Let’s Talk Vaginas: Understanding Your Body with Dr. Gynae
Let’s talk about vaginas. Not the awkward, whispered version of the conversation. The actual biology, health and care of one of the most important parts of our bodies.
On this Baby Brunch episode, Dr Mpume Zenda takes us through vaginal health, including understanding how the vagina works, infections, maintenance and the things we should know about our bodies.
Because how can we look after something properly if we don’t understand it?
This is a conversation for women who want to be more informed, more comfortable asking questions and more aware of their own health.
Dr Mpume Zenda joins Baby Brunch for a conversation about Vaginal Health.
Brought to you by Epi-Max Baby & Junior - Our Family, for Your Family. Supported by Jacaranda FM.
Also available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
ABOUT DR MPUME ZENDA
Dr. Nompumelelo Zenda, also known as Dr. Gynae, is a highly experienced OB-Gynae and Sexologist, widely recognized as one of the leading experts in women’s sexual health.
Based in Johannesburg, South Africa, she is the founder of “We See You,” a health and information consultancy that provides innovative solutions for Sexual and Reproductive Health & Wellness.
Dr. Gynae holds memberships with the European Society of Sexual Medicine (ESSM) and the International Society of Sexual Medicine (ISSM), further solidifying her authority in the field of sexual and reproductive health and sexual medicine.
Dr. Gynae’s qualifications are extensive and prestigious. She holds an MBCHB from the Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and specialized in Obstetrics and Gynecology, earning her FCOG(SA) from the University of Witwatersrand. In 2018, she was awarded the opportunity to attend the ESSM School of Sexual Medicine programming in Budapest as a recipient of the International Society of Sexual Medicine scholarship. She is also a Fellow of the European Committee of Sexual Medicine (FECSM), affirming her status as a specialized Medical Sexologist.
With clinical expertise in sexual medicine and a deep commitment to women’s holistic health, Dr. Gynae helps women understand, love, and embrace their cyclical nature. She believes that by taking a comprehensive approach to women’s health, better outcomes and a higher quality of life can be achieved for women worldwide. Beyond her medical practice, she leverages her platform as a social media influencer, where her unique and insightful content helps raise awareness, break down barriers, and foster healthy conversations around sexual and reproductive health.
Dr. Gynae is a familiar face on South African television, best known for her work on Mzansi Magic’s “Sunday Sexy Love,” where she assists celebrity couples in navigating relationships and intimacy. She is also a frequent guest expert on Showmax’s online show, “Sex & Pleasure,” where she shares her knowledge on sexual health and wellness. She is a guest expert on Mzansi Magic’s hit show “Married at First Sight”, for seasons 1 - 3, and serves as a Clicks Wellness Expert.
As an author, Dr. Gynae penned Mommy, My Body’s Changing: A Girl in Bloom’s Trusty Handbook for Growing Up, a guide designed to dispel myths and taboos associated with puberty and menstruation. Her dedication to women’s health and advocacy has earned her numerous accolades, such as the Glamour Woman of the Year in Healthcare 2025, including a nomination for the 2022 DSTV Content Creator Award in the Cause Award category, recognizing her contributions to social causes through her work.
Dr. Gynae’s passion for women’s sexual and reproductive health, her dynamic presence in media, and her unwavering commitment to advocacy make her a trailblazer in the field. Her impact continues to grow, touching the lives of individuals and communities, and driving positive change in women’s health across South Africa and beyond.
Podcast Transcript
Prefer to read instead? Here’s the transcript from this episode of the Baby Brunch Podcast.
Short on time? Scroll to the key takeaways below.
ELANA AFRIKA-BREDENKAMP
Welcome to another Baby Brunch podcast. My name is Elana Afrika-Bredenkamp, and it’s a huge honour for us today to host Dr Mpume Zenda.
Why is she here? Well, we’re talking about everything to do with our bodies, but specifically, we’re talking about vaginal health.
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Now, Doctor, usually when you buy a new telephone, a mobile device or any device for that matter, you open it, you get a manual and you can follow the instructions in case things don’t go the way you planned.
But what’s so fascinating is that when it comes to the human body, our health and our vaginal health, not all of us are the same.
So we’re calling on you today to help us understand our bodies and, more importantly, what vaginal health actually means.
My question is: a healthy vagina, a healthy body. What does vaginal health look like? What exactly are we talking about?
