoms, too, you should get checked out,” Dr. Goje advises. “Especially if you have a prior history of vaginal yeast infections.”

11. A sexually transmitted infection (STI)

Both trichomoniasis and gonorrhea can give your vagina and vaginal discharge a strong odor. But a change in scent probably wouldn’t be the only (or the most noticeable) symptom. Both conditions can cause pain and visible changes to your vaginal discharge.

Can people smell me if I can smell myself?

If you can smell yourself through your pants, it’s natural to wonder: Are other people smelling this, too?

Unfortunately, there’s no easy answer. It varies from person to person. But Dr. Goje is quick to offer reassurance.

“Most of us can smell ourselves, at least sometimes,” she says. “But I don’t think it’s always the case that other people can smell you.”

If your concerns about vaginal odor are getting in the way of your everyday life, see your primary care provider or a gynecologist. Healthcare professionals can give you the answer you need, without a side order of judgement or shame.

How do I stop groin or vaginal odor?

Everyday groin and vaginal odor — the kind that doesn’t signal an underlying health issue — can’t be avoided. But it can be managed. Here’s what Dr. Goje recommends.

• Use a squirt bottle or bidet. These options may be more effective than toilet paper for removing pee and sweat from your genital area.
• Shower after sweating. Showering and changing clothes after a workout can help keep your skin clean and dry. When you shower, wash your vulva with warm water and a gentle cleanser. Loofahs and perfumed body washes can irritate the skin and disrupt your vaginal microbiome.
• Stick with cotton underwear. Cotton wicks moisture, which keeps you drier longer. “Silky nylon underwear tends to hold on to smells,” Dr. Goje says. If you’re prone to excessive sweating, changing undies throughout the day can keep you feeling fresh.
• Change pads and pantyliners more often. Like silky underwear, pads and pantyliners hold onto odors. If you’re worried about feminine odor, change them at least once every four to six hours.
• Skip whole-body deodorants. Dr. Goje isn’t a fan of using deodorant in your groin or between your thighs. “I don’t want something masking the smell if it’s something that actually needs to be addressed,” she explains. These products can also cause irritation, infection and allergies.
• Avoid douching, wipes, scented period products and other feminine odor products. They may seem like a quick fix, but these harsh products can throw off your vaginal pH, causing infections and irritation.

When to see your provider

Call a healthcare provider if you notice that your groin or vaginal odor has suddenly changed in character or intensity and:

• You’re running a fever.
• It hurts or is difficult to pee.
• You’re bleeding heavily or irregularly.
• Your vagina is itchy, burning, swollen or red.
• Having sex hurts.
• You have pain in your pelvic area.
• Your vaginal discharge has changed in smell, color or consistency.
• Your pee has changed in smell, color or consistency.

Here’s another reason to make an appointment: You have questions you aren’t comfortable asking anyone else. Feminine odor may not be the easiest thing to talk about, but rest assured that it’s nothing new to your provider.

“We all have a scent that is unique to us,” Dr. Goje emphasizes. “If yours is associated with other symptoms — whether they’re vaginal symptoms or urinary symptoms — reach out for help. You deserve to feel confident.”