It’s pretty much a given that your poop is never going to come out smelling like roses. But, while it doesn’t exactly smell great on the reg, a really bad odor can be a sign that something is off with your health.
First, it’s important to go over some Number-Two basics. Poop (a.k.a. stool or feces) is “a bodily waste that is passed through the gastrointestinal tract and is made up of water, dead microorganisms, undigestible food matter, and some fats and cholesterol, in addition to several other minor components,” says gastroenterologist Marvin Singh, MD.
There are actually a few different reasons why it usually smells. “This odor is from the undigested food, as well the gas produced by the bacteria in the gut,” says Seyedehsan Navabi, MD, assistant professor of clinical medicine at the Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. The most common odor-causing gases, in case you want specifics, are hydrogen sulfide, which has a lot of smelly sulfur, methyl sulfides, and benzopyrrole volatiles, he says.
But the amount of gas in your poop—and how stinky it is—really depends on what you eat and how healthy you are, Dr. Navabi says. Example: You might have smellier-than-usual BMs after you eat a steak, because meat protein is rich in the amino acid methionine, which can create stinky sulfur-containing compounds. Cue you staring at your toilet, wondering what’s going on.
If you have a few random stinky poops here and there, it’s likely no big deal. But if you notice that you’re regularly being blown away by just how much smell you’re producing, it could be a sign that something is off. Here are the biggest reasons your poop is so smelly, plus when it’s time to see a doctor about it.
What causes smelly poop?
There are actually a lot of potential things you can point a finger at, with some being more of a big deal for your health than others.
1. You’re taking antibiotics.
Your gut has what’s known as a bacterial flora, which is a collection of microorganisms that help break down your food. But, when you take antibiotics, it can tweak your bacterial flora “which leads to different byproduct,” says Aniqa Kohen, MD, a gastroenterologist at UBMD Physician’s Group. That change in bacteria can cause a change in smell, too.
2. You have an infection.
An infection can also mess with the bacteria in your gut. “Different bacterial, viral or parasitic infections can affect the digestive tract,” Dr. Navabisays. While they might cause diarrhea, they can also change the gas in your poop and create a smelly odor, he says.
3. You have a food intolerance or allergy.
When you have a food intolerance or allergy, your body can’t properly process a particular ingredient, Dr. Singh says. The combination of gas produced by bacteria that try to break it down and undigested food can lead to a stinky smell. It can also cause you to have stomach cramps and sometimes bleeding.
4. You have Celiac disease.
Having Celiac disease means that your body has an immune reaction to eating gluten, a protein found in wheat, and attacks the lining of the small intestine, Dr. Navabi explains. That damage to the lining of the gut can make it difficult to absorb nutrients and, as a result, you end up with symptoms like diarrhea or constipation, bloating, gas, stomach pain, and greasy, smelly poop.
5. You have inflammatory bowel disease.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an umbrella term used to describe several autoimmune conditions like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Inflammation of the colon with ulcerative colitis can alter bacteria in the gut and cause bleeding—and both can lead to strong-smelling Number Two, Dr. Navabi says. Crohn’s disease can cause similar issues, along with difficulty absorbing nutrients, and that can also lead to stinky poop, he says. IBD as a whole can cause uncomfortable symptoms like diarrhea, stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting.
6. Your body isn’t absorbing your food properly.
There are a lot of things that can lead to your body not absorbing nutrients properly (aka malabsorption), Dr. Kohen says—an infection, gluten allergy, gut inflammation, and several syndromes. “Any time chronic inflammation occurs in the gut, it can alter the balance of the bacteria,” Dr. Navabi says. And that can add more gas to your poop. Cue the stink.
When should I see a doctor for super smelly poop?
Any time things seem off down there and they don’t go away after a few days or seem to be getting worse, it’s a good idea to call your doctor. But Dr. Kohen says you should call sooner rather than later if you have any of the following along with your persistently smelly poop:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Weight loss
- Blood in your poop
- A family history of cancer or IBD
- Fever
- Chills
- Joint swelling
- Ulcers in your mouth
- Pain around your eyes
- Waking up at night to poop
- You can’t get relief from over-the-counter medications
How can I avoid smelly poops?
If your smelly poop doesn’t seem to be linked to something serious, like intestinal bleeding, and you’re not having other severe symptoms, there are a few things you can do.
- Take a closer look at your diet. If you’ve been eating a lot of garlic or onions lately, that could definitely be the culprit. But sometimes it can be a little harder to know what’s leading to that smell. “Often keeping a food diary might help you figure out what foods upset your gastrointestinal tract,” Dr. Singh says, adding that you should keep an especially close eye on gluten and dairy.
- Try eliminating some foods. You can try weeding out certain foods, like meat, eggs, broccoli, cauliflower, and asparagus, Dr. Kohen says. These are notorious for causing stinky poops.
- Consider using a probiotic. Probiotics can help restore the balance of healthy bacteria in your gut and “can help settle some GI symptoms if they are minor,” Dr. Singh says.
- Drink more water. Sometimes, hydrating more can help flush out the stinky smell. “It is important to have adequate hydration for the health of the gut,” Dr. Navabi says.
The bottom line: Smelly poop is mostly harmless, Dr. Navabi says, especially if you don’t have any other symptoms. But, if it doesn’t go away, and you’ve noticed some other symptoms along with your stinky poo, call your doctor about next steps.
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