Unpleasant Vaginal odor, could it be my IUD?

GEEZ I thought it was just me ; I had the Mirena placed Dec of 2011 and other then the fact that I bleed everyday for like 2 months I love it ; my boyfriend is in college and is only here every now and then and after this last visit I started to notice this bad odor I feel like everyone can smell me which im sure if I can smell myself they can smell me to , I thought my boyfriend gave me a STD I was freaking out but I have no other symptoms other then the smell. I dont want to have it taken out I have one kid and thats all I can deal with haha and the pill is so hard to remember to take has anyone done anything that seems to stop that smell or should I just talk to my Dr. I've had 1 UTI since getting the IUD could I have another ?

I have an IUD . . .the copper one. Other than the foul odor (caused by a tampon I somehow forgot to remove!), I have had no problem. Every comment I have read about the odor seems to be related to the Mirena IUD. The copper IUD works very well for me!

Oh it is NOT just the Mirena, I have the Paragard, had it placed in November 2011, and in the past few months the smell has gotten horrible, I have bought new underwear monthly, bleach them every time I wash underwear, I've tried washing with feminine wash, dial soap, tried cranberry juice, antibiotics, everything. IT IS NOT WORKING. I want it OUT! it's bad when you can smell it through your clothes and your child notices. I am going to have a tubal, i can't have more children anyway.

I had Paraguard inserted 6 months ago, and noticed a fishy smell almost immediately.  The smell is strongest just after my period and declines with time.  My periods are typically 5 days (normal, pre-IUD) and occur every 25 days (shorter than pre-IUD of 28-30 days).  However, for the smell, I found that Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar works really well to bring my pH back to normal and kill the smell.  I just soak a cotton ball or a few pieces of toilet paper with the cider vinegar and then place it down below for ~5 minutes.  I do not insert the ball, but just place it outside of my v.  Then I rinse well and continue on with my day.  This has also helped cure me of a UTI in the past.  I may need to rinse 2-3 times after my period, but soon the smell will disappear entirely.  Do make sure that you use only apple cider vinegar that has "The Mother" on the label.  The standard brand is Braggs, but if you can't find that product, look for apple cider vinegars that have some particulate in the bottom.  This tends to work best for me.  

I'm soo glad I found this website! I have been experiencing a fishy odor for about three weeks now. I was tested for the STD's, PID, Yeast and bacteria infections and my test results were negative! I never douched before in my life and wanted to get rid of the smell so, I used an all natural rinse called Yeastguard. The smell ceased for about three days and it came back again. During sex, the smell isn't strong at all, but I won't dare allow my husband to perform oral (though I miss it) due to the stinch. I'm headed to the doctor to see if there any relief besides the extraction of my IUD (because I'm sooo in love with it).

I've had the copper IUD inserted just three weeks ago. Just finished with my period now I'm getting that smell which i liken to rusty pipes! Glad I'm not alone!

I'm so glad that I came upon this site i've had my copper IUD for 6 years now and yes I have had the same problem off and on.  I've talked to my doctor about it and have over the years been treated for BV and for Yeast infections. Most of the time I notice it either 1 week before or after my period there are no other Symptoms besides this odor and a heavier than normal discharge that is white but not yeasty. Thanks to the person who suggested the replenish, I've been thinking about trying it so now I am definitely buying a box. I have not had any other problems with my IUD, it works great for my husband and I. The convenience, reliability and comfort of the IUD outweighs the occasional odor. Thanks to everyone for sharing...... B

Oh my gosh, you have no idea how you helped me. I have gone to the dr thinking I had bv, and it came up clean. I'm married but she still checked for std's and came up clean. But I am not crazy, I have an ammonia/ foul smell as well, and just can't seem to shake it. Other than the smell, I love my mirena. I am taking it out on Monday only because me and my husband want to try to have babies. But other wise, I will have it replaced once its all over.