DR MPUME ZENDA
You know what? It’s exactly the same as thinking about cardiac health. It’s exactly the same as thinking about skin health.
I think where we get stuck is that we talk about all the other parts of our bodies so comfortably, but we’ve been socialised to think of the vagina as taboo. You only have to look at all the names we’ve decided to call our vaginas instead of using the words vulva and vagina.
For me, what’s always been really sad is that even as we grow up as young girls, our vaginas become something we’re told to hide. Even before puberty, there’s this secrecy around them. It’s like we’re not supposed to know about them.
It’s as though the manual gets hidden from us, and we’re told not to talk about that part of our bodies.
We need to get out of that mindset because we’ve made talking about vaginal health seem like something completely different from talking about any other part of our bodies.
So what are we talking about when we talk about vaginal health?
First and foremost, it’s about understanding how it functions.
How do you love something? How do you care for something that you don’t understand?
And how do you understand and become invested in something that you’ve been told to feel ashamed of and shy away from?
I think that’s where a lot of these conversations come to a standstill.
ELANA AFRIKA-BREDENKAMP
I love how you talk about falling in love with your body.
I think that concept is foreign to some of us. A lot of the time, the ideas we have about our bodies come from books, online, TikTok or social media.
The ideal body or vagina that you see probably isn’t even yours. You see it in a book. I remember growing up and learning from encyclopaedias.
When you talk about falling in love with our bodies, even as they change, how do we do that? Especially after pregnancy, because things change!
DR MPUME ZENDA
Oh my goodness! I would say it’s the most forgiving organ.
We ought to be singing the praises of our vaginas, honestly.
You can give birth, and there’s swelling, there may be tears and there’s so much happening. And then the body begins this incredible process of healing and recovery.
We don’t always give our bodies enough respect for what they can do.
I respect the vagina. Honestly, it’s incredible.
ELANA AFRIKA-BREDENKAMP
So if you’re saying we need to respect our bodies, it’s beautiful to be able to love the body that we’re in, this body that can reproduce and function.
Did you ever, in your career as a gynaecologist, develop a vaginal checklist?
Does one exist? Maybe we should!
Is there something like a ‘love your vagina’ checklist?
DR MPUME ZENDA
We totally should!
And technically, there is, because understanding our vaginas starts with knowing them.
I always say that when you understand your normal, it makes it easier to know when things aren’t going right.
So if we had to develop a checklist, one of the first things I would suggest is starting with a mirror.
Just take a mirror and familiarise yourself with your anatomy.
You would be surprised how many women are uncomfortable looking at their own vulvas. Their bodies do all sorts of things for them, but they’ve never taken a mirror and had a look.
And of the women who have looked, it’s incredible how many think to themselves, ‘It’s not pretty.’
We attach certain emotions to our bodies. Sometimes it’s because of experiences we’ve gone through, and sometimes it’s because of the cultural influences we’ve grown up with.
So I would say, start by getting to know your body.
It’s like getting a new car or a new cellphone. You want to understand where everything is and what everything does.
Start with the outside, and name it as it is.
Everybody gets offended when somebody pronounces their name incorrectly, so call your anatomy by its correct name.
Don’t use euphemisms.
It’s not a flower. It’s not a petunia.
Call it by its name. It’s the vulva and vagina.
ELANA AFRIKA-BREDENKAMP
I love how you’re here to give us the full picture.
What should it smell like? What should it look like?
I know you talk about using a mirror and how we should be able to look at our bodies so that we understand what we’re working with.
DR MPUME ZENDA
You want to understand all the different parts and what they’re for.
Starting from the outside, the external genital area is called the vulva.
You have the outer lips, which are called the labia majora. Then you have the inner lips, called the labia minora.
At the top, you’ve got the clitoris and the clitoral hood.
Below the clitoris is the urethral opening. That’s where urine comes out.
You’d be surprised how many women don’t know that urine and menstrual blood come from different openings.
The urethra is connected to the urinary system, including the bladder and kidneys.
Below the urethral opening, you have the vaginal opening. The vagina itself is the internal canal, whereas the vulva refers to the external genital structures.
And below that, you have the anus.
There are also glands in the area that play a role in producing secretions and lubrication.
When you look at the vaginal area, you might notice a little bit of fluid. And you’ll find that it changes depending on where you are in your menstrual cycle.
That’s part of understanding how your body works.
Something else that comes to mind is how many women think that vaginal discharge is automatically a sign that something is wrong.
