I am 17 and recently I've been having a sour vaginal taste. Could my birth control be causing this, or could I have an STD?

Ah ha! I see your question was listed in "Women's" health, so I can assume you are a female.

I found the following answer on "Go Ask Alice!.com"- I think it pertains to your situation.

Every woman's vaginal aroma, fluids, and taste are unique; they can even change throughout her monthly cycle. Women need to be familiar with their own scent to be able to detect any differences that may be a cause for concern. As a woman's partner becomes more familiar with her body, s/he also might be able to detect these changes.

It is also possible that something is causing the "musty" smell. Some women who have a strong, sour or fishy odor emitting from their vagina may have an infection. Infections can be caused by several factors, including vaginal bacterial overgrowth, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), or from wearing tight or damp clothing, particularly those made of synthetic material (e.g., nylon pantyhose) that does not allow the area around the vulva to breathe. Others may have an odor as a result of certain foods in their eating plan or from excessive sweating. The odor may also be from her anus, rather than her vagina.

I have the same kind of sourness. I think this is very common and many women are unaware because their partners don't tell them or they don't investigate themselves. I don't believe you have a yeast infection or an STD. Your GYN can confirm this for you. But, to my knowledge, most OB/GYNs don't know about this sour taste/smell and have no idea how to treat it.

I believe (yet untested) that it might, indeed, be body pH but that it is an imbalance and not normal or healthy (though not worth panicking over.) I believe, and will try, to alkalinize my body by upping my intake of dark green leafy vegetables, drinking an alkalinizing green drink, taking chlorophyll, and seeking other pH balancing treatments. I suggest you try this. It is best to check with a doctor, but to be honest, doctors can't know everything and they get very little nutritional information from med school. In short, I don't think doctors know much about nutrition and I think they BS people into taking medications for things that can be corrected with diet and exercise. Or maybe people just want the easy way out.

Whether this is true or just my opinion, I'm going to find out. I'm going to start alkalinizing my body. Disease thrives in an acidic, stressed-out body.

I am not a doctor. If you want to take my suggestion, its your choice. I want to get better just like you, and I've been dealing with this condition for over 10 years. I suggest trying to alkalinize your body (go to the health food store for help with this) and de-stressing your life.

I dont think you have an std, I am on birth control also and my birth control has also caused me to have a sour taste. I have noticed that when I stop taking the active pills the taste goes away and also after my period stops but before I start taking my active pills, the sour taste is also gone.

It is just the pills affecting your PH levels, nothing to worry about, I asked my doctor.

I hope this has eased your mind, if you have any questions, just let me know....I have other advice too.

Get some betadine solution and go sit on the toilet and pour some on your finger and put it inside of you. Do that for a few days and it will go away and start tasting more normal again.

First, please clarify if you are a male or a female. Although females do cum, I generally associate the out-right act of cumming with males. But... I also generally associate birth control with females. Clarifying this information will help me best answer your question.

Next, I would like to know if your partner out-right told you that your cum was sour, or if this was a fact you "came" upon (sorry for the horrible pun) yourself. Upon knowing this information, I hope to be able to find an accurate and (hopefully) helpful answer for you.