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Why Hormones Make You Smell During Menopause

Menopause is inevitable for every woman. At some point in your life, you will stop getting your period and a slew of bodily changes will come your way. Most of you probably know this, but one of the changes you probably weren’t expecting was your body odor. As a result, I am going to discuss how hormones affect the way you smell during menopause and what you can do to get it under control.

What Do Hormones Do During Menopause?

Menopause brings about so many changes. Even though you don’t get your period anymore, you will notice that many of the symptoms are similar to that of menstruation. Whether it be mood swings, tender breasts, weight gain, or your behavior, there are challenges to your body every day. In fact, the symptoms that affect women the most during this phase are hot flashes and night chills.

Okay, Why Do I Smell More Often Now?

Your body odor is linked to the hot flashes you experience. They occur when your internal heating system goes into overdrive. During perimenopause (which is the time around menopause), depleting estrogen levels trick the hypothalamus (the part of your brain that regulates body temperature) into producing more sweat.

Since you are sweating more than you normally would, the bacteria on your skin produces odor when it comes into contact with sweat. Bacteria also feeds on the protein in your sweat that causes odor in our mouth, groin, armpit, and foot. Even though you might smell more, there is a chance that you are smelling something no one around you can smell. Studies have shown that your sense of smell is increased during menopause, so keep calm because it could just be your paranoia talking to you.

How Do I Stop Smelling?

Since most of your body odor is related to sweat, the best thing you can do is to try to cool down. Here are some tips to help you do just that:

Dress Properly: Choose clothes with natural and breathable fabrics such as silk, linen, and cotton. It will help regulate your body temperature and sweat will not cling to your skin as much.
Turn down the Room Temperature: Turning down the thermostat can do wonders, but obviously this isn’t always possible. In those instances, consider getting a portable fan you can slip into your handbag when you are out and about.
Avoid Hot and Spicy Food: Hot foods such as soups or spicy foods like curry will cause your body temperature to rise and produce sweat. Opt for refreshing foods such as a salad or a cold pasta.

I hope you have a better understanding of why you smell during menopause. If you have any other hacks that help you, please share them below!