What the Odor of Your Farts Can Tell You About Your Health

While it's not socially acceptable to let one rip in the middle of a meeting, passing gas is a normal part of being human. In fact, research shows that the average person farts between 10 and 20 times a day. But not all gas is created equal, which can lead to you wondering, "Why do my farts smell so bad?"

If you experience smellier-than-usual gas here and there, doctors say there's no reason to be alarmed. But if you're regularly having intense farts that smell like eggs or farts that smell like sewage, there may be something off with your health. That's especially true in some situations if you're experiencing other symptoms.

Here's what could be behind those smelly farts, plus what to do next.

Babak Firoozi, MD, is a gastroenterologist at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA.

Ari Lamet, DO, is a gastroenterologist at The Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders.

Foods can impact your body differently, and some are more prone to creating smellier farts than others. "Certain foods tend to ferment and produce more gas," says Babak Firoozi, MD, a gastroenterologist at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA.

Those are usually high FODMAP foods, which include things like garlic, onions, wheat and apples. When these foods break down in your gut, they tend to create more gas, which eventually makes its way out of your body.

Most of the time, this isn't a medical concern, says Ari Lamet, DO, a gastroenterologist at The Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders. "A person just might need a change in diet in order to decrease the gassy sensation," he adds. That could mean trying a low FODMAP diet and seeing if it gets you anywhere.

If you're having smelly gas, it's worth taking a closer look at your diet first. But in some cases, stinky gas could be a sign of an underlying gastrointestinal condition like irritable bowel syndrome or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), Dr. Lamet says. "However, these patients typically have more symptoms than just gas," he says.

Other symptoms to look out for include diarrhea, constipation, or alternating between the two. Feeling like you're having trouble emptying your bowels, painful stomach cramps, and loose or greasy stools are also accompanying signs to keep an eye on.

Dealing with a rotten egg or sulfuric smell could be from medications you're taking. "Some medications, including NSAIDs such as ibuprofen and naproxen can lead to smelly gas," Dr. Lamet says.

Some medications can interfere with your gut flora, which is the community of microorganisms that live in your gastrointestinal tract, which can lead to that stinky smell, Dr. Firoozi says. In general, the smell should go away once you stop taking the medication.

Fiber is a form of carbohydrate that your body can't digest. It helps to keep you regular and push waste through your gastrointestinal tract, Dr. Firoozi explains. "Typically people who have gas that's a little more foul-smelling aren't taking in enough fiber," he says. "Their rectum may have some stool in it, and it's not completely emptied.

His advice: Aim to have at least 25 grams of fiber a day. If you're currently well below that, step up your fiber intake gradually to avoid creating even more gas.

It's unlikely to be something that you're consciously aware of, but being anxious can cause you to swallow more air than usual, Dr. Firoozi says. That excess air can make its way into your gut where it eventually comes out as gas. If you've been feeling more anxious than usual lately and your farts have been intense, there may be a connection.

Food allergies and intolerances like Celiac disease or lactose intolerance can lead to intense-smelling gas, Dr. Firoozi says. However, it's unlikely that gas would be your only symptom. He recommends being on the lookout for additional symptoms like bloating, chronic diarrhea or constipation, foul-smelling stools, nausea or vomiting, and stomach pain, as well.

If you're struggling with smelly gas, you can't seem to clear things up on your own, and it's bothering you, it's time to rope in a medical professional. By the way, odds are high that they've heard this kind of thing before. "I have patients who come in and say they feel like they're bloated or they have a bad smell and they can't control it," Dr. Firoozi says. He recommends being prepared to talk about your diet and when you typically have smelly gas. "We can usually give recommendations from there," he says.

Korin Miller is a writer specializing in general wellness, health, and lifestyle trends. Her work has appeared in Women's Health, Self, Health, Forbes, and more.