Credit: @_simphiwe96/TikTok
Doctors Issue Warning Against Dangerous ‘Vabbing’ Trend
Doctors are warning against the dangerous TikTok trend of ‘vabbing.’
Social media trends come and go, often sparking debate over their validity and safety.
Some fads gain traction due to their supposed scientific backing, while others rely on anecdotal evidence and personal testimonials.
When it comes to viral trends, few topics generate as much curiosity and controversy as those related to attraction and human chemistry.
One recent phenomenon has garnered significant social media attention, with backers claiming it enhances desirability and skeptics dismissing it as pseudoscience.
Many online trends, especially those rooted in personal care or attraction, often cite the power of pheromones as a justification for their effectiveness.
Pheromones, chemical substances secreted by animals that influence the behavior of others of the same species, are well-documented in the animal kingdom.
For instance, male mice release compounds that can trigger aggression in other males or accelerate puberty in young females.
However, when it comes to human pheromones, scientific consensus remains elusive.
Dr. Tristram D. Wyatt of the University of Oxford stated: “We do not yet know if humans have pheromones.”
Extensive research dating back to the 1970s has attempted to identify human pheromones, with mixed and inconclusive results.
Some studies have explored the effects of chemicals like androstadienone and estratetraenol on human perception, but the methodologies and study findings have been widely questioned.
Dr. Wyatt has argued: “There is simply no peer-reviewed, bioassay evidence… that any of these four molecules is a human pheromone. Calling the molecules ‘putative human pheromones’ does not avoid the problem: they have never been shown to be human pheromones.”
Despite a lack of concrete scientific evidence, some social media influencers have popularized unconventional methods they claim can enhance attraction.
One such trend – ‘vabbing,’ or dabbing your v**inal secretions on as a perfume – has led to significant debate.
While advocates insist on its effectiveness, critics point out its potential health risks and lack of scientific grounding.
From a health perspective, this practice is not entirely risk-free.
Any contact between bodily fluids and different body areas or external surfaces carries some level of risk, including the potential for bacterial transfer or infection.
Medical professionals caution that even if the trend in question is not overtly harmful to most people, it is misleading to describe it as completely safe.
As with many viral trends, misinformation can spread rapidly, and individuals following these practices may not always be aware of potential risks.
The scientific skepticism surrounding this trend primarily stems from the lack of evidence supporting the claim that human pheromones exist and influence attraction.
Researchers have conducted rigorous studies, such as one performed at the University of Western Australia in 2017, where participants were exposed to putative pheromones while rating attractiveness and perceived faithfulness in others.
The results showed no measurable effect, reinforcing doubts about the role of pheromones in human attraction.
While some individuals claim to have experienced success using this method, explanations for their perceived results may lie elsewhere.
According to Mike Hall, writing for The Skeptic, several psychological factors could be at play.
He outlines possibilities such as the ‘file drawer effect,’ where only successful experiences are shared online, and ‘confirmation bias,’ where individuals attribute success to the method because they expect it to work.
He also suggests that a ‘s**ual placebo effect’ could make participants feel more confident, which in turn could increase their perceived attractiveness.
Beyond the scientific concerns, the practice also raises questions about etiquette and personal boundaries.
Some may find the idea of unknowingly coming into contact with another person’s bodily secretions unsettling.
Public health considerations and social norms further complicate the discussion, particularly in spaces where scent-free policies exist for accessibility reasons.
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