Women are held to impossible standards at all times — and some of those standards are perpetuated by none other than other women. Yup, basic patriarchy 101: it cannot be upheld without the support of other women. Now, these standards aren’t always sustained by obvious outbursts of misogyny (hi, Pearl), sometimes they’re a lot more subtle and do just as much damage. For example, a simple tweet from one of the most famous celebrities in the world can set us back quite a bit.
Let me preface, I love Cardi B and what she stands for. I mean, how couldn’t you love someone who made “WAP”? But she recently tweeted something that screamed “pick me!” She was responding to a hater in her comments who questioned why Cardi would call herself a perfect 10. Now, I think we’re all 10s, but I don’t like the idea of having to spell out why to the world. But Cardi did, and among some of the things she mentioned (“little feet” really sent me and my size 10 ass into a spiral), she mentioned she “never got a odor even when it’s that time of the month.”
I didn’t… but I AM pretty face, pretty frame , little feet, smell good, never got a odor even when it’s that time of the month, got that grippy, street smart, a hustler, rich AF, A God fearing woman… Baby I can upgrade a man life AND buy yours!! A perfect 10 https://t.co/NGvYK2pKQZ
— Cardi B (@iamcardib) December 17, 2024
And of course, this launched some *interesting* discourse online, as people debated whether or not women’s periods should smell. Did you hear that? That was me sighing heavily.
I’m glad Cardi is so confident in herself but let’s be real: It is totally normal for there to be an odor with period blood. And this is pretty much because one, it’s blood (which contains iron), and two, your period blood is blood, tissue, and other bodily fluids being dispersed from your body. The reality is that it’s just not going to smell like nothing.
“It should smell like any other type of blood — slightly metallic and with a light odor,” Dr. Jillian LoPiano, OBGYN and Chief Health Officer at Wisp tells Betches.
Now, that doesn’t mean that your period blood should smell bad. But even if it does, it doesn’t mean you’re “dirty” or “gross” — it could just mean that there might be something wrong down there that needs to be checked out.
“Fishy or foul smell can indicate a problem; if you notice any major changes from your normal, it is best to see your immersion doctor for evaluation,” Dr. LoPiano says.
If you’re someone who noticed a strong or overpowering smell when you get your period, you might just have to change your tampon, pad, or whatever have you more often. LoPiano also suggests making sure you’re gently washing your vulva with water or some very mild and unscented soap. Just remember not to overdo it.
“Over cleansing can actually contribute to unpleasant smells by disrupting the normal flora of the vulva and vagina,” Dr. LoPiano says. “Wipes, scented products, douches, or vaginal steam and cleansing are not necessary and can actually lead to more problems.”
A gorgeous and talented woman, undoubtedly, and I am in no position to question this tweet. The desire to present oneself as odourless, though, could be seen as a preventative measure against disgust, which speaks to the widespread association between women and malodour. https://t.co/AqeQfxT2kr
— Dr Ally Louks (@DrAllyLouks) December 18, 2024
And let’s just all be normal for a second and remember that the way your vagina may or may not smell (especially during your “time of the month”) is not any indication of your worth as a woman. Something Dr. Ally Louks, our fave viral PhD-expert on all things smell, pointed out in a response to Cardi’s tweet.
“The desire to present oneself as odourless, though, could be seen as a preventative measure against disgust, which speaks to the widespread association between women and malodour,” she tweeted, while clarifying that she thinks Cardi is “undoubtedly” a “gorgeous and talented woman.”
And while I love Cardi too, the insinuation that her lack of a vaginal odor during her period (and her smaller feet) makes her superior as a woman is a little backwards and a lot more damaging than she may realize. We’re not going to smell like roses and lilies all the time. But if you are experiencing weird, strong smells down there, definitely check that out — because our main concern should be that our health is a perfect 10.
