Halitosis is a growing concern for patients seeking dental treatment. Women experience hormonal changes throughout different phases of their life. These changes may affect volatile organic compound (VOC) production and can be linked to halitosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of hormonal changes on self-perceived halitosis in a sample of females using a self-administered questionnaire. This study used a cross-sectional observational design. The questionnaire was distributed electronically through Google forms. A total of 1089 participants completed the questionnaire. Almost 50% of participants were below the age of 25; and 12% were of menopausal age (defined as 45 years and older). Most participants reported having regular menstrual cycles (63.5%) while only 20% reported having hormonal disturbances. Almost 62% of the sample reported that they notice halitosis on themselves with 27.6% indicating their perception of halitosis occurred at different times of the month. Around 12% of the sample thought that a relationship between halitosis and their menstrual cycle existed with 4.6% reporting halitosis during menstruation. The present study found that regularity of menstrual cycle and hormonal disturbances can affect females' self-perceived halitosis and the prevalence of oral health symptoms.
Keywords: halitosis; malodor; menstrual cycle; oral health.