“It should smell . . .”- Canadian Gynecologist Enlightens Women on Vaginal Odor

Dr. Jen Gunter, a Canadian gynecologist, has given the nod to ladies with smelly vagina, and has told them, they shouldn’t worry about it.

The doctor also spoke about men demanding or expecting their partner’s vagina to have an artificial smell, while revealing that she once dumped a boyfriend for complaining about the odor of her genitals.

According to Dr. Jen, a vagina should smell. It is a ‘form of abuse’ when men complain and she urged women with to dump boyfriends, husbands, male partners with benefit who complain about the natural smell of their genitals, Dailymail reports.

She further urged women not to feel ashamed and feel they have to resort to buying harmful products that create artificial odors.

READ ALSO: How To Wash and Care For Your Vagina

These harmful products, she says, upset the vagina’s natural pH balance and leave the woman at a greater risk of infections like gonorrhoea and even HIV.

Writing in her latest blog newsletter, she disclosed that she’s had a strong opinion on the recent trends for women cleaning their vaginas with cucumbers and Vicks’ Vaporub.

She wrote:

”I once dated a guy who insinuated my vagina did not smell right. He was an a** in other ways too. For example, he thought my hair would be better if it were straight. Sadly I took the bait, it wasn’t.

He thought I would look better if I dressed a certain way. Again I took the bait. I just felt worse. When it came around to telling me how my vagina could be better, it finally clicked that this is a form of control that men often use.

READ ALSO: Why ”Vagina Tightening Is Very Dangerous”- Medical Director, Prof Sunday Adeoye Warns

Fortunately I am an appropriately confident vagina expert and I had a light bulb moment and dumped his sorry a**. I realize this may border on TMI [too much information], but honestly if it happened to me I bet it has happened to other women.

A vagina takes care of itself. Like a self cleaning oven. The vagina needs no cleaning and the vulva needs very little.

However, ‘a strong vaginal odor – for instance, a “fishy” smell – might be abnormal and could indicate a problem.

If you think you have a medical condition, see a doctor. If your partner insinuates that an artificial smell is preferable to the smell of a normal vagina they are the one who has an issue.

Telling women how they can be better is a classic way of tapping into body image issues and honestly in my personal opinion it is a form of abuse.”

READ ALSO: 8 Foods To Keep You Healthy And Happy Down There

Dr Gunter has previously stressed that women should be aware that douches are unnecessary and even dangerous as the intimate areas are designed to clean themselves.

”A vagina takes care of itself. Like a self cleaning oven,” she once tweeted.

In her recent post she explained further:

”For what I am sure is the 100th time the vagina needs no cleaning and the vulva needs very little.

I know the array of useless feminine washes and wipes at the drugstore and the drivel spouted by Gwyneth Paltrow via Goop imply otherwise, but I’m the actual expert.”

READ ALSO: How to Care For Your Veejay after an Episiotomy (Part One)

It is completely normal for your vagina to have a slight odor. Abnormal vaginal odor that happens because of infection or another problem is usually associated with other vaginal signs and symptoms such as itching, burning, irritation or discharge.

Common causes of abnormal vaginal odor include:

– Bacterial vaginosis, this is an overgrowth of normally occurring vaginal bacteria and the most common vaginal infection that causes a vaginal odor.

– Poor hygiene

– A retained or forgotten tampon left in place for several days

– Trichomoniasis, a sexually transmitted infection also can lead to vaginal odor.

Chlamydia and gonorrhea infections usually don’t cause vaginal odors. Neither do yeast infections.

Less commonly, abnormal vaginal odor may result from:

– Rectovaginal fistula (an abnormal opening between the rectum and vagina that allows feces to leak into the vagina)

– Cervical cancer

– Vaginal cancer

If you’re concerned about an abnormal or persistent vaginal odor, see your doctor for a vaginal exam especially if you have other signs and symptoms such as itching, burning, irritation or discharge.

In the meantime, to minimize vaginal odor:

1. Wash your external genital area: During regular baths or showers, use a very small amount of mild, unscented soap and lots of water.

2. Avoid douching: All healthy vaginas contain bacteria and yeast.

The normal acidity of your vagina keeps bacteria and yeast in check. But douching can actually upset this delicate balance.