Stop Recurrent BV: The Real Solution for Vaginal Health & Odor

Introduction

Ladies, let’s talk about a relentless cycle many experience, the BV cycle. You know the drill. One minute, your health is awesome. And next, you are typing on Google. How do you treat BV? Before you can finish your three-hour research on can BV go away on its own? You are at the nearest drug store buying over-the-counter treatments that might not work, or you are preparing for another uncomfortable doctor visit. Then comes the common advice from the doctors on how to maintain your vagina’s health to avoid them: “Just wash the vulva,” or even more unhelpful, “Do nothing, the vagina cleans itself.” How is that advice truly working out for your vaginal health?

You can all agree with me that it is time to stop the BV cycle in its tracks and embrace a fresh approach to feminine hygiene. This post isn’t about expensive soaps, questionable trends, or vague guidance, it’s about embracing common sense, generational wisdom from Liberian women, and proven techniques that actually work for your vaginal health.

In this post, you’ll discover the powerful truth behind proper vaginal hygiene, learn the game-changing “Squat and Clean Method” that I discuss in detail in my book, Girl, wash your VJJ!, and understand why common medical advice often misses the mark when it comes to women’s vaginal health. Packed with insights rooted in Liberian traditions. This post will leave you informed, empowered, and ready to take control of your feminine hygiene once and for all.

If you’ve ever wondered why you’re stuck in a cycle of recurring infections, you have questioned popular feminine hygiene norms, or you simply want to feel more confident in your body, this is the resource you didn’t know you needed. Let’s get real, get informed, but most importantly, let’s get clean.

Personal Story: Why I Became Obsessed With Vagina Cleanliness

Let me tell you about a friend of mine in Minnesota. She was truly a lovely person, one of those people who made my stay in the US so incredibly interesting. We were part of a group there, sharing laughs and navigating life, and her presence was always a gift. It was years later, after we had built that easy camaraderie, when she and, let’s call him John, a mutual friend, started dating. John had quietly carried a deep admiration for her for years, you know, the kind of silent devotion that makes a romantic novelist like me giddy. Watching them together, it was just undeniable; their connection was like perfectly matched puzzle pieces finally clicking into place. They had that rare, effortless chemistry that felt destined for a storybook ending. I have always loved and wanted them together. 

Life, of course, moved on as it always does. I made my big move to Nigeria, settled into married life, and had my two beautiful boys. Life was busy, full, and good. And then, the news came that lit me up even more: six months into their relationship, my friend and John were actually discussing marriage plans. The thought of them finally tying the knot excited me to my core. Oh, how I adore love stories! Theirs felt like one I would write myself, unfolding with all the beauty and promise I chase in my own fiction.

But then, one night, the universe decided to throw a wrench into that perfect narrative. I was lying in bed with my husband, the quiet hum of the night around us, when my phone rang. It was her. My heart seized in my chest as I heard her, sobbing so hard I could barely understand a word she was saying. “John left and hasn’t called me since,” she choked out, her voice breaking, shattering my peace.

I sat straight up, confusion warring with a cold dread. “What happened?” I pressed, my own heart racing, desperate to make sense of her distress. I did my very best to calm her, to get her to breathe, to tell me what was wrong. Through her tears, she managed to explain, her voice barely a whisper, that during an intimate moment, everything had seemed fine. Perfect, even. Until it wasn’t. John abruptly pulled away, got up, mumbled something about needing to leave, and then he left without a word. He never called her again after that night.

My curiosity, my need to understand, became overwhelming. I just had to know what was truly going on. So, I picked up the phone and called John, hoping for some clarity. He sounded reluctant at first, hesitant to speak, but after a few gentle, probing questions, he admitted it: she smelled, and he couldn’t continue the intimacy with that scent lingering. He had walked out right when things began to heat up in the bedroom. And I’m not talking about just taking clothes off, girl, I’m talking about John wanting to bring those 8000 nerves alive and take my friend to heaven and back but, he was utterly taken aback. He was hit by a not-so-pleasant scent that lingered in his nostrils, and he simply couldn’t continue. Ouch. The brutal honesty of it, the way they both explained this horror story, made me ache for her. My heart broke for both of them because I was truly rooting for them to have that storybook ending.

He admitted that he cares for her deeply, and feels so embarrassed having such a conversation with me, but he can’t get himself to say it to her, so he’s hoping I might help her out, woman to woman. He felt completely lost on how to handle such a sensitive situation, confessing, “As a man, I’m not used to meeting women who don’t know how to truly take care of themselves.”

When I relayed his painful words back to her, she was utterly devastated. A profound confusion washed over her. “No one’s ever told me these things before,” she said through fresh tears, and heartbreaking realization. I asked about her feminine hygiene routine, how she cleaned, and she explained her usual practices. Then, as I made a few observations, a painful epiphany dawned on her. “I thought I was doing everything right. No wonder I kept getting BV, even when I wasn’t having sex,” she mumbled, the pieces finally clicking into place.

