No, other people can't smell your period. Menstrual periods should only smell if you have irritation or an infection or haven't cleaned your vulva area well. Period underwear doesn't cause infections.
Teens Health reports, “changing your pad every 3 to 4 hours (more if your period is heavy) is good hygiene and helps prevent bad odors.”
"But period blood stays in the vagina for a longer period of time. It's exposed to the bacteria in the vagina, and that's where you get that odor." You might also notice that it doesn't always smell the same. The amount of bacteria in the vagina fluctuates, which can change the smell.
Generally, period blood smells are not noticeable to other people. A person should aim to bathe daily to improve unwanted odors. Additionally, during menstruation, they should change a pad every time they go to the restroom and change a tampon every few hours.
But after an hour or so it will begin to take on an odor as it starts to decompose. So in reality, you don't need sprays or perfumes to avoid an unpleasant smell – you just need to change your pad more frequently.
If it is strong enough to be noticed through your pants, for example, it's more likely that you have sprung a leak than anyone can smell anything through your menstrual care device. If you don't have a leak and a smell is still noticeable, you may have another infection and should go see your doctor about the issue.
Bacteria loves blood, sweat, and hair. So when blood gets caught in those crevices, it will start to smell.” Dr. Holmes says pads are more likely to collect odor than tampons, so if you're worried about vaginal odor, use the latter. Change both pads and tampons regularly, and clean your crevices regularly, too.
Can other people smell my period blood? The truth is that although you might be able to detect your period smell, the chances of someone else smelling your period are slim.
And what about during your period? Previous studies have shown that a woman's body odor is strongest during menstruation and that men who are particularly sensitive to smells can even detect this change in her scent.
Changing pads frequently is usually an easy way to work around any fear of smells. You can usually avoid vaginal smell during your period by ensuring that you change your pad at least every 4 hours, or even more frequently if your flow is intense.
To decrease odor, change your pad frequently. Assure you are using the pad or tampon with the right amount of absorbency. If a fishy odor persists after your period is over, an infection such as bacterial vaginosis may be present. Contact your healthcare provider for an in-office examination.
Disrupting a natural process
It's a delicate environment down there and using scented feminine products can upset the balance of power between good and bad bacteria. The chemicals in these products can also throw your pH balance out of whack, says Leslie.
University of Kent research suggests that men can distinguish between the scents of sexually aroused and non-aroused women. The detection of sexual arousal through smell may function as an additional channel in the communication of sexual interest and provide further verification of human sexual interest.
A recent study in the journal Ethology reveals that men can detect from a woman's voice whether she is menstruating. Psychologists Nathan Pipitone from Adams State College and Gordon Gallup from SUNY Albany recorded 10 women counting from one to five, at four different points in their menstrual cycles.
Because estradiol was lower in the early follicular phase relative to the other two cycle phases, our findings are consistent with the possibility that within-women increases in estradiol produce subtle increases in face shape attractiveness.
Changing your pad every 3 or 4 hours (more if your period is heavy) is good hygiene and helps prevent bad odors. This is especially true if you'll be playing sports or rushing around from class to class.
Sweet. While you probably won't smell like a box of chocolates or a strawberry shortcake, your menstrual blood can take on a slightly sweet aroma. If this happens — don't panic. A sweet odor is most likely due to your vagina's ever-changing acidic environment (the pH is usually 3.8-4.5) and the presence of bacteria.
You wake up to find your pad has sprung a leak, and your sheets and pyjamas are now soaked. Unfortunately, it's a common issue during the night as the blood flow can fall either to the side or not entirely on the pad or on the side of the menstrual cup, causing leaks.
In adults, women rate both male and female body odors as more unpleasant than men. Women give highest unpleasantness ratings, particularly for the highest odorant (i.e., pyridine) concentration.
Aphrodisiac scents include pumpkin, lavender, vanilla, cinnamon, peppermint, ambrette, ylang-ylang, ginger, and more. Despite some skepticism around the use of aphrodisiacs, studies show that many of these aromas do work — they can be easily incorporated into anyone's fragrance routine.
Antibacterial properties of menthol help prevent rashes ensuring a cool, hygienic and rash free period for you.
Leaving pads on for several hours will result in foul-smelling menstrual blood. You need to change pads as frequently as you can to avoid dealing with unpleasant menstrual odor.