WATCH: Women using vaginal discharge as perfume on TikTok goes viral
Doctors have issued a warning about a new viral TikTok trend in which single women use their vaginal discharge as perfume.
‘Vabbing,’ or smearing fluid behind the ears and neck, was popularized by American Tiktokker Mandy Lee, whose original video received 1.5 million views.
Proponents claim it increases the likelihood of attracting men by disseminating pheromones, which are chemicals produced by the body to attract mates in some animals.
Doctors, however, say there is little evidence that pheromones work the same way in humans and warn that it poses serious risks of vaginal infections such as thrush and bacterial vaginosis.
This is due to the fact that dirty hands can spread the fungus and bacteria that cause the two infections.
Dr. Paraskevi Dimitriadi, a private gynaecologist in London, told MailOnline that it could also cause fertility issues.
Bacterial infections can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, in which the bugs spread from the cervix to higher-level organs. This can cause scarring in the fallopian tubes, making fertilized eggs difficult to reach the womb.
Vabbing was first used as a hashtag on TikTok in June, a combination of the words ‘vagina’ and ‘dabbing,’ the term used for applying perfume.
TikTok vabbing videos have amassed millions of views since then.
