Sulfur burps, or rotten egg burps, are as unpleasant as they sound. The smell comes from a gas called hydrogen sulfide, which bacteria in your mouth and gut make as they break down food. Most sulfur burps are harmless and pass, but some point to a gut problem or a medicine side effect worth checking.
Key takeaways
- Sulfur burps smell like rotten eggs because of hydrogen sulfide, a gas that bacteria in your mouth and digestive tract make while breaking down food.
- Burping is a listed common side effect of the weight-loss medicine Wegovy: 7% of adults reported it in trials, compared with under 1% on placebo.
- Eating smaller meals more slowly and skipping fizzy drinks can help. See a doctor if burps come with pain, diarrhea or weight loss.
What causes sulfur burps?
Sulfur burps happen when gas from your stomach carries the smell of hydrogen sulfide, a gas made by bacteria in your mouth and digestive tract as they break down food. Research links eating more protein with more hydrogen sulfide in the gut. Fizzy drinks, eating fast, gut conditions and some medicines, including GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, can add to burping.
Why sulfur burps smell like rotten eggs
The CDC’s toxic substances agency (ATSDR) describes hydrogen sulfide as a colorless gas that smells like rotten eggs. It says bacteria in your mouth and digestive tract produce it as you digest food.
A 2023 review found that eating more protein is linked with more hydrogen sulfide production in the gut, while more fiber may lower it, even on a high-protein diet. That research is mostly about gas in the colon, so why some people burp it up isn’t well studied.
6 common causes of sulfur burps
Swallowing air
Burping is gas leaving your stomach through your mouth. The NIDDK says you swallow more air when you chew gum, drink fizzy drinks, eat or drink quickly, smoke or wear loose dentures.
High-protein meals
More protein is linked with more hydrogen sulfide made by gut bacteria, the 2023 review found. A big steak or egg-heavy meal with little fiber may leave you more prone to smelly gas.
GLP-1 weight-loss medicines
Page one of Google for “sulfur burps” is now full of questions about Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro. The FDA-approved label for Wegovy lists burping (eructation) among its most common side effects: 7% of adults on Wegovy in trials, compared with under 1% on placebo. Stomach side effects increased while the dose was being raised. The label doesn’t describe the smell, but many people on these medicines report sulfur burps.
Indigestion and reflux
The NIDDK lists functional dyspepsia (ongoing indigestion) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) among conditions that can cause extra gas and burping.
Trouble digesting some foods
Lactose intolerance, fructose intolerance and celiac disease can also cause gas, according to the NIDDK.
Other gut conditions
The NIDDK also lists small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), gastroparesis (slow stomach emptying), irritable bowel syndrome and, rarely, blockages in the digestive tract.
Sulfur burps triggers and fixes
| Trigger | Why it matters | What to try |
|---|---|---|
| Swallowed air | Gum, fizzy drinks and eating fast add air to your stomach | Eat slowly, sit down to eat, skip fizzy drinks and gum |
| High-protein, low-fiber meals | More protein is linked with more hydrogen sulfide | Add vegetables, beans or whole grains |
| GLP-1 medicine | Burping is a listed side effect, more common as the dose rises | Talk to your prescriber about eating tips and dose timing |
| Lactose intolerance | Undigested milk sugar can cause gas | Try lactose-free foods or lactase products |
| Reflux or indigestion | GERD and dyspepsia can cause burping | See a doctor for treatment |
What about giardia?
Many websites say sulfur burps are a sign of giardia, a gut parasite. The CDC’s list of giardia symptoms includes diarrhea, gas, stomach cramps, nausea and smelly, greasy poop that can float, but it doesn’t mention burps. Symptoms usually start 1 to 2 weeks after infection and last 2 to 6 weeks. If you have sulfur burps along with diarrhea, especially after drinking untreated water or traveling, see a doctor.
How long do sulfur burps last?
No health agency gives a set time. Sulfur burps linked to a meal usually ease as you digest it. If they keep coming back for days or weeks, or come with other symptoms, it’s time to see a doctor.
How to get relief from sulfur burps
The NIDDK suggests:
- eating smaller, more frequent meals
- eating more slowly, and sitting down to eat when you can
- avoiding fizzy drinks
- not chewing gum or sucking on hard candy
- using lactase products if you’re lactose intolerant
Adding more fiber-rich foods may also help, based on the 2023 review. If you take a GLP-1 medicine, talk to your prescriber before changing your dose.
When to see a doctor
The NIDDK suggests talking with your doctor if:
- gas or burping bothers you
- your symptoms change suddenly
- you also have stomach pain, constipation, diarrhea or weight loss
MedlinePlus advises contacting a doctor if diarrhea lasts more than 14 days, you see blood in your stool, or you’re dehydrated. Severe stomach pain or vomiting that won’t stop needs urgent care.
Frequently asked questions
What is the fastest way to get rid of sulfur burps?
There’s no instant cure, but the NIDDK suggests eating smaller meals more slowly, sitting down to eat, and avoiding fizzy drinks, gum and hard candy. If dairy triggers it and you’re lactose intolerant, lactase products can help.
Can Wegovy or Ozempic cause sulfur burps?
Burping is a known side effect. The FDA-approved label for Wegovy lists burping in 7% of adults in trials, compared with under 1% on placebo, and stomach side effects rose while the dose was increasing. The label doesn’t describe the smell. Talk to your prescriber if it bothers you.
What should I eat if I have sulfur burps?
Try smaller meals with more fiber, such as vegetables, beans and whole grains, alongside protein. A 2023 review linked more protein with more hydrogen sulfide in the gut and more fiber with less. Skip fizzy drinks while you’re having symptoms.
Can food poisoning cause sulfur burps?
Gut infections can cause gas, cramps and diarrhea. The CDC lists gas among giardia symptoms but doesn’t mention burps. See a doctor if diarrhea lasts more than 14 days, you see blood in your stool or you become dehydrated.
Do sulfur burps mean I’m sick?
Usually not. Occasional sulfur burps after a meal are common. The NIDDK suggests seeing a doctor if gas symptoms bother you, change suddenly, or come with stomach pain, constipation, diarrhea or weight loss.
How long do sulfur burps last?
No health agency gives a set time. Burps linked to a meal usually ease as you digest it. If sulfur burps keep coming back for days or weeks, or you have other symptoms, see a doctor to look for the cause.
The bottom line
Sulfur burps smell like rotten eggs because of hydrogen sulfide made by gut bacteria. They’re usually harmless and linked to meals, swallowed air or medicines like Wegovy. Eat smaller meals slowly, skip fizzy drinks and add fiber, and see a doctor if burps come with pain, diarrhea or weight loss.
Related reading
- Diarrhea every morning: causes and warning signs
- Do probiotics make you poop?
- Can you die from acid reflux in your sleep?
Sources
- ATSDR (CDC): Hydrogen Sulfide ToxFAQs
- NIDDK (NIH): Symptoms & Causes of Gas in the Digestive Tract
- NIDDK (NIH): Treatment for Gas in the Digestive Tract
- Teigen L, et al. Impact of diet on hydrogen sulfide production: implications for gut health. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care, 2023
- FDA-approved label: Wegovy (semaglutide) injection, via DailyMed (NIH)
- CDC: Symptoms of Giardia Infection
- MedlinePlus (NIH): Giardia infection