Sex ending in orgasm may ease a blocked nose about as well as a decongestant spray for up to an hour, according to a small study by German and British researchers. The relief faded, with nasal breathing back to its starting level within three hours.

The benefit appeared only in people who were already congested. The research, published in the Ear, Nose & Throat Journal in 2021, went on to win an Ig Nobel Prize in medicine.

How the Study Worked

The researchers recruited 18 heterosexual couples, or 36 people. Nasal breathing was checked before sex, immediately afterwards, then 30 minutes, one hour and three hours later.

The same checks were repeated the next day after a nasal decongestant spray. Participants rated their own nasal breathing on a visual analogue scale. A portable rhinometric device measured nasal airflow and resistance.

Results Show Relief Fades

Breathing improved significantly after intercourse with climax, to the same degree as after the spray, for up to 60 minutes. On the scale, scores improved by 3.6 points after sex and 3.2 after the spray.

The device readings showed the spray ahead. Airflow rose by 214 millilitres per second immediately after sex and 235 after the spray, then by 249 and 287 at 30 minutes. At 60 minutes, the gains were 180 after sex and 287 after the spray.

Three hours after sex, nasal breathing had returned to baseline, while the spray kept working for longer. Only participants with nasal obstruction, scoring above 30 on the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation, showed better nasal function after sex.

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Why Congestion May Ease

The study did not explain why sex might clear a stuffy nose. Lead researcher Olcay Cem Bulut, a German ear, nose and throat doctor, suggested that arousal, physical activity and the climax may all play a part.

Dr Michael Benninger, an otolaryngologist and chairman of Cleveland Clinic's Head and Neck Institute, explained that the nose contains blood vessels called turbinates. These can swell and block the airways.

One possible explanation is that sexual arousal activates the sympathetic nervous system, which is involved in the fight-or-flight response and can narrow blood vessels. However, the study did not establish the physiological mechanism behind the improvement in nasal breathing.

The improvement in nasal breathing was observed in both male and female participants, but it was temporary. Measurements showed that nasal breathing returned to baseline three hours after orgasm. The study did not establish which physiological processes caused the relief to fade.

A runny nose may also appear during sex or afterwards.

Limits of the Findings

The study was small and could not be double-blinded, as participants knew whether they were engaging in sexual activity or using a decongestant spray. David King of the University of Queensland noted that each participant effectively served as their own comparison, although the study's small sample and measurement limitations should be considered when interpreting the findings.

Breathing was partly self-rated, and usable airflow readings came from only 16 of the 36 participants. Some could not focus on the device before and immediately after intercourse.

Every participant reached orgasm, so the study cannot show whether sex without climax would work. Whether masturbation brings similar relief, or multiple orgasms last longer, was not tested.

Honeymoon rhinitis may work against some people. The condition causes sneezing or a runny nose during sexual arousal, and doctors have known about it since at least 1875.

Sprays Still Have Their Place

Decongestant sprays last longer, but overuse carries risk. Products containing oxymetazoline should not be used for more than three days because they can make congestion worse.

Depending on the cause of congestion, alternatives include saline nasal sprays, corticosteroid nasal sprays and antihistamines. A pharmacist or doctor can advise on the most appropriate treatment.

People with nasal congestion should not throw away their decongestant sprays just yet. The findings point to brief relief, not a lasting fix.

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