My private parts smell fishy

Dear Pastor,

I am in my 20s and I have a big problem. I am very fat and I eat fast food. Because of my job I get home late in the evenings, and so I don't cook. I usually grab food on the road and take home with me.

I sit before the television and eat, so I put on a lot of weight. My boyfriend comes to see me very often, almost every night, and he complains and says that I don't smell fresh.

When he said it the first time, I was embarrassed. So the next time I prepared myself very well for him. He told me that whatever I am eating is not helping me, and he was not talking just about my weight. So I know that something is wrong with me. Why does my private parts smell, even though I thoroughly wash myself?

My boyfriend and I have been together for two years and we do not have any major issues, except this smell that comes from my private parts. I have never cheated on him. I have never caught a sexually transmitted infection from any other man. I asked my boyfriend if he has gone to any woman and picked up any disease and passed it on to me, and he said no. I believe him. I expect him to tell me the truth. So I would like to know what is happening to me. Please let me hear what you have to say.

Initial Withheld

Dear Writer,

I do not want you to lose confidence in your boyfriend. You can continue to believe him, but you are aware that if your boyfriend has had sexual relations with another woman and has picked up a sexual transmitted infection, he can pass that on to you. So that is not news, you know that.

If you carefully take care of your private parts, then there should not be any smell. Therefore, I would suggest that you make an appointment to see your gynaecologist as early as possible.

I will go further in saying that perhaps you should ask your boyfriend to accompany you to see the doctor. That would make sense. Your doctor will be able to tell you what to do. I hope your boyfriend is speaking the truth. Both of you have confidence in each other, so I trust that nothing will come between the both of you to cause you to break up. But before I go, let me say, while you are with the doctor, ask him/her to put you on a diet, so that you can shed some weight.

I wish you well until I hear from you again; take good care of yourself.

Pastor