What followed was a series of raw, honest conversations where I broke down everything I knew about vaginal care. These were the very things I would later pour into my book, Girl, Wash Your VJJ!, and am sharing with you now. She listened without taking offense, her desperation palpable as she yearned to understand how to truly take care of herself. She really loved him, and the thought of losing him to something that could change, something she could control, was unbearable. She didn’t need convincing; the pain of that experience was enough. No one had to tell her to make a change. She was ready.

The happy ending? Yes, fast forward, they worked things out. John appreciated her willingness to learn, to truly listen and make changes, which speaks volumes about his character. And she, in turn, appreciated his honesty, difficult as it was to hear. She’s changed, truly transformed, and they are now engaged, set to marry this December. Their love story, once almost derailed by an unspoken issue, found its way back, stronger and more honest.

But that entire experience, that raw, pivotal moment, taught me something that sticks with me every single day. It became my absolute obsession with vagina cleanliness, a powerful truth that I couldn’t forget.

• How many women have lost out on amazing relationships because no one ever taught them the basics of proper vaginal care?

• How many men have walked away, leaving women to assume they were “just after sex” or “not in love,” when the real issue was from vaginal odor or vaginal discharge?

• How many women have normalized unpleasant vaginal odors like we read on google, or are just convinced that the vagina is supposed to smell?

• And how many of us spend thousands on doctor visits, vaginal creams, and fruity, or floral feminine hygiene washes, masking the problem instead of addressing the root cause of Bacterial Vaginosis?

This isn’t just about feminine hygiene in the sense of it, it’s about the confidence you carry yourself with, self-respect on how you present yourself to others, and breaking free from myths that hold us back. If my friend’s story resonates with you, stick around. Let’s stop the cycle, together.

The TikTok Story: A Gynecologist’s Frustration

Let’s talk about a TikToker whose story went viral. This lady shared a story about how her gynecologist abandoned her because he didn’t honestly know what to do about her situation. After giving her all the medications and advising on lifestyle recommendations to no avail, he was tired. 

Her story isn’t unique. Many doctors face this same challenge, especially with women who experience recurring vaginal issues. They do everything their training and protocols suggest, but when the results don’t last, they’re left shrugging their shoulders.

But here’s where the problem lies: the widely accepted medical belief that “the vagina cleanses itself so one should only wash the vulva.”

This narrative has been ingrained in Western women for generations. Most women have been told to “just leave it alone,” that the vulva should only be washed, not inside the vagina. But what happens when this approach doesn’t work? What happens when the advice to “do nothing” leads to years of discomfort, financial and emotional stress, and even strained relationships due to persistent vaginal odor or vaginal discharge?

The woman on TikTok believed the same myths so many of us do today, and it cost her. Not just in terms of health, but in time, money, and trust in medical professionals. Her gynecologist wasn’t wrong in his frustration, he was doing everything he was trained to do. But the science shaping this training is flawed, and women are paying the price in their vaginal health.

This is exactly why I wrote this book. I want to challenge this belief head-on and equip women with the knowledge they’ve been denied for ages. Truth is, the idea of your vagina cleaning itself is just as flawed as thinking saliva keeps your tongue spotless. For real vaginal health, you need specific, effective vaginal care practices. These methods truly prevent problems like recurring BV, tackle vaginal odor, and ultimately make you feel confident, healthy, and in charge of your feminine hygiene.

Let’s stop accepting incomplete advice and start embracing solutions that truly work. My book debunks the myth, uncovers the truth, and offers you the tools to reclaim your vaginal health.

Myth-Breaking: Science vs. Common Sense

The widely spread myth that “the vagina cleanses itself” is deeply ingrained, but let’s take a deeper look at why this idea doesn’t hold up when it comes to maintaining proper feminine hygiene. Yes, your vagina actually has natural ways to balance its internal environment, a bit like how saliva works inside your mouth. Yet, for true vaginal health, it still requires attentive care and proper cleaning. Just because your body has self-regulating features doesn’t mean we should be exempt from regular maintenance for optimal vaginal health. Let’s put it into perspective:

• Saliva helps keep the mouth moist, but does that mean you should skip brushing your teeth?

• Sweat helps expel toxins, but would you stop showering together?

The same logic applies to vaginal health. While the vagina has self-cleaning properties for the internal part, the external areas, including the vulva, need intentional care. This is where the “self-cleaning” myth falls short regarding feminine hygiene. But there’s more, this myth is also used to discourage washing inside the vagina, claiming that it can disrupt your pH balance. This belief is not just misguided, it’s simply untrue. How can plain water, the most natural and simple element, possibly disrupt your pH and worsen vaginal discharge? That’s not common sense.

