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Do any of you who have gone through menopause think you smell different than you did before? By that I mean the way your body smells to you, not that your nose is working differently. I always thought it was just me that felt this way, but tonight I read an article about someone else who thinks she also smells different now that she's post-menopausal.
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Anonymous, it is so awesome to hear a woman talk about menopause like the normal thing it is instead of like it is a life-ruining disease. I wonder if these same women tried to stop their own puberty.
Thank you so much for writing. I really appreciate your addition to the discussion.
October 20, 2010 - 6:26amThis Comment
Thank you Cary, As we grow and change we must respect the life changes. Menopause and puberty are part of life. Just as birth and death are part. I feel so sad for the ladies who are fighting life. I think I am sexier now then when I was 20. Smarter now, and a lot happier. God has blessed me with some wisdom. Don't sweat the small stuff. Menopause is a small part of life. Part of my life not who I am.
October 21, 2010 - 9:19amThis Comment
My wife has that old woman smell. Its hormonal and part of the change. Hygeine is important. I tried to talk to my wife about it and she went ballistic. Nonetheless, a number of things change with menopause, I know so, I'm still married halfway through the hell years.
March 13, 2010 - 2:26amThis Comment
Yes, I am actually very perplexed by what is going on with my skin smell. I am 49 and have been having many menopausal symptoms for the past 6-12 months. One of the most aggravting is that the smell of my skin seems to have changed and I can't seem to find any significant resources or examples from others. It's not necessarily a bad smell, just different and annoying. I would like to find information on this symptom and any recommended solutions.
February 20, 2010 - 7:02amThis Comment
I am also 49 and have a different smell. Most of the articles discuss the level of body odor, not the difference in smell. I'd like to know more about what's causing the change in smell.
October 20, 2010 - 2:25amThis Comment
Oh yes you do look different! Your skin changes, hips get wider,every part of your body changes. I have learned water is my friend. Drink lots of it to help your skin. Walk, alot, because your joints will hurt. Keep moving, good food, less food is needed. Keep a smile on your face. It will help when you have a hot flash. Make a joke about it because people don't understand. Remember to be good to yourself and others. Take time to smell the roses. It will be over in, oh.....5 to 10 years. I am 3 almost 4 years into it. It is gettingh better.
January 12, 2010 - 7:41amThis Comment
I find not working outside the home helps. I actually realised I have enough to do running a home and giving 2 teenagers a balanced loving upbringing is the best thing to do. Trying to juggle, give yourself in a job, give yourself at home, rushing, is not the way to live when you are peri/menopausal. When my teenagers need me, I'm there for them now. Instead of feeling 'bored', I use time off to meditate, do yoga, build myself up emotionally and build a resevoir of calm. You need this solid base when the anxiety, hot flashes, foggy thinking comes. It is really too much for me to manage a job as well as deal with this health issue and my homelife. So the job went, and we are all happier, I am healthier since. You think your job is your independence, soooo important, and when you stop the crazyness, you see it's ruining your life running everywhere, getting nowhere. I would recommend women to at least cut down their hours at this challenging time. Lots of women I know in their 50s, post menopause, have resumed working and their children are grown ups, have flown the nest, so don't need them as teenagers need emotional stability around them.
October 15, 2012 - 2:00amThis Comment
In a word, Yes! I have definitely noticed what you have.
I would love to read that article as well. Did it suggest why, or offer insight?
I thought I was the only one too! I didn't notice this change in perimenopause, but once I was through menopause itself I noticed a definite change. And it seemed that I needed to take twice as many showers as I had before.
Turns out that hormonal changes that occur both during puberty and around menopause affect the sweat glands in the armpits and groin area and can create real body odor problems. Some women change anti-perspirants; others avoid synthentic fabrics (natural fabrics allow the body to "breathe" more; still others change their diets, adding pro-biotic yogurt or eliminating fried or spicy foods, alcohol and caffeine in attempts to help this problem.
Our falling levels of estrogen appear to be a primary culprit. Estrogen helps regulate the hypothalamus, the part of the brain that controls body temperature; when estrogen levels drop, the hypothalamus gets the wrong message and heats the body inappropriately -- as in hot flashes or night sweats. Even when this happens to a small degree, that extra moisture has an effect.
This is where anaerobic bacteria (bacteria that isn't in contact with oxygen) come into the picture. They apparently flourish in the bodies of those of us who are menopausal, and are odor-creating champions when they present themselves to the outside world, through sweat or our breath. As the body rids itself of waste products (toxins), it can give off odors; imbalances in hormones or metabolism can result in those odors being even stronger. Here's a good explanation of how this takes place:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sweating-and-body-odor/DS00305/DSECTION=causes
Sweat itself has no smell. Looks like we need to work on the bacteria to make a real difference.
Go Ask Alice, a website run by Columbia University, offers these tips to combat menopausal body odor:
--Shower daily with deodorant soap that has antibacterial properties
--Use deodorant or deodorant/antiperspirant daily
--Wear cotton and other "breathable" fabrics. Some synthetic fabrics used in workout clothing is also "breathable" because it wicks sweat away from your skin.
--Eat a balanced diet with plenty of veggies and whole grains, and limited sweets
--Cut tobacco out of your life
--Take chlorophyll or wheat grass supplements (natural body deodorizers) with meals
--Add magnesium or zinc through vitamins or a balanced diet
--Chew on parsley, alfalfa, or other leafy greens after means to help neutralize strong scents
--Apply witch hazel, or white or apple cider vinegar to your underarms (which change the pH of the skin so that bacteria can't grow)
--Dust perpetually sweaty areas with corn starch to reduce wetness
--Apply diluted rosemary or tea tree oil to the underarms for extra deodorizing action
http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/3645.html
There are some other problems that can cause overactive body odor: an infection, a thyroid that's not functioning properly, or diabetes, for example. So don't forget to mention this to your doctor; she or he may want to be sure there's nothing larger going on.
Tell Us
December 16, 2008 - 10:20amIs this affecting your life as well? Are you menopausal, and how long have you noticed it? Have you found something that helps?
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