Stool. Feces. Poop. Whatever you call it, it never smells good. But if you’re living with an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, you may sometimes find that your stool smells particularly unpleasant. Having unusually foul-smelling stools can understandably be a point of concern — and sometimes, a source of embarrassment.
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Members of MyCrohnsAndColitisTeam often ask about ways to control or reduce smelly stool. “Does anyone else’s bowel movements smell unnatural?” asked a member. “I noticed when I was on the prednisone, it was OK — but once again, it smells very foul. Is there anything I can eat or drink to help it?”
Indeed, there are ways to reduce unpleasant smells from poop, including through dietary changes, and in this article, we’ll look at six of them. Importantly, though, if you notice sudden changes to the appearance or smell of your poop, let your doctor or gastroenterologist know, as it could indicate a more serious health issue.
1. Figure Out What’s Causing the Smell
You may have wondered why your stool smells, or why your poop smells like the food you ate. Poop can come with various types of unusual smells, some of which may be caused by your diet, medication, IBD, or another health issue.
Common unusual stool smells include:
- Ammonia — Ammonia smells may signal a problem with your large intestines or liver. It could also indicate a bacteria imbalance in your digestive system.
- Metal — This smell could come from having blood, which contains iron, in your stool. Supplements containing iron may also cause a metallic aroma. Your stool may smell like metal but have no blood.
- Rotten eggs — A sulfur-like smell may come from foods you eat or medications you take.
- Various other smells — Some people experience smells that remind them of vinegar, plastic, fish, or vomit.
Unusually smelly poop could indicate poorly controlled IBD. Identifying the strange smell of your poop may help you and your health care provider hone in on an underlying cause.
Learn more about stool smells and what they mean.
2. Avoid Foods That Are High in Sulfur
Foods containing high amounts of sulfur may be more difficult to digest than other foods. When your body works extra hard to digest food, it releases more gasses, which leads to more odor.
“It smells like a horrifying trashy egg smell. 😒 Not your normal fecal smell,” shared one MyCrohnsAndColitisTeam member about an unusual odor to their stool.
Food and drinks that are high in sulfur include:
- Meat
- Fish
- Dairy products
- Eggs
- Alcohol
- Cruciferous, high-fiber vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts
- Foods containing sulfite preservatives such as sulfur dioxide, potassium bisulfite, or sodium metabisulfite
Consider eating less sulfur-rich foods, either by shrinking portions or spreading them out more among your meals during the day.
3. Figure Out Your Trigger Foods and Avoid Them
Sulfur-rich foods and drinks aren’t the only ones that may contribute to particularly foul-smelling poop. Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis can make it difficult for your small intestines to properly digest other types of foods — a phenomenon called malabsorption. Consequently, the undigested food can end up in your stool, where it ferments and becomes extra smelly.
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“I remember telling my doctor, ‘It smells like something crawled up inside me and died,’” one member shared. “And she said, ‘Well, it’s undigested food — so if there is seafood or meat or something, it IS like something dead and rotten that is oh-too-slowly leaking out of you and giving off fumes, if you will.’”
Hard-to-digest foods vary from person to person, but problematic foods common among people with IBD include:
- Products containing lactose — Lactose is a type of sugar found in dairy products, including milk, cheese, and ice cream.
- Fried and fatty foods
- Sugary foods and drinks
- Corn products
- Spicy foods
- Foods containing insoluble fiber (fiber that doesn’t dissolve in water) — Types of food in this category include whole seeds and nuts (e.g., sunflower seeds) and raw fruits and vegetables, such as bell peppers, kale, apples, and tomatoes.
- Highly processed foods — Examples include snack foods like chips and pretzels, meats like bacon and cold cuts, and prepared meals such as microwaveable dinners and frozen pizza.
To determine which foods may be causing your smelly poop, consider keeping a food diary or journal. This entails writing down everything you eat throughout the day and logging any symptoms you experience.
Practicing an elimination diet can also help. You’d start with a bland diet, then gradually add potential trigger foods one by one and look for changes. This technique can help identify triggers for other IBD symptoms, too.
4. Manage Your Constipation
People with IBD sometimes develop constipation — defined as having fewer than three bowel movements per week. As noted above, undigested food can end up in your stool, where it ferments. The longer it stays in your system fermenting — say, due to constipation — the smellier it can get.
