Groin odour in male despite good hygiene
I’m a 20-year-old male and I’ve been dealing with a persistent groin odor for a while now. It’s most noticeable when I sit for long periods of time, and it smells kind of musty or cheesy rather than just regular sweat. Even when I’m not very active, the smell can build up in the groin area.
I’m about 5'7" and 85 kg, but I don’t think this is simply a weight issue, since I know people who are significantly heavier than me and don’t seem to have this problem. I shower twice a day, change my underwear daily (sometimes twice if I sweat), and shave the area weekly. I also used miconazole antifungal cream for about three weeks, which got rid of any yeast-like smell, so I’m pretty confident it’s not jock itch.
Despite all of this, the odor still comes back, especially after sitting or sweating. I don’t have any itching, redness, rashes, or pain — it’s just the odour. Before booking an appointment with a family doctor, I wanted to see if anyone here has experienced something similar or has insight into what could be causing it. I’m wondering if this could be bacterial rather than fungal, or if there are any specific soaps, routines, or lifestyle changes that helped.
Posted Jan 13, 2026, 11:57 PM UTC