Embarrassed!!! Bad Odor From Rectum - Normal?

[DV425]

I have a really embarrasing situation, I need some help! I feel like I'm the only facing this, but I have this really bad odor that seems to be coming from my rectum area. I'm 23 years old with 2 children - a 3 1/2 year old and a 18 month old. I don't know if my past pregnancy's have anything to do with it but it seems like this odor came after having my children. I've had BV's and UTI's in the past and I know how those smells are. I've also had those awful hemorroids after my 2nd pregnancy. But at those time, no unusual smells for me.At first I thought the odor was coming from the vagina, but it wasnt it. I don't know what's going on with my body, but it's just an awful smell that won't go away. It smells like rotten fish or something rotten something. It's not a pleasant smell and it can get very powerful too. My sex life...I'm just too embarrassed that I don't really want to have intercourse with my husband. My husband gets frustrated at times because the smell is just too much. No matter how many times I wash down there, it just doesn't seem to want to go away. My doctors don't see anything unusual, they ran tests and everything. Everything is always negative. Nothing abnormal. What's wrong with me?

[DV425]

thanks everyone for commenting back on me. if it's an infection, i hope the gastro people can find it. but i'll take the advice and see the specialist. thanks again. and tmv, i will check out the site and see whats suggested there. thanks!!! i really appreciate it.

[JMV54]

I've also have this problem (fishy odor coming from my anus) &, until now, I had no idea what was causing it. I do have some cirrhosis which was caused by Hep. C Viral Infection x 25-30 years.  I love coffee (drink 6 cups of weak coffee a day) & I eat a hard boiled egg everyday. I use lots of non-dairy creamer in my coffee. I also eat non-fat yogart for lunch everyday & eat low-fat frozen yogurt every evening. Have you had your liver checked? liver enzymes?   JMV

[sharmarie]

I was wondering if you ever found out the cause of the odor? I am experiencing the same problem. I wash repeatedly, but the smell is still there. I also thought at first that it was coming from my vaginal, but discovered that it was coming from my rectum. I saw the nurse at my doctors office, and she took a swab, and said there was no sign of infection. I am very worried about this, especially since my Mother just died of colon cancer. My doctor's office do not seem like they are interested in this problem, or concerned. I asked if they could make an appointment for me to have a colonoscopy, but this was also ignored. I guess I should mention that in the UK, ignoring the patient is common practice. I am American, andI can hardly wait for my husband to retire so I can return home and get some decent health care ...if i live that long! In fact, the nurse was quite insulting about it. She insinuated that i may have a fungal type infection, and suggested that I use the same sort of cream that is used for yeast infections. Please, if you have found out anything that can give me a clue as to the cause of this horrible smell, then I would really appreciate it. I am an extremely clean person, and this is really upsetting for me.

[s77urf]

Has anyone had a successful diagnosis as to what could be the problem or found an improvement?  I am a 45 year old male who started to notice a similar foul cheesy smell from my bottom a few weeks ago, I shower daily am and pm but the smell seems to be getting stronger, I have been on a long course of antibiotics and wondered if the good bacteria in my body has been killed off, I decided to try pro biotic yogurt drinks to replace and increase the good bacteria, no improvement yet though, I am too embarrassed to visit my Dr

[mm271]

i'm a 27yr old male i also have the same problem, had colonoscopy and all kinds of test done but everything comes negative. i had this problem for seven years. i wonder if there is anything that i can do to fix it. i have changed to several diets but no luck , its frustrating and embarrasing.

[Pcogale]

You need an evaluation for a fistula.  You may have a connection between your vagina and your rectum.  

There's also a chance you have a rectocoele which is like a pouch in your rectum that catches fecal matter (where the smell might be coming from).  You think you have wiped everything away and that your rectum is clear but it's probably not.

Both of these things can be caused by labour, especially if it was long ie delayed 2nd stage.  Or you had an assisted birth where forceps were used or you had a 3rd or 4th degree tear that wasn't stitched up correctly.

You probably need an evaluation done by a proctologist who knows what they are looking for.