Intolerance to ambient odors at an early stage of pregnancy

Abstract

Adverse reactions to ambient odorous and pungent substances in daily activities among pregnant women who are half-way through pregnancy, and changes in odor perception at predominantly an early stage of pregnancy motivated the present study of odor intolerance at an early pregnancy stage. Ninety-five women averaging gestational week 11 and 102 non-pregnant women were compared with the Chemical Sensitivity Scale for Sensory Hyperreactivity (CSS-SHR). General environmental intolerance was assessed with items from the Noise Sensitivity Scale that are analogous to the CSS-SHR ("NSS-SHR"). Pregnant women were found to have higher scores on the CSS-SHR, but not on the "NSS-SHR". This suggests an odor intolerance that affects pregnant women's daily activities, which appears not to be due to a general environmental intolerance. The effect size of pregnancy on CSS-SHR score is larger in the present study of early pregnancy than in the previous study of women half-way through pregnancy.

Coping strategies, social support and responsibility in chemical intolerance

“…Individuals aged 18–69 who considered themselves as intolerant to odorous/pungent chemicals in the environment, with symptoms (e.g., airways, fatigue, headache) evoked from such exposure were invited through advertisement in a local (Umeå, Sweden) and a national newspaper. Pregnant women were excluded because odour intolerance is common during pregnancy (Nordin et al. 2007).…”

Pregnancy and olfaction: a review

“…This was particularly evident early in pregnancy. In a subsequent study using the Chemical Sensitivity Scale for Sensory Hypersensitivity ( Nordin et al, 2003 ), Nordin et al (2007) found self-reported hyperosmia (defined as “increased odor sensitivity during the past month compared to what is normal to that individual” p. 340) in pregnant women ( n = 95) to be specific to a set of odors, such as cigarettes, prepared or spoiled food, coffee, gasoline, and perfumes.…”

“… Nordin et al (2005) , 2007 found that pregnant women, particularly in the first trimester of pregnancy, score higher on the Chemical Sensitivity Scale for Sensory Hyperreactivity ( Nordin et al, 2003 ). This lead the authors to conclude that “pregnant women to a large degree are affected by odorous/pungent substances in their daily activities” ( Nordin et al, 2007 , p. 341). They also conclude that olfaction is the major contributor to this sensory hyperreactivity, and that this hyperreactivity does not extend to auditory stimuli.…”

Taste and Smell Changes in Patients Receiving Cancer Chemotherapy

“…vid polyper eller infektioner (10) påverkar SoL-förmågan. Vid graviditet rapporterar en del kvinnor påverkan på SoL-förmågan (59,93).…”