Scent affects intimacy, powerfully. Scents have a powerful influence on our memories, emotions, and overall well-being. The sense of smell is unique among our senses because it has a direct connection to the limbic system, the part of the brain responsible for emotions and memories. This explains why a particular scent can evoke strong emotional responses and vivid memories, even after many years.
Dr. Michael Lau, being a widely known expert in vaginal health and intimacy would like to share with you his expertise in vaginal odors as follows:
As a cosmetic vaginal surgeon and sexual medicine specialist with extensive experience as a gynecologist as well, I certainly know that many women have questions and concerns over vaginal odors. Also, as a cosmetic chemist, I am very interested in scent of intimacy. Here, I would like to share with you my understanding of vaginal odor and vaginal scents in some details, which hopefully would help you understand all your concerns over vaginal odors.
There are several key considerations that I want to direct you to:
- Vagina has normal scents, not offensive, but could even positively enhance intimacy
- Frequently, you might notice odors from the vaginal area that could be less pleasant. Up to 30% women experience that at some time.
- Vaginal odors are not always pathologic (related to a disease), but are related to hygiene, sexual activities, menses etc.
- Vaginal odors could sometime be related to disease processes, which should be addressed promptly and effectively
- The guiding principle in addressing vaginal odors is to do no harm, but to restore the natural vaginal environment
What is the normal scent of the vagina?
A normal, healthy vagina can have a range of mild scents, often described as sour, tangy, or slightly sweet. These odors are typically due to the natural bacterial balance within the vagina, particularly the presence of lactobacilli bacteria. The specific scent can vary from person to person and may change throughout the menstrual cycle, during and after sexual activity, and due to factors like diet and hygiene.
Can vaginal scents enhance attraction and intimacy?
Vaginal scents can play a role in attraction and intimacy, potentially influencing sexual experiences. Possible ways vaginal scents might influence attraction and intimacy are through:
- Pheromones – such as certain chemical compounds in vaginal secretions (copulins), which may play a role in sexual attraction.
- Signaling fertility: Scent of women near ovulation is perceived as more pleasant and familiar by men, potentially signaling heightened fertility.
- Enhanced sexual experience: The perception of body odors, including vaginal fluids, may contribute to sexual arousal and a richer sexual experience.
- Genetic compatibility: People might be drawn to the scents of potential mates with different immune system genes (Major Histocompatibility Complex – MHC), promoting genetic diversity in potential offspring. This preference might be detected through scent.
- Confidence boost: Some individuals may experience a boost in self-confidence by embracing their natural scent, including vaginal secretions, which can positively impact their overall attractiveness and social interactions.
- Emotional bonding: A partner’s scent can also foster intimacy and connection through the release of endorphins and oxytocin; hormones associated with bonding and closeness.
It’s important to remember that attraction is a complex interplay of various factors. Attraction is highly individual, and responses to specific scents, including vaginal ones, can vary considerably
Interestingly, some women have even promoted “Vaginal dabbing,” or “vabbing,” as a trend where individuals apply their own vaginal fluid to their bodies, often to points like wrists and neck, as a supposed natural perfume to attract potential partners. However, scientific evidence supporting such practice is limited. While “vabbing” may potentially influence a user’s psychological state and perceived attractiveness, its effectiveness in attracting others is not definitively proven.
With these factors mentioned above in mind, it would be unwise and unnecessary to try to eliminate all scents from the vagina, which is difficult to accomplished, and could even do more harm than good in the process.
Are vaginal odors always related to disease?
No, vaginal odors are not always indicative of a disease or infection; vaginal scents can be influenced by various factors, such as:
- Menstrual Cycle: Vaginal scents can vary due to hormonal fluctuations and the presence of blood, which contains iron and can have a metallic scent.
- Sweating: The groin area has sweat glands that could produce a stronger odor, particularly after exercise or in warm weather.
- Sexual Activity: Sexual activity, especially intercourse, can temporarily alter the vaginal pH and the presence of semen can contribute to changes in odor.
- Diet: Certain foods with strong odors, such as garlic, onions, or asparagus, can impact vaginal secretions and contribute to changes in scent.
- Hygiene Practices: While douching and using harsh, scented products can disrupt the natural vaginal flora and cause issues, normal cleansing and showering can affect temporary odor.
- Medications: Certain medications, like antibiotics or corticosteroids, can affect the vaginal environment and potentially lead to odor changes.
