Am I normal?

Question

Since before I ever got my period I’ve had a lot of vaginal discharge. Like so much that it almost always makes spots on my pants. It’s been like 9 years since this started happening. And I’ve always been afraid to ask anyone bc I’m severely self conscious due to a few past events as a child. It almost always looks like normal discharge but it sometimes gets a bad smell but I also sweat a lot between my legs.

Answer

You do not say if your cycles and periods are regular and “normal”? Some women discharge a lot, some a little. It is just how the world is. Every body is unique. The range of what is “normal” is very wide. It is also likely to change over time.
Your discharge should not smell bad. Bad smells are normally caused by bacteria and since you say you sweat a lot, it can be the bacteria from your weat causing the smell. I am also adding some information below about how to keep everything healthy down there. When you have a sweat issue, it is one of the times that it is advisable to use a mile anti-bacterial soup on the outside (outer lips) area.
As always, if you think something is wrong, it is best to see your doctor.
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How to keep yourself healthy and clean
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Wash your outside lips (the area where hair grows) with an unscented moisturizing soap like Dove. If you have a sweat problem, you can use a mild antibacterial soap there. Antibacterial soap dries out your skin, which can cause itching. A moisturizing soap keeps the skin soft and supple and won’t cause itching.   

Wash inside your lips, in the folds, under your clitoris hood and around your clitoris with clean water and your fingers. Make sure you remove any buildup of discharge by rubbing it away with your finger. 

It is important to remove smegma. Smegma is a combination of shed skin cells, skin oils, and moisture. In female bodies, it collects around the clitoris and in the folds of the inner lips. Especially when smegma is not removed from around the clitoris, it can harden, or cause growths on the clitoris which can make clitoral stimulation (such as masturbation or sex) painful.

Your vagina (the hole inside your body) cleans itself. That is partly where discharge comes from - it is your vagina secreting fluid to clean your vagina and push out dirt and germs. If your discharge smells bad or fishy, or it burns or itches, or it is bright yellow, greenish or blueish, it is time to see a doctor. You do not need to clean your vagina after sex, masturbation or menstruation. Your vagina will take care of itself.

The fluids inside your vagina are acidic to kill any germs entering. This is often why the crotch of cheaper colored panties have bleach marks and why your fluids taste sour.

Always dry yourself well between your legs when you are wet. You can pat yourself dry there to prevent bacteria from your anus being wiped into your lips. Don’t sit around in sweaty panties after exercising or wet swimming costume bottoms after swimming. Wetness is one of the causes of yeast infections.

It is important to keep your genitals cool and dry. Wear cotton panties that wick away wetness and dries quickly. Avoid nylon stockings and tights. It traps moisture and heat. Wear loose fitting pants or skirts/dresses as much as possible.

Sleep without panties when it is safe to do so, to allow your area to keep dry and airy.

Wash your panties regularly. Make sure you rinse out any left-over soap. It is best to not use fabric softener. It causes a buildup of static electricity and leaves a residue on your underwear.

On the toilet, always wipe from the front to the back to prevent bacteria from your anus to be wiped into your vulva and vagina. Bacteria is one of the causes of bacterial infections like BV (bacterial vaginosis).

Don’t pee all over your tampon string. Pull it out of the way or change when it becomes wet.

Follow instructions for menstrual products. Use tampons as directed. Take care that you use the right size (absorbency) and change them in good time. The materials used in pads or tampons can cause a rash or allergic reaction. When that happens, switch to another brand. It is not unusual for the manufacturers to use different materials to make these more absorbent and thinner/smaller, so this may start at any time.

Am I normal?

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