Some women feel they need to wear panty liners all the time because they don’t want discharge to stain their underwear.
One of the reasons women give is that their underwear changes colour, especially black underwear.
But that should actually spark curiosity about how the vagina works.
One of the important things to understand is the vaginal ecosystem. The vagina normally has an acidic pH, generally around 3.5 to 4.5 during the reproductive years.
That acidity can cause discolouration of underwear over time.
There’s nothing necessarily wrong with that. It’s part of how the vaginal environment functions.
ELANA AFRIKA-BREDENKAMP
I’ll be very honest with you, Dr Gynae. The first time I picked up a mirror to look at anything was during pregnancy.
And then the gynaecologist gives you advice about getting your partner involved so that you can massage the perineum and have a good look.
But if we need to see and explore our own bodies so that the only vagina we know isn’t just the one in the biology book, then we really do need to understand what we’re looking at.
DR MPUME ZENDA
You know what’s interesting? We go to gynaecologists and other healthcare providers, and we have relationships with partners, but sometimes those people become more familiar with our anatomy than we are ourselves.
ELANA AFRIKA-BREDENKAMP
Thank you for giving us the full picture.
I must say, when I called you to have this discussion today, I thought we’d talk about what it looks like, how it works, the smell and the pH.
But you’re really giving us the full picture.
I also love how you say we need to understand our own normal.
So if we’re talking about pH, I want to know more.
There’s discharge in our underwear, and depending on what we’re wearing, whether it’s cotton or nylon, we might notice different things.
When should we be concerned about the appearance or smell of vaginal discharge?
DR MPUME ZENDA
I find that a lot of women mistakenly think something is wrong when the texture of their vaginal discharge changes.
I don’t actually like the word ‘discharge’. I prefer to call it vaginal lubrication or natural lubrication, because the word discharge can make it sound as though something is already wrong.
We have to look at the vagina in the context of the whole body and what the reproductive system is doing throughout the menstrual cycle.
Our hormones fluctuate, which means our vaginal lubrication isn’t necessarily going to look the same throughout the month.
Let’s start with what’s normal.
Day one of your menstrual cycle is the first day of your period. During menstruation, you’ll see blood, and that continues for however long your period lasts.
Towards the end of your period, you might notice brownish discharge, which can have a slightly metallic smell.
As you move through your cycle, your vaginal secretions can change.
Around ovulation, you might notice that the mucus becomes clear, stretchy and similar in consistency to raw egg white.
As you move closer to your next period, it may become thicker and whiter.
These are some of the normal changes that can happen throughout the menstrual cycle.
Then there’s the smell.
For the most part, vaginal secretions have a natural scent that we become familiar with.
You get used to what your own normal smells like.
So when something changes significantly, particularly if there’s an unusual or unpleasant odour, you may recognise that something isn’t quite right.
When should we be concerned?
If you notice thick, cottage cheese-like discharge, particularly when it’s accompanied by itching or discomfort, that could suggest a yeast infection.
An unusual smell or changes in discharge can also be associated with bacterial vaginosis.
We also can’t discount sexually transmitted infections, particularly when there’s an unusual odour or other symptoms.
The important thing is to recognise when something has changed and have it checked by a healthcare professional.
ELANA AFRIKA-BREDENKAMP
So if you notice a change in discharge and you don’t know whether it’s bacterial or something else, what should you do?
Do you see a medical professional? Do you have a bath? Do you douche?
When is the right time to see your medical practitioner?
DR MPUME ZENDA
We do have over-the-counter medication available, but I’d like to explain it this way.
First and foremost, particularly if you’re experiencing these symptoms for the first time, I would recommend speaking to a healthcare professional.
The reason is that bacterial vaginosis and yeast infections are different conditions, and they need different treatments.
Sometimes somebody has a yeast infection, but they receive treatment that isn’t appropriate for what they’re experiencing.
They might feel better for a few days, but then the symptoms return.
That’s why it’s important to establish what’s actually causing the problem.
When women come to see me with symptoms of an infection, I don’t just look at treating the symptoms they’re experiencing at that moment.
I also ask, ‘How did we get here?’
What are the possible contributing factors?
If I can help somebody understand the habits or circumstances that may be contributing to recurring problems, I may be able to help them prevent future episodes.
And then we get to some of the interesting questions women ask me.
‘How many pineapples do I need to eat to smell like pineapples?’
And I’m just like, why do we want our vaginas to smell like pineapples?
