Is vabbing dangerous?

“Vabbing”, a combination of the words “vagina” and “dabbing”, is the practice of dabbing vaginal secretions onto one’s skin in order to attract a mate. This is done because it is thought that vaginal secretions contain pheromones that arouse the interest of potential sexual partners. This can be done in lieu of, or in combination with, perfume.

Many users on the social media app TikTok testify that vabbing works, with many citing the technique as the reason why they were able to attract romantic attention.

However, while many people may cite the technique as a reason for their romantic success, there may be a darker side to the trend.

Although there is no scientific data so far, vabbing could be problematical for some people.

The vagina has a delicate balance of flora that maintains the necessary acidity levels and that allow the vagina to self-clean and stay healthy. If this balance is upset, say, by the introduction of certain foreign bacteria from the fingers, then the risk of developing conditions like Thrush and Gardnerella grows. We will se whether any studies are performed to support this hypothesis.

There is no reason to think, as yet, that vabbing could spread an STI.

There do not appear to be any benefits to vabbing, and there do not seem to be any health risks, either.

If you think that you may have been exposed to an STI, get tested with Better2Know today. Our STI testing services offer a safe and discreet way to give you the best possible view of your sexual health.

You can call the number above to speak to one of our trained and dedicated Sexual Health Advisors.

This article has been medically reviewed by Dr. Steve Chapman, 03/02/2026.