Women are suffering from recurring Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) like it’s just another part of the monthly routine. And who’s their best friend? Their gynecologists and pharmacists, whom they visit so often that they’re now on a first-name basis. Isn’t it wild? You could be taking pills, using creams, and depending on doctors for a “quick fix,” all while ignoring one simple solution: proper vaginal hygiene.

Let’s start with some common-sense examples. Imagine walking into your house and never cleaning it because “it cleans itself.” Over time, wouldn’t the dust and grime pile up? Or consider skipping showers altogether because, well, your body’s natural sweat and oil will “cleanse” you. Sounds ridiculous? Exactly. The same applies to vaginal care. The idea that “the vagina cleanses itself” has been overly generalized and misunderstood. While the internal vagina does have self-cleaning mechanisms, the vulva and inside your vagina need active care, just like every other part of your body.

The Solution: A Balanced Approach

Instead of relying on products that provide short-term fixes for vaginal odor or vaginal discharge, take a common-sense approach to vaginal care. The secret lies in gently cleaning inside your vagina with plain water, using your finger as part of the Squat and Clean method. This technique keeps the vagina clean without disturbing the natural pH. The focus should be on keeping things simple: use plain water, no soap, no fancy products, just water. This doesn’t disturb your natural balance and is the most effective way to keep everything fresh and healthy for better feminine hygiene.

Debunking the Medical Myths

Popular websites, like MedicalNewsToday, Healthline, BloomOB/GYN, and MorelandOBGYN often advise washing the vulva and not inside the vagina. This popular advice, while seemingly well-intended, unfortunately became the standard despite its flaws. It overlooks the valuable cultural and practical wisdom concerning feminine hygiene from various parts of the world. Such recommendations typically originate from Western practices, where “the squat and clean method” isn’t known, and where years of harsh soaps and aggressive douching have proven detrimental to vaginal health. However, what they fail to acknowledge is that an approach, like  “the squat and clean method,” provides effective vaginal care without upsetting the vagina’s pH.

Scientific evaluations often miss the mark because they fail to study diverse practices globally. Cultures like Liberia have centuries of proven feminine hygiene practices that prioritize cleanliness without compromising vaginal health. Ignoring this wisdom reflects a biased lens, framing Western norms as the universal standard. A truly comprehensive scientific approach, however, would show that many non-Western traditions offer practical, long-term vaginal health benefits. Consider the pervasive myth that rinsing inside the vagina with plain water can disrupt your pH balance. This idea isn’t just incorrect, it defies common sense. Your vagina’s pH is remarkably resilient. Using plain water, free from soaps (even mild ones) or harsh chemicals, actually helps maintain that delicate balance, rather than throwing it off. It’s time to let go of the outdated belief that only the vulva should be washed externally. Instead, embrace the straightforward logic of a simple, natural method for managing vaginal discharge and ensuring thorough feminine hygiene.

Scientific Backing for Internal Cleaning with Plain Water:

While many health organizations advise against douching with harsh chemicals, there is no direct scientific consensus that simply rinsing the vagina with plain water is harmful. Generations of women across diverse cultures have relied on water for internal cleansing, and history simply doesn’t show negative health outcomes from these practices. The genuine concern surrounding douching, as many medical experts emphasize, nearly always points to the irritants, fragrances, and harsh chemicals in commercial preparations. It’s these substances, not plain water, that can truly upset your natural vaginal flora and precise pH balance.

• The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) , while generally advising against douching due to potential infection risks, primarily direct their recommendations at these commercial douches containing chemicals or fragrances, rather than plain water.  Check here. 

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns against douching due to its association with various vagina health problems, the focus, again, is largely on commercial products. The CDC provides further details on douching and sexually transmitted disease that highlight this distinction.

• Understanding the Microbiome: What truly matters is to keep your body’s natural balance intact. Unlike irritating soaps or heavily scented items, plain water has a neutral pH, making it significantly less likely to disrupt your vaginal microbiome. A careful rinse just helps manage any excess vaginal discharge and cleanse the area, leaving the good bacteria exactly where they should be.

We simply must differentiate between douching with harsh, bottled products and a gentle rinse with plain water. The latter, when done correctly, is a long-standing practice in many cultural feminine hygiene traditions, offering cleanliness without chemical interference. 

When women truly understand how to care for their vagina, both externally and internally, through these effective hygiene practices, they can genuinely reclaim their vaginal health. This newfound knowledge empowers them to shed old myths and feel a real boost in their well-being and confidence.

Popular Feminine Hygiene Products Profiting from Misconceptions

Many feminine hygiene brands capitalize on the belief that the vagina needs scented washes or sprays to smell “fresh.” These products are often marketed with promises of confidence and cleanliness, but in reality, they can actually disrupt the vagina’s natural balance, leading to recurring issues like BV and increased vaginal odor.

