Experts in This Article

gastroenterologist

The truth is you do have some control over it.

But did you know that the sounds your fart makes may be under your control to some degree?

The anal sphincter muscles control the opening size of the anus.

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With effective sphincter muscle control, slow and silent releases can be managed.

The ability to control them is also a very useful social skill to have, Dr. Weiss explains.

For people with reduced sphincter tone, the release of a fart can become involuntary, he says.

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gastroenterologist

Other factors that affect fart sounds include the resonance and vibration frequency generated when the fart leaves the body.

Its Amazing How Its All Connected.

The anal sphincter is a ring-shaped band of muscle surrounding the anal opening.

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You have internal and external anal sphincter muscles.

The internal sphincter is an involuntary muscle that is designed to remain shut.

The external sphincter muscle, however, is part of the pelvic floor.

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This muscle is under voluntary control and can be strengthened with pelvic floor exercises, likeKegels.

Strengthening your pelvic floor is beneficial for reducing involuntary urinary leakage, as well as for controlling gas expulsion.

before you kick off squeezing, however, see a doctor.

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gastroenterologist

Okay, but why do some farts smell way worse than others?

The whole silent but deadly thing is pretty much a myth.

All the Kegels in the world wont alter the aroma of your toots.

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To do that, you may need to change your diet.

Heres why: A fart is made up of multiple gasses.

These gasses are byproducts of the foods you eat and the beverages you drink.

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Major gasses such as methane are odorless.

Odiferous gasses make up less than 1 percent of a fart.

They include hydrogen sulfide, mercaptans, putrescence, and others, says Dr. Weiss.

So, whose farts are typically the smelliest?

People who eat a lot of meat.

Dr. Weiss notes that odiferous gasses are commonly produced from the digestion and metabolism of animal fats and protein.

The farts of vegetarians are less offensive than carnivores, he says.

Though, vegetarians arent totally off the hook.

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