Q: YAY! I recently met a guy who is romantic, funny, intelligent and kind. Perfect, right? Well there is a problem. His crotch area smells awful.

After a few good dates we ended up back at his place, and things started to get hot! During foreplay I went down south and it stunk to high heaven -- so much that I even began to gag a bit. He has a disease that forces him to take testosterone, so I politely asked him if one of the effects from his testosterone was an odor in his area. He said no, then I asked what he washed with, and he uses regular bar soap. At this point I felt like such a big bitch for asking and gagging, but it was so bad I had to ask.

Is this normal that some men stink? If so what is the best way to get rid of this unpleasant odor in my friend's junk so we can finally go all the way?

--Emily, 19

A: Yeesh. I'm sorry you were an innocent bystander in what's probably an ongoing battle with bad bacteria or fungus. He's right, though; there's no connection between medically prescribed testosterone supplements and male genital odor problems, unless his hormone boost is making him more active and thus more sweaty. Along with other things, a natural genital secretion called smegma can build up fast if he doesn't take care to wash thoroughly and often. Uncircumcised boys secrete more smegma, since it's the foreskin that produces it, but even the cut ones make a little "man cheese" since some of that skin is still intact. Combine smegma with sweat and anything else that might be lurking in the area (dead skin cells, dried semen) and you have a recipe for nastiness, the likes of which you've just encountered.

It's hard to imagine an uncircumcised man who's gotten this far in life without learning how to properly clean his penis, but it happens. If he's uncut and that's the culprit, you'll probably be able to tell by looking at his wang with the foreskin pulled back. Do you see a whitish buildup? That's smegma, trapped underneath a layer of skin, funking up the place. Snaps for boldly asking him about his bathing routine, but make sure he's doing it right. He should be pulling back the little man's turtleneck when he showers to get all the goop out and maintain a clean surface area. And you know that he washes with soap, but how often does he do it? We might think a shower a day keeps the stink away, but not every dude abides.

It's possible he has a disease other than the one that requires a testosterone prescription. A sexually transmitted, urethral or other random infection can certainly cause a smelly swimsuit area. Assuming you had the STD talk prior to engaging in sexual relations, it's still better to be safe than sorry. Go ahead and ask him for a look at the physical results from his last screening. Even if he checks out, find out if he's got any other crotch-related ailments that might be messing up his game. Itchy, oversensitive skin, pain during urination and a frequent feeling of pressure on the urethra or bladder are signs that all is not right down there.

I know of two products a fella can pick up to help with genital odor while he figures out the source of the problem. One is a cream specially formulated for man parts called NodorO, which can only be purchased at NodorO.com. I have no personal experience with it, but it is represented by terrible commercials (check YouTube) and was endorsed by Howard Stern last year, so buyer beware. The other product costs around six bucks for a year's supply and is heartily endorsed by a couple guy friends of mine. Prickly Heat Powder is a medicated talc and can be found at nearly any Asian grocery on Nicollet Avenue. The boys just sprinkle a little inside their boxer briefs and they're good to go for a 10-hour shift at the restaurant. The powder makes contact with the skin, absorbs moisture and keeps the area feeling cool.

  • Alexis McKinnis is taking your questions about sex, dating or relationships. Send them to advice@vita.mn, and don't leave out the juicy details.