STUDY: Women Emit More Odorous Gas, While Men Release Greater Volumes

In an unappealing competition that few would aspire to win, a gastroenterologist from Minnesota dedicated decades to determining whether men or women generate more foul-smelling gas—and ultimately declared the outcome a tie.

In an article for the Washington Post, physician and author Trisha Pasricha revisits the research conducted by Michael Levitt, a scientist at a VA hospital known as the "King of Farts." Levitt employed techniques such as gas chromatography, rectal tubes, and even enlisted "flatus odor judges" to measure what is typically just a source of complaints.

In his carefully controlled study involving 16 participants, volunteers consumed foods known to increase gas production. Their emissions were then collected and evaluated on an eight-point scale measuring odor intensity.

Levitt’s research revealed that while women’s gas tended to be more pungent, men expelled larger amounts per emission—approximately half a cup each time. This led Levitt to conclude that, practically speaking, neither gender holds a definitive advantage.

Pasricha points out that perceived differences may be influenced less by the chemical composition of the gas and more by the method of release, noting that women often employ a slower, more controlled expulsion, which alters the social perception.

The key conclusion: the intensity of odor and the volume of gas effectively balance each other out. "It was, in other words, a tie."