Fishy Fanny Myths - Debunked

Fishy Fanny Myths - Debunked

"I wonder how many readers are actually aware of Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) or really know how/why it develops and in fact how easy it is to treat and prevent!"

BY: VH

UPDATED: 21/10/2023

I can almost guarantee everyone has got their own smelly vagina horror story.

Highschool ex boyfriends running around telling all their mates that they dumped her “because she had a fishy fanny”.

Traumatising right?

But babes, I'm here to tell you now - your vaginal smell is NOTHING to feel shameful, dirty or embarrassed about.

The vagina is such a widely misunderstood organ - the causes of which I could debate and speculate on until the cows come home, but we’ll save that for another post ;)

But seriously, vaginas are literally an organ.

Perhaps the only one, I might add, that is subjected to such harsh critical judgement for the way that it smells…

Like many others I'm sure, I spent the majority of my young adulthood feeling very shameful about the way that my vagina smelled.

Without proper education on general vaginal health and what can knock you a little off balance, it is easy to feel this way.

I wonder how many readers are actually aware of Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) or really know how/why it develops and in fact how easy it is to treat and prevent!

Perhaps a little more widely understood these days thanks to the probiotic ads on tiktok, or have I just completely exposed my ‘for you’ page?

Seriously though, 66% of sufferers actually mistake symptoms for thrush.

So considering around 35% of people with vaginas aged 15 - 44 experience symptoms, I think it’s fair to say we aren’t talking about BV enough.

Ok, so I guess the burning question is – how do you actually get BV though?

There can be several contributing factors, but I'll let you take a stab in the dark at the most common cause…

Yes babes, it’s willies.

I know! Willy holders being some of the worst critics of vaginal smell are actually the main contributors!

Not shocked though, are you?

The composition of the penile microbiome contains some of that ‘bad’ bacteria that upsets the natural balance of our vaginas.

So literally a who smelt it dealt it kinda situation, y'know.

To be fair though this isn’t the only cause, it lies amongst several other irritants such as bath bombs, scented intimate washes/douches or even a dodgy pair of knickers.

Fear not though ladies and vagina holders, BV tests and treatments are a lot easier to find than your highschool ex bf to tell him that he was in fact the fishy fanny perpetrator.

In nearly every pharmacy or big supermarket you can find BV tests and treatment creams and your doctor or local sexual health clinic will definitely be able to sort you a course of antibiotics.

The biggest takeaway here is to not be ashamed of your vaginal smell!

Even if it’s not BV, there are a range of different conditions that can upset your vagina and cause some interesting smells.

But your vagina is not supposed to smell like roses and strawberry ice cream.

I mean that’s absolutely fantastic for you if it does, but try not to get too hung up on the odour of your organs.

Go forth my fellow fishy fannies, debunk the narrative and go buy yourself some canesten BV xxx