A vagina smells like a vagina!
ELANA AFRIKA-BREDENKAMP
Listen, I hear what you’re saying!
I can imagine there are now hundreds of our listeners wondering what they should be keeping at home.
What should we have available if we’re concerned about vaginal health?
I can tell you that I have a few things in my cupboard, including an antifungal cream and a wash for when I don’t feel particularly fresh.
DR MPUME ZENDA
Here’s the reality, Elana.
We’re a demographic that gets exploited quite a lot when it comes to these products.
We’re told to smell organic, smell natural, buy this and buy that.
But the vagina is a self-cleansing organ.
I understand that sometimes we want to feel more comfortable. We want to feel fresh, and perhaps we want to impress the person we’re sharing our bodies with.
But we need to take care of ourselves first.
No harsh shower gels or soaps.
No douching and no steaming.
A lot of these practices can interfere with the vaginal environment and its natural pH balance.
We need to be mindful of the products we’re using.
For example, some women feel they need to use intimate washes regularly, particularly around menstruation.
But we should be careful about introducing unnecessary products into such a sensitive area.
The same goes for panty liners.
You don’t necessarily need to use a panty liner every single day.
Most underwear has a cotton lining, and breathable materials can help keep the area comfortable.
When we’re constantly wearing panty liners, we’re creating another layer against the skin.
It’s fine to use them when they’re needed, such as towards the end of a period, but they don’t have to become something we use every day.
It’s also worth thinking about the products we use and whether they’re scented or likely to cause irritation.
ELANA AFRIKA-BREDENKAMP
I’m just thinking about us women.
We’re on this mission to make sure everything is right. We want to smell like pineapples and papayas and all these things.
But if these products aren’t necessarily good for us, why are they stocked on supermarket shelves?
DR MPUME ZENDA
That’s such an important question.
If we’re trying to maintain a healthy vaginal environment, the first thing we need to do is stop interfering with it unnecessarily.
It’s a self-cleansing organ.
We need to stop some of the habits we’ve developed, including douching and using products that may disrupt the natural environment.
Another trend that’s become common is wearing gym clothes throughout the day.
We’re wearing tight exercise clothing for hours, and we’re sweating.
After exercising or swimming, it’s a good idea to change out of wet or sweaty clothing as soon as possible.
You want to avoid keeping the area damp and uncomfortable for extended periods.
And then there’s the question of who makes all these products.
The feminine hygiene industry is enormous.
There are so many products marketed to women, often by suggesting that something about our bodies needs to be fixed.
We see it on TikTok and social media. Somebody comes along with a new hack, and suddenly everybody wants to try it.
But we don’t always stop to ask, ‘Who are you, and what credibility do you have to give me that information?’
That’s something I encourage women to think about.
Before buying or using a product, ask yourself whether you understand what it does and who is providing the advice.
And if something goes wrong, or you experience a complication, is there somebody you can contact and hold accountable?
We need to be more thoughtful about the information and products we’re trusting.
ELANA AFRIKA-BREDENKAMP
There are so many questions coming up for me!
Here’s one: can menstrual blood cause irritation or a rash?
DR MPUME ZENDA
Sometimes it’s the sanitary products we’re using, particularly if we’re not changing them often enough.
Sometimes it may be related to the changes that happen during menstruation.
Remember, menstrual blood has a different pH from the usual vaginal environment.
But a lot of the time, it also has to do with the habits we’ve developed because we think having a period is dirty.
We don’t want to smell a certain way, so we use more scented products.
We use harsh gels, and some people even scrub the area.
We need to stop doing that.
Sometimes we’re making the irritation worse by trying too hard to clean something that doesn’t need that kind of treatment.
Our bodies are not betraying us. They’re working with us.
And most of the time, they don’t need nearly as much intervention as we think.
ELANA AFRIKA-BREDENKAMP
We’ve talked about so much already.
I must say, I’m the one listening today, and you’re the one chatting!
There are so many myths about our bodies and how our vaginas function.
When people come to see you in your practice, what’s one of the biggest myths you find yourself addressing?
DR MPUME ZENDA
That something is wrong with their vagina.
And my question is always, ‘Who told you so?’
Because very often, that belief doesn’t come from the woman herself.
It’s something she heard. It’s something a partner said.
‘My lips aren’t equal.’
‘My lips don’t look normal.’
Women have these ideas about what their bodies are supposed to look like.