Wooow, what can I say?? Thank god I finally reached the end of the road, though mentally, emotionally, and physically completely stressed out for quite a while, due to the problems caused by the “ultimate” BC (birth control) called IUD (copper in my case.) Don’t get me wrong, I am very much pleased about its main purpose, it is 100% convenient, and I love it for that!!  I did even tolerate the temporary side effects, which occurred in the first couple of weeks / month just as my OBGYN doctor explained to me. The main issue of the IUD, that I never got introduced to by any OBGYN doctor before insertion, (nor did I find any information about) but obviously every single woman here in this forum experienced or went through hell with is:<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

The Accelerated Vaginal Discharge with the Worst Odor one can imagine.

I have the IUD for about a year now, and just recently I said to my husband right after an intercourse, that I am going to take the IUD out, because I was so discussed of the bad odor. It is just a killer in any way. I couldn’t imagine, what else could have caused this long term bad sent I am dealing with every single day, other than a foreign object in my body. I am 35 always sexually active with my partner only, have a teenage child, and never experience such a bad odor.

Before I came up with that conclusion, I thought I might have caught an infection, but then I realized after watching it for a while, I did not have any itch, the odor was the worst and just did not want to go away.Therefore I started to go on a research mission, before heading to the doctor regarding this issue. And thank god to the internet, Google, this great forum and every single one of you for the answer and confirmation I was looking for the longest. I know exactly what to do now. 

I will go to the doctor not to ask about the problem, but to take the stinking sh*t out of me !!!

It is a shame doctors don’t tell the truth anymore. Everything seems to be just business and money to me.

I am sure even if I tell the doctor, about the find outs, he would turn around and recommend the same problem causing device to the next patient. I wish there is a way to make people aware better of this issue.

Thanks to all again !!

I now think it's the IUD.  I thought it was going to be wonderful.  There has been no pain, period like clockwork/5 days.  But the BV is driving me nuts and so embarassing.  I have found a temporary relief.  The product is VH Essentials sold at CVS.  Six days of vag inserts and I swear all symptoms are gone for a while.  But who wants to do that forever.  Antibiotics are not the way to go.  I am getting it removed.  I like my natural scent and I want it back.  I feel violated by not being told this before.  Who wants a stinky monkey?  Good luck!

Hey ladies cranberry or pomgranade juice works great ocean spray the best. any bottle which says cranberry whether it be cran_grape, cran-apple whatever but the best is 100% juice. Banish the o.j and a.j etc. or try the cranberry tablets can be found at any pharmacy.

try drinking cranberry or pomgranade juice daily the more concenrtrATEd the better. only a temporary relief.

I had my Paragard removed a month ago. I no longer have this horrific smell or heavy discharge, I am totally back to normal. Had my tubes tied because we will not be having more children, it's too dangerous for me.

My doc told me when he pulled it out, infection poured out from behind it. Don't mess around with this ladies.. This is not a joke.

I got my Paragard 6 months ago, I have had the same smell right after it was put in.  I also had lots of inflammation, bloating, gas, emotionality (tears and I'm not a crier) and more.  The Dr. told me none of it should be related to the IUD but it was immediately after I had it inserted that I began having all these problems.  I had it taken out after researching the affects of COPPER absorption on the human body.  Look up COPPER TOXICITY.......  we absorb the copper and it throws off our zink-copper balance and causes A LOT of problems.  I had my IUD taken out last Thursday and the fishy smell returned but is much less today.  I had gone to a massage therapist and told her about my puffy face and eyes and she told me my adrenals weren't working sufficiently and I needed to take extra B vitamins.  Guess what, too much copper messes up the adrenals.....  The list is too long to repeat but I'm convinced that the copper was poisoning me.  "Western Medicine" will not recognize the holistic affects of the IUD......  Luckily there is information out there if you search hard enough and other women who know they are NOT crazy and know their body is reacting to it.  Good Luck Ladies!  I'm SO HAPPY mine is gone!

i thought it was just me but since i realize that its not im relieved. my baby turned 2 in february and ive noticed the odor ever since ive had it in. my labs always come back normal with no infections and i never have itching or burning or unusual discharge, so the mirena HAS to be what's causing it. it really sucks!