From armpits to cleavage to vagina to feet, things can start to smell funky. At the same time, perimenopause can make your own sense of smell more acute. So it's possible that you're the only one noticing the change in your personal bouquet.
It's not uncommon for body odour to change during the menopause. Hot flushes cause the body to sweat more and a permanent change in odour can be caused by changes in hormone levels.
Your Hormones
During the start of menopause, women may also notice an unpleasant watery discharge, which is often the result of reduced levels of estrogen. In this case, a gynecologist may prescribe a vaginal cream that contains estrogen, which can help reduce or even eliminate this unpleasant symptom.
Body odor is caused by a mix of bacteria and sweat on your skin. Your body odor can change due to hormones, the food you eat, infection, medications or underlying conditions like diabetes. Prescription-strength antiperspirants or medications may help.
The bottom line. Body odor naturally changes as you age. For older people, this change in smell is likely due to an increase in levels of a compound called 2-nonenal. No matter the cause, there's no reason to run from these changes.
During menopause, your hormonal balance shifts. This shift can also lead to stronger body odor. Estrogen and progesterone levels fall relative to your testosterone, while cortisol tends to increase. Higher levels of both testosterone and cortisol have been linked to stronger body odor.
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) This infection is caused by an overgrowth of bacteria in the vagina. Symptoms may include a strong, fishy odor and a thin, gray discharge. It's the most common vaginal condition in women ages 15 to 44, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Other times, hormone fluctuations may cause a change in body odor or vaginal odor. This may not necessarily be unpleasant — just different. A subtle smell isn't cause for concern, and instead may be due to pregnancy, menopause, or menstruation.
But they do, from mood to heart health to metabolism to body odor. There are a couple of explanations for changes or increases in body odor: first, dips in estrogen can trigger hot flashes and night sweats, meaning you simply sweat more, which in turn can result in more odor.
Increased blood flow to your vagina and changing levels of pregnancy hormones, like estrogen, progesterone and prolactin can affect your pH level and cause new smells.
Sudden changes to body odor
Eating some foods, including garlic and onion , can make sweat smell different. Alcohol can also have this effect. Consuming certain foods and drinks may, therefore, lead to a sudden change in body odor around the armpits. Stress and anxiety can make people sweat more than usual.
Fluid changes
Some people may notice watery discharge or a vaginal odor during menopause. This is due to the vagina's changing acidity level — also known as pH — following a decline in estrogen levels.
To prevent a sweaty vagina, wash it daily with warm water and a mild, nondrying soap (but skip the soap on the thin tissues of the inner vulva or vaginal opening). And keep the area dry — change your undies as needed if you get sweaty — and opt for fabrics that breathe, like cotton.
It's easy to keep your vagina clean without making it smell like a flower shop. You just need to shower or wash every day with a mild soap and plenty of warm water. Some girls like to take warm baths during their periods to help relieve cramps.
Stress causes the release of stress related hormones, called catecholamines, which activate the apocrine glands, leading to increased rates of sweating (9). This sweat is broken down by bacteria on the skin into fatty acids that contribute to increased body odor, causing more intense or less pleasant odors.
The result: women who were close to ovulation were perceived to smell more attractive to the men. The higher the estrogen levels in the women's blood, the better the scent was judged to be. There are purely evolutionary reasons for this: our animal instincts to procreate.
Some loss of taste and smell is natural with aging, especially after age 60. But other factors can contribute to loss of taste and smell, including: Nasal and sinus problems, such as allergies, sinusitis or nasal polyps. Viral infections, including the common cold and the flu.
For most kids, body odor is part of growing up. Kids start to have body odor around the time puberty starts and hormones change. Usually, this happens when females are 8–13 years old, and males are 9–14.
Body odor is caused by bacteria breaking down the sweat from the apocrine glands in your armpits, groin, and pubic area. You may be more prone to body odor if you are overweight, eat certain foods, have certain health conditions, or are under stress. Genetics may also play a role.
When your body temperature rises, these glands release fluids that cool your body as they evaporate. Apocrine glands are found in areas where you have hair, such as your armpits and groin. These glands release a milky fluid when you're stressed. This fluid is odorless until it combines with bacteria on your skin.
Sour underarms are caused by sweat in contact with bacteria on the skin. This condition often occurs in people with hyperhidrosis, mainly in the areas of the hands, feet, and armpits. There are two main types of sweat glands, eccrine and apocrine.