Menopause is characterized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women's Health as a normal change in a woman's life. It marks the end of a woman's fertility. Estrogen and progesterone levels decline and the ovaries cease producing eggs, which can bring about both physical and emotional symptoms often associated with this phase of life. One of these symptoms is a change in perspiration and body odor.
Identification
Sweating and the subsequent body odor is typically a result of hot flashes. According to the Mayo Clinic, hormonal changes associated with menopause can begin to affect the hypothalamus, which is the part of the brain that regulates your body temperature. As estrogen levels decline, it basically disrupts your body's thermostat, elevating your internal temperature and causing you to sweat.
Effects
Once your sweat reaches the surface of your skin, especially the sweat from your apocrine glands, it's broken down by bacteria. A byproduct of this bacterial process is a foul odor. With the increase in perspiration, it isn't uncommon for women going through menopause to experience an increase in body odor.
Self-Care
To combat body odor, you can often turn to antiperspirants and deodorants. Antiperspirants help block your sweat pores, reducing perspiration, while deodorants mask odor and even reduce bacteria. If over-the-counter products fail to provide results, talk to your doctor about a prescription antiperspirant, suggests the Mayo Clinic.
Considerations
Besides treating the perspiration and body odor, women going through menopause can lessen the occurrence of hot flashes with prescription medications. Hormone replacement therapy is one of the most popular treatments, but you may also benefit from low-dose antidepressants, gabapentin and clonidine. Any one of these medications can greatly reduce hot flashes. And by decreasing the frequency and severity of your hot flashes, you reduce the associated perspiration, and thereby lessen body odor.
Potential Solutions
For women dealing with menopause, it's also important to pay close attention to your diet. Though hot flashes are a direct result of dropping estrogen levels, they can also be triggered by certain substances. These substances can vary from woman to woman, but some of the more common are alcohol, caffeine, hot beverages and spicy foods. Warm weather can also contribute to the frequency and severity of your hot flashes, so keep rooms cool; circulate air; and wear loose, breathable fabrics.
