# Gynecologists' Smell Test **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 9, 2012, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gynecologists-smell-test/627707 "2012-07-09T16:27:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2012, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gynecologists-smell-test/627707/1 "2012-07-09T16:27:24Z")
When my ex was pregnant 8+ years ago, she mentioned something to me that we thought was odd. The Ob/Gyn that she used would insert her finger into the obvious orifice, wearing a glove. She would then quickly sniff it. My ex noticed this at least twice, but never asked why. The Ob/Gyn was this older (60+) Filipina who I believe was taught outside the US. The doc was recommended by a friend of ours at the time, and seemed to quite popular considering the number of patients in the waiting room. She was also highly rated, so we never suspected anything fishy. (npi :D) Anyway, has anyone heard of such a ‘smell’ test? What could she detect based on smell? Everything was normal with my ex’s pregnancies, in case that’s relevant. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2012, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gynecologists-smell-test/627707/2 "2012-07-09T16:29:18Z")
WAG: Infection. Yeast, vaginitis, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2012, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gynecologists-smell-test/627707/3 "2012-07-09T16:37:20Z")
[Link](http://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ie=UTF-8#hl=en&output=search&sclient=psy-ab&q=vaginal%20odor&oq=&gs_l=&pbx=1&fp=e757a35b73c411c2&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&biw=1600&bih=743), so as to avoid the uncited WAG in GQ. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2012, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gynecologists-smell-test/627707/4 "2012-07-09T16:49:45Z")
I did a lot of Gyn (and some OB) back in the days of my private practice career, and the only indication for using the nose back then was in the “whiff test”, where one would apply a swab of fluids from the vaginal vault to a microscope slide, then smell(“whiff”) the slide immediately after applying KOH, to detect the fishy (amine) odor of bacterial vaginosis. Otherwise, odors are not particular diagnostic despite the claims of some clinicians that they could differentiate between yeast, trichomonas, chlamydia, gonorrhea, BV, or other based on smell alone. That’s what microscope slides, cultures, and immunoassays are for. Though the smell of a retained tampon is pretty definitive… ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2012, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gynecologists-smell-test/627707/5 "2012-07-09T16:54:17Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > I did a lot of Gyn (and some OB) back in the days of my private practice career, and the only indication for using the nose back then was in the “whiff test”, where one would apply a swab of fluids from the vaginal vault to a microscope slide, then smell(“whiff”) the slide immediately after applying KOH, to detect the fishy (amine) odor of bacterial vaginosis. > > Otherwise, odors are not particular diagnostic despite the claims of some clinicians that they could differentiate between yeast, trichomonas, chlamydia, gonorrhea, BV, or other based on smell alone. That’s what microscope slides, cultures, and immunoassays are for. > > Though the smell of a retained tampon is pretty definitive… …H_u_r\*k… ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2012, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gynecologists-smell-test/627707/6 "2012-07-09T20:02:43Z")
I’ve never had the “dipstick” test during a Pap smear. I’d probably ask outright, “Uh, WHY are you doing THAT?” I do know that some odors are characteristics of certain diseases, but these smells are usually obvious as soon as you are in the room with a person. For instance, a “dead mouse” smell is often indicative of some cancers. ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2012, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gynecologists-smell-test/627707/7 "2012-07-09T20:19:11Z")
> [@VOW](#): > > I do know that some odors are characteristics of certain diseases, but these smells are usually obvious as soon as you are in the room with a person. > > For instance, a “dead mouse” smell is often indicative of some cancers. Or the ‘fruity’ acetone smell of a ketotic diabetic. And many inborn errors of metabolism can be detected by smell, such as maple syrup urine disease. But the human nose is too puny and variable to be used reliably to diagnose very many diseases with the necessary degree of certainty. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2012, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gynecologists-smell-test/627707/8 "2012-07-09T20:43:26Z")
I am not surprised to hear that the nose is not a reliable diagnostic tool to differentiate among diseases, but shouldn’t it be up to the task of telling that something’s amiss that deserves further investigation? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2012, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gynecologists-smell-test/627707/9 "2012-07-09T22:32:18Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > I am not surprised to hear that the nose is not a reliable diagnostic tool to differentiate among diseases, but shouldn’t it be up to the task of telling that something’s amiss that deserves further investigation? No, not as a rule. A bad smell is very commonly present in the absence of disease. And one generally doesn’t need a nose to diagnose gangrene. In fact, a nose is a liability there. QtM, who’s seen waaaay too many healthy, smelly bodies. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2012, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gynecologists-smell-test/627707/10 "2012-07-09T23:05:09Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > …H_u_r\*k… Best post/user name combo of the week. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2012, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gynecologists-smell-test/627707/11 "2012-07-10T19:01:40Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > In fact, a nose is a liability there. Sorry to hijack, but how come a nose might be a liability with gangrene? ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2012, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gynecologists-smell-test/627707/12 "2012-07-10T19:04:33Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > I did a lot of Gyn (and some OB) back in the days of my private practice career, and the only indication for using the nose back then was in the “whiff test”, where one would apply a swab of fluids from the vaginal vault to a microscope slide, then smell(“whiff”) the slide immediately after applying KOH, to detect the fishy (amine) odor of bacterial vaginosis. > > Otherwise, odors are not particular diagnostic despite the claims of some clinicians that they could differentiate between yeast, trichomonas, chlamydia, gonorrhea, BV, or other based on smell alone. That’s what microscope slides, cultures, and immunoassays are for. > > Though the smell of a retained tampon is pretty definitive… Jesus you’ve done a bit of everything, haven’t you? (This is why I NEVER worry anymore or feel self conscious when I go to the gyn. She’s seen it and done it all, I’m sure. A retained tampon? You mean…they couldn’t get it out, and waited too long?) ---
**Author:** ![Sinisterniik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/51bf81/32.png) [@Sinisterniik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinisterniik)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2012, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gynecologists-smell-test/627707/13 "2012-07-10T19:08:32Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > I am not surprised to hear that the nose is not a reliable diagnostic tool to differentiate among diseases, but shouldn’t it be up to the task of telling that something’s amiss that deserves further investigation? [Here’s something you might remember](http://www.noaa.gov/features/03_protecting/sniff_test.html) concerning the sensitivity of human noses. It doesn’t relate directly to the OP, but shows that we can train our sense of smell. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2012, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gynecologists-smell-test/627707/14 "2012-07-10T19:10:53Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Sorry to hijack, but how come a nose might be a liability with gangrene? The odor is truly incapacitating. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2012, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gynecologists-smell-test/627707/15 "2012-07-10T19:16:20Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > Jesus you’ve done a bit of everything, haven’t you? In medicine I’ve seen and done a lot, yes. > [@](#): > > A retained tampon? You mean…they couldn’t get it out, and waited too long?) Forgot it was there, stopped trying to get it out, didn’t remember putting it in, blamed someone else for putting it in while they weren’t looking, blamed the examiner for putting it in during the exam to find out why they smelled so bad, the excuses run the gamut. Hell, one woman denied that the baby she delivered on a gurney in the hallway was here, blaming my fellow resident who ran to catch it for ‘putting it there like that’. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2012, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gynecologists-smell-test/627707/16 "2012-07-10T19:22:08Z")
I probably change tampons too often if anything; I’m so horrified by the idea of TSS (Which I know is pretty rare) or worse, somehow forgetting it in there. I’ve actually had literal nightmares of forgetting one, so I know I’m a little high-strung (haha, joke) about it. How does one forget? I have heard about the odor of gangrene. It knocks you flat, they say. Ugh. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2012, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gynecologists-smell-test/627707/17 "2012-07-10T19:25:43Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > …so I know I’m a little high-strung (haha, joke) about it. 😃 And just because it bears repeating: …H_u_r\*k… ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2012, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gynecologists-smell-test/627707/18 "2012-07-10T19:37:40Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > 😃 > > And just because it bears repeating: > > …H_u_r\*k… It doesn’t bear repeating. We heard you the first time. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2012, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gynecologists-smell-test/627707/19 "2012-07-10T19:38:06Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > How does one forget? Drugs and/or alcohol frequently play significant roles in this particular phenomenon. Other forms of Microdeckia are responsible for many cases too. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2012, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gynecologists-smell-test/627707/20 "2012-07-10T19:39:05Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Drugs and/or alcohol frequently play significant roles in this particular phenomenon. > > Other forms of Microdeckia are responsible for many cases too. Of course, that makes sense. In many ways I’ve lived a sheltered life, especially when it comes to drugs and alcohol, so I usually don’t leap to those conclusions. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gynecologists-smell-test/627707.md?page=2)