of keeping it bacteria-free. As science writer Natalie Angier has written: “The vagina is its own ecosystem, a land of unsung symbiosis and tart vigor. Sure, the traditional concept of a vagina is ‘It’s a swamp down there!’ but tidal pool would be more accurate: aqueous, stable, yet in perpetual flux.”
At the core of this ecosystem is a sophisticated process of symbiosis, one in which healthy bacteria protect and ward off the unhealthy. It’s been said that a woman’s genitals are as clean as a fresh carton of yogurt, and this comparison is often made because the kind of bacteria found in yogurt, lactobacilli, are also found in a woman’s vaginal secretions. In fact, if symbiosis is compromised and unhealthy, anaerobic bacteria gain an advantage, eating yogurt can often help to stave off infection and restore balance.
If there is a bad smell in the genital area, the first thing worth paying attention to is personal hygiene. Like men, women sweat down there and, more often than not, showering or bathing, or even engagingin what the French refer to as a “tart-wash” (a quick freshening of the underarms and genital area) can usually help to rid oneself of any unwanted odors. Later, in Part II, we’ll discuss how to eroticize these activities and incorporate hygiene into the excitement.
However, if personal hygiene has been attended to, and an off-putting odor still persists, it’s probably time to go to the doctor: she could be suffering from an infection, bacterial vaginosis, in which a lack of lactobacilli creates an imbalance and allows anaerobic bacteria to accumulate. This, according to Natalie Angier, is where the comparison to fish often comes into play, as these microbes produce trimethylamine, the same substance that gives day-old fish its odor.
Gertrude Stein, a cunnilinguist in her own right, may have been mistaken: a rose is a rose is not always a rose. Some women are born with imbalances, and might have a predisposition toward vaginosis and a stronger odor. In addition to eating yogurt, there are also antibiotic treatments that can help restore balance.
Every woman smells and tastes different. Some are sweeter than others, some are a bit more pungent, still others are more neutral and nondescript. Sometimes the differences are subtle, other times they’re stark. Nor will the same woman always consistently smell or taste the same. Lots of factors can affect smell and taste, including: diet, vitamin deficiencies, medication, her cycle (some women produce vaginal secretions that contain compounds called aliphatic acid chains, and may cause her scent to vary with the phase of her menstrual cycle), infection, hydration, alcohol, drugs, tobacco. Unprotected sex can also affect a woman’s smell, in that sperm is highly alkaline and raises the pH level of the vaginal ecosystem.
When it comes to taste and smell, and overall concerns about hygiene, watch out for anxiety brought about by excessive “fearamone” activity. It’s contagious, if not downright viral. Know that a healthy vagina is a clean vagina. Don’t let your anxiety trigger a vicious cycle; instead transform that nervous energy into enthusiasm. Enjoy and savor her unique cassolette —now there’s an idea worth raising a glass to and toasting!
A Question on Scent
Question: “After five years of being monogamous and committed to each other during and after college, my girlfriend and I made a decision to break up in order to see other people. Before we broke up, I had never had any problem with her smell when I went down on her; to be honest I never even noticed it. But then, seven months later, we got back together and I noticed a distinct difference. She was more…pungent. Eventually her smell returned to normal, but what happened? Could she have had an infection?”
Answer: According to science writer Natalie Angier, a woman can contract vaginosis (an infection that affects her scent) from engaging in unprotected
At the core of this ecosystem is a sophisticated process of symbiosis, one in which healthy bacteria protect and ward off the unhealthy. It’s been said that a woman’s genitals are as clean as a fresh carton of yogurt, and this comparison is often made because the kind of bacteria found in yogurt, lactobacilli, are also found in a woman’s vaginal secretions. In fact, if symbiosis is compromised and unhealthy, anaerobic bacteria gain an advantage, eating yogurt can often help to stave off infection and restore balance.
If there is a bad smell in the genital area, the first thing worth paying attention to is personal hygiene. Like men, women sweat down there and, more often than not, showering or bathing, or even engagingin what the French refer to as a “tart-wash” (a quick freshening of the underarms and genital area) can usually help to rid oneself of any unwanted odors. Later, in Part II, we’ll discuss how to eroticize these activities and incorporate hygiene into the excitement.
However, if personal hygiene has been attended to, and an off-putting odor still persists, it’s probably time to go to the doctor: she could be suffering from an infection, bacterial vaginosis, in which a lack of lactobacilli creates an imbalance and allows anaerobic bacteria to accumulate. This, according to Natalie Angier, is where the comparison to fish often comes into play, as these microbes produce trimethylamine, the same substance that gives day-old fish its odor.
Gertrude Stein, a cunnilinguist in her own right, may have been mistaken: a rose is a rose is not always a rose. Some women are born with imbalances, and might have a predisposition toward vaginosis and a stronger odor. In addition to eating yogurt, there are also antibiotic treatments that can help restore balance.
Every woman smells and tastes different. Some are sweeter than others, some are a bit more pungent, still others are more neutral and nondescript. Sometimes the differences are subtle, other times they’re stark. Nor will the same woman always consistently smell or taste the same. Lots of factors can affect smell and taste, including: diet, vitamin deficiencies, medication, her cycle (some women produce vaginal secretions that contain compounds called aliphatic acid chains, and may cause her scent to vary with the phase of her menstrual cycle), infection, hydration, alcohol, drugs, tobacco. Unprotected sex can also affect a woman’s smell, in that sperm is highly alkaline and raises the pH level of the vaginal ecosystem.
When it comes to taste and smell, and overall concerns about hygiene, watch out for anxiety brought about by excessive “fearamone” activity. It’s contagious, if not downright viral. Know that a healthy vagina is a clean vagina. Don’t let your anxiety trigger a vicious cycle; instead transform that nervous energy into enthusiasm. Enjoy and savor her unique cassolette —now there’s an idea worth raising a glass to and toasting!
A Question on Scent
Question: “After five years of being monogamous and committed to each other during and after college, my girlfriend and I made a decision to break up in order to see other people. Before we broke up, I had never had any problem with her smell when I went down on her; to be honest I never even noticed it. But then, seven months later, we got back together and I noticed a distinct difference. She was more…pungent. Eventually her smell returned to normal, but what happened? Could she have had an infection?”
Answer: According to science writer Natalie Angier, a woman can contract vaginosis (an infection that affects her scent) from engaging in unprotected
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