- Dehydration: Dehydration can cause urine to become more concentrated, leading to a stronger ammonia-like smell that may be perceived as vaginal odor.
- Stress: Stress and anxiety can trigger the apocrine sweat glands in the groin area, resulting in a stronger body odor-like scent.
What are the diseases which could cause vaginal odors? How would I know if I have them?
Unusual vaginal odor can be caused by various disease processes, primarily infections. Following are the most common ones:
- Bacterial Vaginosis (BV): This is a very common vaginal infection caused by an imbalance in the normal bacteria present in the vagina. It often leads to a strong, fishy-smelling odor, often accompanied by a thin, greyish-white discharge.
*Image: Vagina & Cervix with BV discharge as an example for educational purposes, not intended for self-diagnosis or treatment
Image: Microscopy of vaginal cells containing many bacteria in BV (“clue cells”)
- Trichomoniasis: This is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by a parasite. It can cause a foul-smelling vaginal discharge, which may be clear, white, yellowish, or greenish.
*Image: Vagina & Cervix with Trichomoniasis vaginitis discharge as an example for educational purposes, not intended for self-diagnosis or treatment
- Yeast Infection: While not typically characterized by a strong odor, some women might notice a sweet or bread-like smell with a yeast infection, along with symptoms like itching and a thick, white, “cottage cheese-like” discharge.
*Image: Vagina & Cervix with yeast vaginitis discharge as an example for educational purposes, not intended for self-diagnosis or treatment
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID): This is a more serious infection that can develop when STDs or BV spread to the upper reproductive organs. PID can cause a heavy, foul-smelling discharge, pelvic pain, and fever. It could lead to fertility issues. Immediate medical attention is needed.
**Important Notes:
Seek medical attention promptly: If you experience a strong, unpleasant, or persistent vaginal odor, especially if it’s accompanied by other symptoms like abnormal discharge, itching, or pain, it’s crucial to see a healthcare provider promptly. They can diagnose the cause and recommend appropriate treatment for you, and partners as needed.
Dr. Lau’s guiding principles in addressing vaginal odor – “Do no harm”; restore the natural vaginal environment
The guiding principle when addressing vaginal odors is to do no harm and restore the natural vaginal environment.
Vagina has a naturally acidic environment maintained by a balance of beneficial bacteria, primarily lactobacilli. This delicate balance is crucial for keeping the vagina healthy and protected from infection.
“Do No Harm” is essential, especially in considering self-treatment of vaginal odors. Please note:
- Disrupting the vaginal flora: Using harsh soaps, douches, or scented products can disrupt the natural balance of good and bad bacteria in the vagina, potentially leading to infections like bacterial vaginosis (BV) or yeast infections.
- Masking underlying problems: Trying to cover up odors with scented products can mask an infection or other underlying health issue that requires medical attention.
Restoring the natural vaginal environment might be the best first-line approach in addressing vaginal odors. Some measures are:
- Gentle hygiene: Washing the vulva (the external area) with warm water and a mild, unscented soap is usually sufficient. Avoid harsh soaps, douches, and fragranced feminine hygiene products.
- Allowing the vagina to clean itself: The vagina naturally cleanses itself by producing mucus that washes away discharge, blood, and semen. Douching is unnecessary and can be harmful.
- Wearing breathable clothing: Choosing cotton underwear and avoiding tight-fitting clothes can help prevent moisture buildup that can lead to bacterial overgrowth.
Instead of trying to eliminate all vaginal odor, which is normal to some extent, the focus should be on promoting a healthy vaginal environment through gentle hygiene practices and avoiding anything that can disrupt the natural balance of bacteria. If you have concerns about unusual or persistent vaginal odor, especially if accompanied by other symptoms like discharge, itching, or burning, it’s essential to see a healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment.
Vaginal odors management protocol at IntimMed, recommended by Michael Lau, MD, FACS, FACOG, MS(Chemistry)
It might seem ironic that Dr. Lau being a cosmetic vaginal surgeon and sexual medicine specialist, also a member of Society of Cosmetic Chemist, would recommend a naturalistic approach in managing vaginal odor instead of using aggressive medical intervention. Being a board-certified gynecologist in background and many years of experience, Dr. Lau has grown to appreciate the need to be naturalistic in approaching vaginal odors, knowing well that vaginal scent is natural, gentle, and intimate in character and therefore needs to be managed as such. The protocol is a result of years of clinical experience.
