my boyfriend wants to “go down” on me. but im afraid he wont like my “smell.” WHAT DO I DO?
A lot of women are self conscious about how their vulva smells. Every vulva has a characteristic scent, and if it’s healthy the smell is not unpleasant. In fact, plenty of people really like the way vulvas smell. If you’re self conscious about smelling like sweat or urine, you can take a shower or wash your genitals before your boyfriend goes down on you. Sometimes, in an effort to eliminate natural smells, girls and women use douches and feminine deodorants. But your vagina is self-cleaning, and douching can disturb the normal balance of bacteria in the vagina. So douching and feminine deodorant aren’t just unnecessary, but they can be harmful as well.
That said, if your vulva smells really bad, fishy, or yeasty, or has any other strong and unpleasant odor, see a health care provider as soon as possible. An unpleasantly smelly discharge can be a sign of an infection that should be treated right away.
Chances are, if you’re nervous about your vulva’s healthy smell, it will be hard for you to enjoy oral sex. Getting used to the smell of your vulva — and to the idea of another person getting close to it — can take some time. Ask yourself if you’re definitely ready to have oral sex. Find out more about deciding when you’re ready for sex.