Instead of addressing the root causes of odors or infections, they mask symptoms, keeping women dependent on their products. Education about simple, effective hygiene practices, like using plain water, is key to breaking this cycle and empowering women to make informed choices for their vaginal health.

• Vagisil Odor Block Wash: Promotes odor protection but they contain fragrances that may irritate the vagina and destroy its natural PH.

• Summer’s Eve Cleansing Wash: Is heavily marketed around the world but they have often been criticized for containing artificial scents and chemicals that disrupts the vagina’s PH. 

• Lume Deodorant for Private Parts: Is a newer product designed for long-lasting freshness but it still focuses on masking rather than solving issues. The interesting thing is that this brand was made by an OBGYN. If this doesn’t tell you everything you need to know then what does?

I want you to remember that true confidence comes from understanding your body and treating it with care, not by masking it with products that are only temporary. A simple, natural approach is all you need to feel confident and fresh in your feminine hygiene.

The Squat and Clean Method: A Step-by-Step Guide

Start with Plain Water: Get clean water, no soap, no fancy feminine hygiene washes, just plain water from your bucket or shower head.

Squat Comfortably: Squatting provides better access and allows you to thoroughly clean the area without awkward stretching for optimal vaginal care.

Gently Spread and Clean: Use your clean middle finger and insert one into your vagina. Let the water run through your hand into your vagina. Slowly move your finger in a circular motion. You might feel the inside is slimy or muddy due to vaginal discharge.

Rinse Thoroughly: Slowly rinse away any remaining residue until the inside of your vagina is clean. You will no longer feel the slimy or muddy sensation, and it will feel tighter. You will also feel your vagina walls.

Pat Dry: Use a clean, dry towel to pat the area gently. Avoid rubbing, as it can irritate the sensitive skin. Also, leaving it wet can cause a yeast infection, as yeast thrives in moist places.

This age-old Liberian practice has been passed down from generation to generation, emphasizing hygiene as an essential part of women’s vaginal health. Unlike some modern advice, which insists on leaving the vagina alone, this tradition recognizes that proper vaginal care ensures balance and reduces recurring infections. It honors the body and promotes vaginal health while challenging harmful myths that discourage active hygiene practices. By incorporating this method into your daily routine, you can reduce recurring infections like BVs, UTIs, Vagina odors, and boost your confidence.

Why It Works

Unlike many modern recommendations that overly rely on the idea of “leaving things natural,” the Squat and Clean Method bridges the gap between tradition and practicality for your feminine hygiene. It respects the body’s natural processes while ensuring thorough cleanliness, a balance that’s been essential for generations in maintaining vaginal health.

Engagement Questions with Answers

How many women do you think are silently struggling with BV and have no idea what’s causing it?

Answer: Millions of women globally are dealing with recurring BV without understanding the root cause. Poor hygiene myths, like “the vagina cleanses itself,” combined with a lack of practical education, contribute to this silent epidemic of vaginal health issues.

Have you ever normalized something that didn’t feel right because “that’s just how it is”?

Answer: Many women normalize unpleasant vaginal odors or recurring discomfort, believing it’s “natural” or unavoidable. These misconceptions can lead to low confidence and missed opportunities to improve their vaginal health.

Have you or someone you know been treated for BV over and over again, only for it to keep coming back?

Answer: Recurring BV is often a sign that the underlying cause hasn’t been addressed. While antibiotics can clear an infection temporarily, poor feminine hygiene practices or reliance on scented products can undo progress and lead to repeated infections.

Embracing Generational Wisdom

Liberian women have practiced proper vaginal care for centuries, with methods that have stood the test of time. These traditions are not about myths or superstitions, they are practical, effective, and rooted in understanding the female body. By incorporating this wisdom into your feminine hygiene routine, you can break free from recurring infections and experience a newfound sense of vaginal health and empowerment.

Remember, your body deserves respect, care, and attention. Don’t let one-size-fits-all advice hold you back. Try “the squat and clean method” today and see the difference for yourself!

Start your journey today with simple, effective hygiene practices! Discover Girl, Wash Your VJJ!, and reclaim your confidence for good.

Conclusion

In this journey, we’ve debunked the myth that “the vagina cleanses itself and we should only wash the vulva,” provided practical feminine hygiene tips, and emphasized the importance of empowering yourself with knowledge. Taking charge of your vaginal health is not just about breaking free from recurring issues like BV, it’s about embracing confidence, comfort, and control over your well-being.

Don’t let myths and misinformation deter you. Grab your copy of Girl, Wash Your VJJ! today and start your journey to a better vaginal health, balance, and empowerment! Your body deserves better care starting now!