Figuring out the best way to manage your constipation requires determining the underlying cause. It could be related to diet, such as not getting enough fiber or drinking enough fluids. Additionally, some medications can cause constipation.
Certain health conditions can also cause or contribute to constipation, including an obstruction or stricture in the intestines, proctitis (inflammation of the rectum), anal fissure (a tear in the lining of the anus), or irritable bowel syndrome.
Tips for Managing Constipation
Getting enough fluids each day is a good starting point to combat constipation. Mayo Clinic recommends 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) daily for men and 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) for women. That can come from water, as well as food and other beverages — go easy on the sugary and caffeinated ones, though.
Engaging in regular physical activity can also help with constipation, as it strengthens the pelvic and abdominal muscles surrounding your colon.
Over-the-counter (OTC) medications and supplements may also help, including:
- Fiber supplements
- Osmotic drugs, like milk of magnesia
- Stool softeners, like Colace
- Mineral oil lubricants
- Stimulant drugs like bisacodyl (Dulcolax)
If constipation is a new or persistent problem for you, speak with your doctor. They may prescribe a stronger medication than what you can buy over the counter. Your doctor may also find that you have a more serious underlying health issue.
5. Check Your Medicine Cabinet
Some OTC and prescription medications can increase your stool’s stink factor. Antibiotics, for example, can disrupt the balance of your gut biome by killing off good bacteria while bad bacteria thrive. This, in turn, can affect the smell and consistency of your poop. So, too, can some hormone medications and medications with certain coatings, such as sorbitol.
Additionally, some vitamins and supplements, such as glucosamine, garlic, and fish oil, can make poop smell worse.
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If medications are contributing to the odor of your stool, talk with your doctor about your dosages or alternatives.
6. Spray the Smell Away
Despite your best efforts, your poop may still sometimes have strong odors. Some members of MyCrohnsAndColitisTeam have reported success in getting rid of a poop smell with different types of products, including deodorizers, candles — and even a match.
One such product is a toilet spray called Poo-Pourri. “Poo-Pourri is magic stuff. I keep a small one in my handbag,” wrote one member. “All they need to do now is invent something to deal with the sound effects!”
Other members have found Just A Drop, a toilet odor neutralizer, to be effective. “I use Just A Drop in the toilet before I go,” one wrote.
Some members have reported success with Febreze spray. “I carry a travel Febreze Gain spray, meant for cars, and it’s travel size,” a member wrote. “Febreze original works better in my opinion. We only have two toilets at work, and I spray the hallway, too. It really works.”
Others have recommended lighting a match after a bowel movement to eliminate odors. “Strike a match or two, depending on how bad it is,” a member suggested. “Leave it alight for a couple of seconds. Works well.”
Another member said they’ve had success lighting a candle. “I have eucalyptus Yankee candles in my bathroom. It is the best scent for our stinky, disgusting systems.”
Yet another MyCrohnsAndColitisTeam member recommended Devrom, which is an OTC medication designed to eliminate odor associated with bowel movements and flatulence. “You ever try Devrom?” they asked. “It’s an internal deodorant. It works wonderfully for stinky poo. You can find it usually at medical supply stores that sell ostomy supplies, some drugstores, or online. When I used Devrom, I took two with every meal.”
How Can I Stop My Poop From Smelling So Bad?
Smelly poop can be embarrassing, but it’s important to understand that this is a common symptom of IBD. Maintaining a healthy diet, staying hydrated, keeping your IBD in control by strict treatment adherence and exercising can help reduce the odor of bowel movements and may make your poop smell better.
However, if the smell continues or if you have other symptoms, you’ll want to consult with a health care professional to ensure it’s not a serious health issue. With the right treatment plan, you’ll be able to improve your quality of life and manage the unpleasant symptoms associated with IBD.
In the meantime, you can also use air fresheners and sprays to help mask the odor. By taking these steps, you can feel more at ease and confident in managing your symptoms.
Find Your Team
On MyCrohnsAndColitisTeam, the social network for people with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis and their loved ones, more than 188,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with IBD.
Have you had unusual-smelling stools? Do you have tips for managing them? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.
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