Stool

Stool smells can provide clues about health conditions. Unusual smells may indicate issues with the digestive system or organs like the liver and kidneys. Specific smells like ammonia could signal liver disease while blood in stool causes a metallic smell and may be a sign of conditions like inflammatory bowel disease. People with IBD sometimes have unique stool smells due to differences in metabolism, inflammation, or gut bacteria. Foul smells should prompt talking to a doctor, especially with additional symptoms.

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Stool

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robbyrbby

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Stool (poop) comes in many forms, colors, and consistencies.

It may also give off different

smells. All of these stool factors can help you learn more about your health and provide clues
as to whether you are dealing with certain medical conditions.
In particular, unusual poop smells may be a sign of conditions that affect the digestive
system, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This condition, which leads to ongoing
pain and swelling in the digestive system, has two main types — Crohn’s disease and
ulcerative colitis.

Types of Stool Smells

While stool never smells good, it can sometimes take on an even more unpleasant odor than
usual. Your diet is the most common cause of bad-smelling stool.
In some cases, certain types of odors are a sign of a health condition. This can occur when
organs stop working properly, raising the levels of smell-causing molecules in the body. For
example, the food you eat is processed by your gastrointestinal (digestive) organs as well as
bacteria in your intestines. Certain types of bacteria may create smelly substances as they
digest food. Additionally, your liver breaks down these substances, eliminating their smell,
and your kidneys remove the substances from your body. Problems with these organs could
lead to unpleasant smells in your stool.

Stool That Smells Like Ammonia

Ammonia is a strong-smelling gas. You may recognize the scent from household cleaners or
window cleaners because these products often contain ammonia. This gas can also smell like
old urine.
Your large intestine produces ammonia when it digests protein. Your liver then neutralizes the
ammonia and helps the body get rid of it. Ammonia smells from your stool may signal a
problem with these organs, such as liver disease.
Certain types of bacteria in the large or small intestines may also make high levels of
ammonia. Therefore, stool that smells like ammonia may be a sign of an imbalance between
“good” and “bad” bacteria in your digestive system.

Stool That Smells Like Metal

Metallic smells in your stool may be caused by actual metal — specifically, iron. This metal
is an important part of hemoglobin, a protein found in red blood cells that helps the cells
carry oxygen throughout the body.
When blood is found in your stool, it may cause a metallic odor. This could be a sign of
health conditions like:
 IBD
 Hemorrhoids — Enlarged veins in your rectum or anus
 Anal fissures — Tears or sores in the skin near your anus
 Diverticulitis — A condition in which pouches in your intestines become inflamed or
infected
Taking supplements that contain iron may also cause your stool to look like it has blood in it
or take on new smells.

Stool That Smells Like Rotten Eggs

Rotten egg smells come from a substance called sulfur. Sulfur odors often come from the
diet, including:
 Sulfur-containing foods like meat, fish, dairy, eggs, and alcohol, as well as cruciferous
vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts
 Foods that contain sulfite preservatives such as sulfur dioxide, potassium bisulfite, or
sodium metabisulfite
 Certain medications and supplements that contain added sulfites
Having extra sulfur in your digestive system may also be a sign of infection.

Other Stool Smells

You may also notice other odors. Some people experience smells that remind them of
vinegar, plastic, fish, or vomit. In some cases, stool may not smell like anything in particular
— it may just stink a lot worse than usual.
There are many other possible causes of foul-smelling poop, including conditions like
infections, celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), cystic fibrosis, pancreatic
conditions, and short bowel syndrome.
Eating certain foods may also cause smelly stools if your body has trouble absorbing or
digesting certain nutrients. For example, you may be lactose intolerant — meaning your body
can’t fully digest milk or dairy products — or gluten intolerant, in which you get sick after
eating wheat, barley, or rye.

Stool Smells Related to IBD

Several studies have found that people with IBD have stools that contain unusual-smelling
substances compared to those without the condition. This could occur due to differences in
metabolism or inflammation. It may also be that people with IBD usually have different types
of bacteria in their guts.
Additionally, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis sometimes cause complications —
additional health issues that occur alongside a first disease or treatment. These complications
may lead to smelly stool or other digestive symptoms like bloating, loss of appetite, diarrhea,
constipation, or other changes in bowel movements.

Infections
Having IBD or taking IBD medications such as corticosteroids, biologics, or
immunomodulators can increase your risk of infection.
Infections that occur in the digestive system are common causes of smelly poop. This
symptom may be caused by a parasitic infection such as giardiasis or, more commonly, a
bacterial infection caused by Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) or other germs.

Malnutrition or Malabsorption
Malnutrition occurs when your body doesn’t get enough of the nutrients it needs to stay
healthy. In some cases, it may be the result of an unhealthy diet. For people with Crohn’s
disease, malnutrition may develop if it becomes too hard to eat due to IBD symptoms like
diarrhea or abdominal cramping.
When you eat a healthy balance of foods but your body can’t digest or use the nutrients, it is
known as malabsorption. This can occur if the intestines become too damaged to properly
absorb nutrients or if treatments like medication or surgery affect how your digestive system
works.
Malnutrition and malabsorption can lead to abnormal stool smells. If you have IBD but
haven’t recently taken new medicine or gone through dietary changes, this could be the
cause.

Liver Disease
Up to 1 out of 20 people with IBD develop liver disease. There are a few possible causes.
Extra fat in the liver may make it harder for healthy liver cells to do their job. The liver may
also become inflamed in a condition known as hepatitis. Liver problems can affect digestion
and lead to changes in stool appearance or smell.

Colorectal Cancer
IBD is a risk factor for colorectal cancer — tumors of the colon (large intestine) or rectum
(the part of the large intestine that connects to the anus). Those with IBD may be two to three
times more likely to develop colorectal cancer.
Some research has found that changes in stool smell may be a sign of these types of cancer.
However, this condition is rare, even among those with IBD, and bad-smelling stool is much
more likely to be caused by other factors.

What To Do About New or Unusual Stool Smells

Stools can have many appearances and odors among different people — what’s normal for
one person may not be typical for someone else. For this reason, it’s important to think about
what is usual for you. If your stools seem different than you are used to, talk to your doctor.
You should also tell your doctor if foul-smelling stool occurs along with any potentially more
serious issues, such as:
 Blood in your stool, which may cause it to look red, black, or tarry
 Pale-colored stool
 Fever or chills
 Abdominal pain or cramping
 Unexpected weight loss
If your doctor thinks there could be a problem, they may recommend undergoing tests to look
for additional signs of health issues. You may need to give a stool sample or have your blood
drawn.
There aren’t any treatments that can immediately fix the problem of smelly stool. However,
make sure to follow any diets or eating plans that your doctor gives you to reduce your
chances of digestive symptoms. You may be able to help fix imbalances in your gut bacteria
by eating foods or taking supplements that contain probiotics. Additionally, make sure to
drink extra water if your stool is very loose or watery in order to prevent dehydration.
Digestive symptoms such as changes in odor are often caused by what you eat. To learn
which foods may be leading to these issues, try tracking what you eat with a food diary.
Using paper and pen, a calendar, or a smartphone app, write down the time and contents of
every meal and snack. Additionally, record any digestive symptoms you notice. You can use
this method to identify whether certain foods or ingredients are causing problems. In the
future, you may want to avoid these foods.