A summary of the IntimMed protocol in managing vaginal odors as recommended by Dr. Lau is as follows, in sequence:
- If the patient asked about vaginal scents but does not complain of unpleasant odors, vaginal irritation, or excessive discharge, we need to educate her about normal vaginal scents, odors, and recommend hygiene and lifestyle measures as appropriate.
- If the vaginal odor issue causes the patient to feeling self-conscious, or it is affecting intimacy, patient should see Dr. Lau for sexual medicine consultation
- If the patient complains of additional symptoms suggesting possible disease processes contributing to vaginal odors – vaginal irritation, abnormal discharge, pelvis pain, fever, fishy smell, abnormal bleeding etc., refer her to a primary care provider for further investigation and treatment.
- If the vaginal odors are unlikely pathologic, but bothersome, the first line treatment could be lactic acid vaginal capsule, gel or suppository for at least two weeks to see if the odors would decrease. Lactic acid will bring the vaginal acidity (measurement by pH, lower the number the more acidic, neutral pH is 7) to the normal range (pH between 3.8-4.5) which is slightly acidic, creating an environment which tends to inhibit abnormal bacterial or fungal growth, and therefore alter the vaginal scents to less unpleasant. Patient should reevaluate her situation if the vaginal odors have not improved after first week of lactic acid treatment.
- Alternatively, one can used postbiotic vaginal gel to help with vaginal odor, albeit could take a bit longer to help with the vaginal odors than using lactic acid vaginally which directly lower the vaginal pH (make it more acidic) – remember lactic acid is a key active component of postbiotics. We recommend continuing with postbiotics vaginal product after the two weeks lactic acid vaginal treatment to maintain the odor control for a longer term.
Postbiotics, the beneficial compounds produced by probiotic bacteria during fermentation, are emerging as a promising tool for maintaining and restoring vaginal health, particularly in cases of bacterial imbalances and odor.
How Postbiotics Can Help with Vaginal Odor:
- Balancing the Vaginal Microbiota: A healthy vaginal microbiome is typically dominated by Lactobacillus species, which produce lactic acid, creating an acidic environment that inhibits the growth of harmful bacteria. Vaginal odor, particularly a fishy smell, can be a symptom of bacterial vaginosis (BV), a condition where harmful bacteria, like Gardnerella, overgrow and disrupt the natural balance. Postbiotics can help by:
- Increasing beneficial bacteria: Studies have shown that applying a postbiotic gel can increase the relative abundance of vaginal Lactobacillus.
- Inhibiting harmful bacteria: Postbiotics can directly inhibit the growth of pathogens like Gardnerella, Prevotella, and Atopobium.
- Blocking biofilm formation: Harmful bacteria can form biofilms, which make infections harder to treat. Postbiotics can prevent the formation of these biofilms, aiding in infection clearance.
- Restoring Vaginal pH: The acidic environment in the vagina is crucial for maintaining a healthy microbiome. Postbiotics, containing lactic acid, can help restore and maintain the proper pH, which favors the growth of beneficial bacteria.
- Boosting the Immune System: Postbiotics can enhance the local immune response in the vagina, helping the body fight off infections that can cause odor.
6. An alternative to lactic acid vaginal gel, capsule, or suppository is boric acid vaginal gel, capsule, or suppository. Boric acid reduces the pH of the vagina rapidly, making the vagina environment more acidic and help to inhibit the odor causing abnormal bacteria or fungus growth. Boric acid is effective, but it is not a chemical naturally found in the body, and while safe yet might occasionally cause irritation, especially for long term use (more than a week). Whereas Lactic acid, probiotics metabolites/postbiotics are natural to the vagina, produced by the normal vaginal bacterial flora. Dr. Lau usually recommends using the lactic acid vaginal products as first line treatment to start, then possibly boric acid if lactic acid is not quite effective.
7. Maintenance of normal vaginal scent by using probiotics vaginal capsule, gel, or suppository on a regular basis. Some women who are prone to have recurrent vaginal odor issues, likely caused by abnormal bacterial or fungal colonization. Using probiotics, especially vaginally, cold help to fight the undesirable microbiome colonization, and maintain a healthy vaginal bacterial environment. Please note that the vagina, like the skin, mouth and guts, are naturally and normally colonized by friendly bacterial and fungal organisms to maintain health of those body parts. Vaginal probiotics would help to maintain such normality, and normal vaginal scents.