Have you ever caught a whiff of something "down there" while you were working out? What about while sitting at the office? Realizing that you might have an abnormal vaginal smell can be embarrassing, even though everybody smells differently. Still, you might be right to have some concerns.

Think you have something to worry about? Pay attention to these types of smells. You might be able to stop it.

Bacterial Infection

If the scent you sense is somewhat fishy, you might have a bacterial infection. Vaginosis is a common infection, and the good news is that you can treat it with an antibiotic. Symptoms of vaginosis include burning, pain, and white discharge. Oftentimes, people experience little to no vaginal irritation.

Yeast Infection

If your private parts are starting to smell similar to a bakery, you might have a yeast infection. Fortunately, yeast infections are easy to treat with an over-the-counter cream or prescription. You will know that you have a yeast infection if you experience cottage cheese–like discharge, itching, redness, and irritation of the vulva.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases

In some cases, scent is linked to a disease or infection caused by sexual intercourse. These smells are often musky and are accompanied by other symptoms, like bleeding or green discharge. Potential STDs include gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trichomoniasis. You will need medical treatment to address these issues.

Toxic Shock Syndrome

Does something smell like it's rotting? You could very well have something stuck inside your vagina. This is more common with tampons and even sex toys than you might think, and the condition can be dangerous. Symptoms of Toxic Shock Syndrome include vomiting, low blood pressure, redness, and fever.

Sweat

Sometimes nothing is wrong with you at all, you are just contending with the natural phenomenon of human sweat. You will smell something musky down there if this is the case. Remedy the situation by washing with warm water and soap, but only on the vulva (exterior). You should wear cotton underwear during the day and consider not wearing underwear at night if the sweat is causing you concern.

Ultimately, you should not be preoccupied by the way you smell in the genital region. Most people are perfectly fine, albeit self-conscious. If you do have concerns, discuss them with your doctor or OBGYN service provider to see if there is anything you can do to prevent the smell from taking over or continuing.