I have a foul smell in the vagina. Is it possible that I have left a tampon in?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 33-year-old female. My last period was one and a half weeks ago. I had sex five days ago. I noticed a smell that made me suspicious. The smell went away in a couple hours but that made me think I left a tampon in. I felt for it but couldn't find anything. Yesterday, I tried to feel for one again and felt something that could be similar. I do not remember feeling that before but I am not very familiar with that area. I could not work my finger around it, so my insides it must be smelling.

Today, I cannot even fit my finger in. There is no pain when I press my abdomen. When I drink milk or something, there is no pain, maybe a little bit of bloating, similar to having my period. I have a slight soreness in my middle right back and It does appear like I am seeing more when I look down there. I have made a doctor appointment for tomorrow and I am not sure if it is more serious than waiting.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I do not see it a reason to worry about. As you mentioned, it could be a forgotten tampon. But chances are low as it would have interfered with your sex. It would have been painful. The other possibility is there may be an infection of vagina and cervix. Cervix can feel as a swelling in the midline and when infected, it can be felt slightly bigger than normal. It may produce a discharge that could be white, yellow, grey, or brownish, which can be foul smelling or fishy smell or with itching, feverish feel, and pain in lower back. In either of these situations, you have to consult a gynecologist who needs to do an internal examination. evaluate and give you a course of antibiotics. Do not keep examining the vagina. You may injure the vaginal wall which can be sore later or infected.