Also, to respond to your comments about the post-sex odor and "whiff" test similarities. That is true, also true as to why the odor is worse during and just after your period. Because all of these substances: menstrual blood, semen, and chemical used in lab test are alkaline - this shows the importance of vaginal pH in BV.

High acidity, Like a Vitamin C treatment or hydrogen peroxide, kill the bacteria - threfore improving the symptoms, added alkalinity makes the bacteria stronger, therefore, increased odor.

It is interesting to understand why certain treatments work and the causal factors of the odor, which is by far the worst symptom of BV.