Doctors have accused Kourtney Kardashian of promoting ‘total pseudoscience’ by claiming that supplements made from ‘good’ bacteria, vitamin C, and pineapple extract can ‘promote vaginal health’ and impact genital odor.
On Monday, the 44-year-old posted on her Instagram story promoting Lemme Purr, a vaginal health capsule from her wellness brand Lemme.
The product – which launches Tuesday – is an offshoot of her vaginal health gummies with the same name.
‘This is the first vaginal health capsule that uses four clinically-studied probiotic strains that support pH balance, vaginal health, and urinary tract health,’ she said in the post.
However, experts told DailyMail.com that there is no benefit to the pills – which cost $40 for 60 capsules – and that they are ‘predatory’, ‘cashing in’ on women’s insecurities around their vagina and vaginal discharge.
Dr Mickey Karram, a urogynecologist at Visthetic Surgery Institute and Med Spa in Beverly Hills, told DailyMail.com: ‘It’s total pseudoscience. It’s ridiculous.’
‘There’s no good science behind any of this. I think it’s not anything that someone should consider.’
Kourtney Kardashian promoted Lemme Purr’s vaginal health capsules on her Instagram story this week
The supplements are made from pineapple extract, vitamin C, and four strains of probiotics (good bacteria), which the brand claims are ‘clinically studied.’ However, the company has not publically released any studies on their effectiveness.
Probiotics have traditionally been marketed as supplements to improve gut health and boost the immune system. But more recently, wellness firms have developed similar products which they say can improve the balance of the vaginal flora.
Dr Karram said that while the ingredients in Lemme Purr have not been shown to be harmful, they likely have no impact on vaginal health. ‘I have no idea where [Lemme] came up with that concoction, but there’s nothing anywhere that’s ever been shown in peer reviewed scientific literature that the vagina is lacking or would benefit from vitamin C or pineapple extract.’
‘There’s zero evidence that anything related to what they’re putting into it is going to make anything better,’ he said.
According to Lemme, the capsules contain four strains of probiotics, as well as vitamin C and pineapple extract. However, experts warned that there is no evidence suggesting that vitamin C and pineapple extract have any impact on vaginal health
Lemme Purr’s vaginal health capsules sell for $40 on the brand’s website
The research on how supplements can impact vaginal health is limited. Some advocates argue that the ingredients reach the vagina via the bloodstream, while others say they influence the sex organs indirectly – by affecting the balance of hormones like estrogen.
Estrogen can increase vaginal acidity, which the vagina needs to ward off infections.
Experts also warned that vaginal smell does not need to be changed – unless the smell is strong and different from what is usual for any individual woman.
This is because the vagina is a self-maintaining organ, meaning that it cleans itself and doesn’t require nutrients or medication to keep it functioning.
Dr Greg Marchand, a gynecologist at Marchand Institute for Minimally Invasive Surgery in Arizona, told DailyMail.com: ‘The vagina does not require the addition of any bacteria or supplements to stay clean and healthy, and women shouldn’t be told that they need a supplement like this with no proven benefits.’
If you have a strong vaginal odor, Dr Karram said that this could be indicative of an infection, such as a yeast infection or bacterial vaginosis.
A vaginal yeast infection causes irritation, discharge, and intense itchiness around the vagina and vulva – the outer part of the vaginal opening. It can be triggered by bacteria that form due to sweating and other moisture.
Bacterial vaginosis, meanwhile, is when the vagina’s natural bacteria levels fall out of balance, leading to a foul-smelling odor, itching, discharge, and burning during urination.
Suzannah Weiss, a sexologist at BedBible, told DailyMail.com: ‘The normal odor of the vagina is not something you need to reduce.’
‘If you have an infection or a bacterial or fungal imbalance, the vagina may have a less-than-pleasant odor, but then the goal is to treat the infection or imbalance — not the odor itself.’
Dr Marchand warned that marketing the supplement as affecting vaginal odor could lead women to ignore serious health complications or avoid going to a doctor if they experience strong odor, irritation, or other symptoms.
‘Going down this road, a woman might ignore a serious vaginal irritation,’ like gonorrhea, chlamydia, or pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), Dr Marchand said.
If ignored, PID has been shown to lead to blockage of the fallopian tubes – which connect the ovaries and the uterus – as well as infertility.
Additionally, ‘clinically studied’ is a vague term and does not specify how studies were conducted, what the limitations were, and the overall findings.
Experts also warned that marketing supplements like these as cures for vaginal odor, which does not need to be controlled unless severe, can prey upon women’s insecurities and lead to them feeling self-conscious.
Dr Sameena Rahman, a gynecologist and founder of the Center for Gynecology and Cosmetics in Chicago, told DailyMail.com: ‘It is an example of predatory marketing in feminine hygiene in order to monetize off of women’s insecurities around their vagina and vaginal discharge.’
‘If you have a foul-smelling odor or fishy-type odor, you should see your gynecologist to get assessed for an infection, and these products cannot help you with it.’
