Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 19, 2025
04:00
Author Spotlight: Assessing the Olfactory Effects of Airborne Pollutants — Buried Food and Social Odor Tests
Published on: September 13, 2024
931
Olfaction in pregnancy: systematic review and meta-analysis
Shaley L Albaugh1, Lisa L Wu1, Douglas Zhang1
1Pritzker School of Medicine, Division of Biological Sciences, The University of Chicago, Chicago IL 60637, USA.
Chemical Senses
|December 5, 2022
Summary
Pregnancy is linked to poorer odor identification abilities, according to a meta-analysis. This study found no significant changes in odor discrimination, threshold, or hedonic perception during gestation.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Reproductive Biology
- Sensory Science
Background:
- Olfactory changes during pregnancy are understudied, with limited contemporary research.
- Existing studies often lack sufficient sample sizes for robust conclusions.
Approach:
- A comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of published literature was conducted.
- Included 13 studies assessing 5 olfactory measures: identification, threshold, discrimination, hedonics, and intensity.
- Meta-analysis synthesized data from 523 pregnant women and 365 non-pregnant controls across 9 studies.
Key Points:
- No significant differences were found between pregnant and non-pregnant women in odor discrimination, thresholds, or hedonics.
- Meta-analysis revealed significantly worse odor identification performance in pregnant women compared to controls.
- This finding contrasts with subjective reports of altered smell sensitivity during pregnancy.
Conclusions:
- Pregnancy is associated with impaired odor identification capabilities.
- Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms and implications of olfactory changes during gestation.
- Highlights existing knowledge gaps in the field of pregnancy-related olfaction.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Olfaction
44.8K
The sense of smell is achieved through the activities of the olfactory system. It starts when an airborne odorant enters the nasal cavity and reaches olfactory epithelium (OE). The OE is protected by a thin layer of mucus, which also serves the purpose of dissolving more complex compounds into simpler chemical odorants. The size of the OE and the density of sensory neurons varies among species; in humans, the OE is only about 9-10 cm2.
The olfactory receptors are embedded in the cilia of the...
The olfactory receptors are embedded in the cilia of the...
44.8K
01:20Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway
9.1K
Humans detect odors with the help of specialized cells located in the upper part of the nasal cavity, called olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs). ORNs possess hair-like structures called cilia, which are receptive to sensations from the inhaled air. When an odorant molecule binds to a specific receptor on the cell of the cilia, it leads to a series of events that ultimately cause the ORN to send electrical signals to the olfactory bulb in the brain through the olfactory nerves.
The olfactory...
The olfactory...
9.1K
01:03Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure
9.4K
The process of olfaction, also known as the sense of smell, is a sophisticated chemical response system. The specialized sensory neurons that facilitate this process, known as olfactory receptor neurons, are situated in an upper segment of the nasal cavity, known as the olfactory epithelium. Olfactory sensory neurons are bipolar, with their dendrites extending from the epithelium's apex into the mucus that lines the nasal cavity. Airborne molecules, when inhaled, traverse the olfactory...
9.4K
01:23Upper Respiratory Drugs: Antitussives, Expectorants, and Mucolytics
382
Respiratory symptoms, such as congestion and cough, commonly accompany respiratory tract conditions. Various medications, such as antitussives, expectorants, and mucolytics, play crucial roles in providing relief.
Antitussives include codeine, dextromethorphan (Robitussin), and benzonatate (Tessalon). Codeine and dextromethorphan exert their effects centrally by suppressing the cough reflex center in the medulla. Benzonatate operates peripherally within the respiratory tract by...
Antitussives include codeine, dextromethorphan (Robitussin), and benzonatate (Tessalon). Codeine and dextromethorphan exert their effects centrally by suppressing the cough reflex center in the medulla. Benzonatate operates peripherally within the respiratory tract by...
382