Why does my vagina smell so bad?

Hiya, I never used to have this problem, but my vagina smells disgusting. Often a thick white creamy liquid will be discharged, and this differs to my normal discharge. I can't describe the smell very well - it's not fishy, kind of almost sweet? But I mean if I can smell it on myself then surely others can too? I'm too embarrassed to go to the doctors about it, so does anybody know what this is/ is caused by/ how to treat it? I wash thoroughly every night yet for the past 2 months the stench has remained.