The aisle is marked with a little red sign that says \u201cFeminine Treatments\u201d. Squeezed between the urinary incontinence pads and treatments for yeast infections, there is a wall of bottles and packages in every pastel shade imaginable. Feminine deodorant sprays, freshening wipes, washes for your \u201cintimate area\u201d.<\/p>\n
Vaginal odour might be the last taboo for the modern woman. I\u2019ve actually driven to the SuperTarget two towns away from where I live so as to not run into anyone I know while scrutinising the various products that exist for cleansing, deodorising and re-balancing the pH of your vagina (I still bumped into another PTA mom in a neighbouring aisle).<\/p>\n
The companies behind these products know that many women are looking for ways to counter embarrassing and debilitating symptoms such as vaginal odour and discharge. The culprit is often bacterial vaginosis, the most common vaginal infection you\u2019ve probably never heard of. Nearly one-third of US women of reproductive age have it at any given time. The sad truth is that these sprays, soaps and wipes will not fix the problem. They will \u2013 in many cases \u2013 actually make it worse.<\/p>\n
But while women try to mask embarrassing smells, a more sinister truth also remains under cover: the bacteria responsible are putting millions of women, and their unborn babies, at risk from serious health problems. All of which is making researchers look anew at the most private part of a woman\u2019s body, to understand what it means to have a healthy \u2013 some prefer \u201coptimal\u201d \u2013 vagina and why that is so important for wider health.<\/p>\n