Is Body Odor One of the Last Frontiers of Stigma in Women's Health?

Menopause and perimenopause are being discussed more openly these days. But while hot flashes, brain fog, weight fluctuations, and mood swings are no longer secrets, hormone-related changes in body odor are still rarely talked about. And they're more common than you might think, with potentially significant impacts on quality of life and daily functioning. Here's why "meno-stink" happens and what to do about it (and tips for "old person smell," too!) 

 

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Body Odor Increasing with Perimenopause or Menopause?
It's Not Just in Your Head

Half the world's population will experience menopause, with 1.6 million women entering menopause annually in the United States alone.

Certain perimenopause and menopause symptoms are getting a lot more attention recently; things like night sweats, brain fog, and mood changes...and that's great.

But, an important, common, and impactful consequence of women's natural hormonal changes remains hush-hush...

Body odor

"I used to sweat like normal people," says Hayat, who asked that we not use her real name to protect her privacy, "but I went into early menopause at 44 and that's when I started sweating in areas where I didn't sweat before, with a strong, strong odor." The situation, says Hayat, became very embarrassing and disruptive at work where she was bullied for her odor issues.

"People think it's hygiene," says Hayat, "but I want people to understand that a person doesn't always smell because they don't take a shower, or use deodorant."

According to a 2024 study conducted by the International Hyperhidrosis Society and miraDry on the prevalence of underarm issues during menopause:

• More than 70% of women experiencing perimenopause and menopause symptoms report increased body odor and say they feel self-conscious about it.
• 1 in 5 women in perimenopause or menopause report being always self-conscious about their underarm odor in social or professional settings.
• 65% of women in perimenopause or menopause report missing a social event because of underarm sweat or odor.  

 "It's such a known issue in my house [that] we are calling it the 'meno-stink,'" says one Reddit user.

Sadly, not many people (women included) are talking about this. In fact, our study found that only 9% of women are discussing "meno-stink" with family or friends, and even fewer are talking to their healthcare providers about it.

Why Does Body Odor Change in Perimenopause and Menopause?

Let’s dive in. Doctors from Harvard Women's Health Watch and Cleveland Clinic explain that there are several reasons body odor can change, increase, or become more noticeable around perimenopause and menopause.

1. More Sweating from Hot Flashes and Night Sweats

One factor is that increased perspiration from hot flashes and night sweats can create a moist environment where odor-producing bacteria can thrive, leading to more noticeable body odor.

2. Slight, Relative Changes in Testosterone

Also, during this stage of life, estrogen levels drop, leaving our bodies with relatively higher levels of testosterone (produced in women by the ovaries in small amounts) than before. This can slightly change the composition of your sweat, giving skin bacteria a richer food source. And when skin bacteria digest sweat and “poop” out their waste, characteristic body odor is created.

3. Age-related Skin and Digestion Changes

Age is another factor. As we age, skin can start to produce more sebum (or oil) which bacteria like to feed on. Older skin also naturally produces higher amounts of omega-7 fatty acids, which break down into a chemical byproduct that can produce a distinct, lingering body odor some describe as “greasy” or “musty.” Dead skin cells and surface oils also remain on the skin longer, providing a greater opportunity for environmental factors like UV light and pollution to trigger oxidation, a process where skin oils react with air, producing a distinctive smell. This odor is usually subtle, but may become more pronounced over time. Additionally, as we age, our digestion may change, which can influence how our bodies process odor-causing foods (more on this below.)

4. Changes in Sense of Smell

And finally, it should be acknowledged that while increases in body odor during menopause are real, women’s sense of smell can also change at this time – making us perceive odors more. (So maybe you don’t stink as badly as you think you do. That’s good news, right?)

How to Defunkify Perimenopausal and Menopausal Body Odor

For many women, body odor doesn’t become a major concern until perimenopause and menopause. If basic hygiene no longer seems to do the trick, now might be the time to step it up a notch:

• Bathe regularly with antibacterial soap or body wash. Fewer bacteria mean less odor. 
• If age-related body odor is a concern, try a soap containing persimmon extract and gently exfoliate to remove dead skin cells that may contribute to odor. Glycolic or lactic acid body washes and body scrubs are good options. Concentrate on the neck, upper back, and area behind the ears, where odor can linger.
• Use a stronger antiperspirant and deodorant combination product. Look for one with aluminum chloride and apply it before bed and in the morning.
• Stay hydrated to keep sweat dilute.
• Wear breathable fabrics like cotton or bamboo and, if possible, change damp clothing quickly after a hot flash or other noticeable sweating. Moisture allows bacteria to multiply and create more odor.
• Avoid foods and drinks that can increase odor like alcohol, caffeine, processed foods, spices, red meat, and items high in choline (like eggs and liver) or sulfur (such as onions and garlic).
• Talk to your healthcare provider about your symptoms. While hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is not usually recommended for body odor alone, if you have other symptoms such as hot flashes, mood disturbances, vaginal dryness, or brain fog, HRT might be an option and could potentially help with body odor as well.

Also, talk to your healthcare provider if you experience sudden or intense body odor shifts as these could indicate an underlying health issue. Conditions like diabetes, thyroid disorders, or infections can sometimes cause a change in odor, so it’s important to consult a healthcare professional if you have concerns or notice a new or unusual scent.

“Always look for solutions,” encourages Hayat,  “there is always an avenue to improve and get better and feel better because life is precious.” For Hayat, working with a dermatologist and a mental health professional was important. Along with medications and acupuncture, Hayat found that managing her stress through meditation, yoga, and tai chi was helpful to simultaneously improve her body odor and help her to cope with it. 

To learn more from the International Hyperhidrosis Society about body odor and how to combat it, click here. 

You can also read this article in The Guardian (titled “The agony of life with chronic body odour”) for more insights from Hayat and IHhS. 

Please stay tuned, as well, for more odor content coming soon. We’ll be digging deeper into age-related body odor changes (like "old man" or "old person smell") for both men and women and how to smell as young as you feel.

This article was researched and written without the use of artificial intelligence by Angela Ballard, RN, who has spent more than 20 years serving the hyperhidrosis community as IHhS Communications Director, Educator, and Advocate.  

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