And sometimes they don’t even ask the question directly, but you can see it in how they behave.
Women think they need to have some kind of grooming or ‘landscaping’ ritual before coming to see a gynaecologist.
And I’m like, my sister, I don’t care!
I’m here to do my job.
Women will apologise.
‘Doctor, I’m so sorry, I haven’t shaved.’
‘Doctor, I’m sorry, I’ve just finished my period.’
And I’m just like, I don’t care!
I really hope that mothers, especially those with young girls, take something away from this conversation.
One of the things that broke my heart growing up was not being able to have these conversations with my mother.
She was so uncomfortable with the subject and didn’t quite know how to approach it.
I’m so proud of my own daughter.
When she started her period, I showed her the different menstrual products available.
I taught her how to use them and then allowed her to choose what she felt most comfortable with.
At 16, she’s most comfortable using tampons. She actually doesn’t like sanitary pads.
And that’s okay.
The important thing is that she understands her body, knows what her options are and feels comfortable making those choices.
ELANA AFRIKA-BREDENKAMP
I have a hundred more questions, but I want to thank you for being part of the solution.
Thank you for always helping us in such a gracious and beautiful way.
I’ve got my kids running around here, and every time I say the word ‘vagina’, I see a head popping up!
So I feel like this is an interview I can really play for them, whether on video or through the podcast, so that they can understand their bodies better.
Dr Mpume Zenda, thank you so much for joining us.
You’ll find Dr Mpume’s details in our social media posts and captions, and also on the Baby Brunch website.
Thank you for joining us.
Transcript edited for clarity and readability.
Key Takeaways
Vaginal health deserves the same attention as any other aspect of health. We comfortably discuss heart health, skin health and other parts of our bodies, yet vaginal health is often treated as taboo. Understanding our anatomy is an important part of looking after ourselves.
Use the correct anatomical terms. The vulva refers to the external genital structures, while the vagina is the internal canal. Using accurate terminology helps normalise conversations about our bodies.
Get to know your own body. Dr Mpume encourages women to use a mirror to familiarise themselves with their anatomy. Understanding what is normal for you makes it easier to recognise when something changes.
There is no single ‘perfect’ appearance. Vulvas naturally vary in shape, size and appearance. Differences between the labia are common and don’t automatically indicate a problem.
Vaginal discharge is often completely normal. Natural vaginal secretions can change in colour, consistency and amount throughout the menstrual cycle. These changes are often related to hormonal fluctuations.
The vagina has a naturally acidic environment. During the reproductive years, vaginal pH is typically around 3.5 to 4.5. This acidity can sometimes cause discolouration of underwear, which isn’t necessarily a sign of infection.
Know when to seek medical advice. Unusual odours, itching, discomfort or significant changes in discharge may indicate an infection or another condition. A healthcare professional can help identify the cause and recommend appropriate treatment.
Not all vaginal infections are the same. Yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis and sexually transmitted infections have different causes and may require different treatments. Avoid assuming that one treatment will work for every symptom.
The vagina is self-cleansing. Internal washing, douching and steaming are unnecessary and may interfere with the vaginal environment. Gentle care of the external vulva is generally sufficient.
Your vagina doesn’t need to smell like flowers or fruit. A natural vaginal scent is normal. Products promising to change that scent may create unnecessary concerns about perfectly healthy bodies.
Be mindful of intimate-care products. Harsh soaps, scented products and unnecessary washes can cause irritation. Consider whether a product is genuinely needed before introducing it into your routine.
Breathable clothing can help with comfort. Cotton-lined underwear and changing out of damp exercise clothes can help reduce moisture and irritation around the vulva.
Menstruation isn’t dirty. Some women use excessive cleaning products during their periods because they feel uncomfortable with natural menstrual odours. Gentle hygiene and regularly changing menstrual products are generally more appropriate than harsh cleansing routines.
Question health advice on social media. Not every intimate-care trend or product is supported by reliable medical evidence. Consider the credibility of the person providing advice before following recommendations.
Children benefit from open conversations about their bodies. Parents can help normalise anatomical terminology, menstruation and reproductive health by speaking about these subjects without embarrassment or shame.
Give young people information and choices. Teaching children about different menstrual products and how to use them allows them to make informed decisions about what works best for their bodies.
Your body deserves understanding, not shame. One of Dr Mpume’s central messages is that caring for our bodies begins with understanding and respecting them, rather than trying to change them to meet unrealistic expectations.