Odor Originating from Hormones

Menstruation

Bloating, headaches, cramps, mood swings, transient gingivitis, halitosis are symptoms that women may suffer an increase before and during menstruation. Just prior menstruation, estrogens are at their highest levels in the menstrual cycle. The liver has to work harder to eliminate the extra hormones and some women have a distinctive and mousy odor from their mouth. Also proteins in the saliva are increased. The anaerobic bacteria feed on the extra protein releasing unpleasant gases.

Menopause

Some women may experience during menopause hot flashes, a rise in perspiration and a feeling of intense heat, as a result of a drop in estrogen levels. When sweat is pushed to the surface of your skin the bacteria begin breaking it down. This process causes odor.

Pregnancy

Levels of the hormones progesterone and estrogen swing during pregnancy and cause an increase in the production of plaque on the teeth. Plaques have sulfur producing bacteria, that means bad breath. This plaque production also has a negative affect on gum tissue, leading to pregnancy gingivitis. Sulfurous odor emanates from the mouth.

Puberty

When a boy or girl begins to go through puberty, the body produces more perspiration because sweat glands become more active. Sweat itself is odorless, but bacteria that live on the surface of the skin and break down the sweat, cause the unpleasant odor.

Hypogonadism

Men with low levels of the hormone testosterone or a condition known as hypogonadism, which is caused by reduced functioning of the testicles, also can experience hot flashes, meaning excess sweating.

Stress

Stress causes us to over-produce stress hormones: cortisol, adrenaline, and norepinephrine. Stress affects the whole body. People under stress experience high pulse rate, heart beating, sweaty palms, and dry mouth. Dry mouth means less saliva, less saliva means less oxygen. The perfect oral environment for sulfur-producing bacteria. In other words bad breath.

Hyperthyroidsim

The thyroid is an endocrine gland located in the front part of the lower neck. Sometimes the thyroid gland produces excess amounts of the hormone thyroxine, which cause you to perspire more than usual. When sweat and bacteria mix under surface of the skin, body odor is produced.