A study in the Ear, Nose & Throat Journal reveals that sexual activity might temporarily alleviate nasal congestion, mirroring the effects of decongestant spray. Led by German ENT specialist Olcay Cem Bulut, the research indicates that sex can provide relief from a stuffy nose for approximately one hour, offering a novel approach to managing congestion.
The study recruited 18 heterosexual couples to observe the effects of sexual activity on nasal breathing quality. The research team observed each pair before and after sex, and the same observations and measurements were taken the next day with the couples, though this time before and after using nasal spray.
Both experimental models, sex and spray, delivered similar relief for the couples in the first hour after administering each method. After sex, the couples recorded an increased airflow of 214 milliliters per second within the first hour, and after nasal spray, an increased airflow of 235 milliliters per second.
In both models, however, their congestion had returned after three hours, suggesting that while both nasal spray and sex are effective at relieving nasal congestion, the effects are only temporary. The study’s findings may offer some relief for individuals struggling with hay fever, particularly during periods of poor air quality.
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The study’s results are fascinating, but they do not pinpoint the exact reason why sex offers temporary nasal congestion relief. The study itself only monitors 36 individuals, a cohort size that is far too small to effectively represent the human population, and only half of the participants had usable nasal airflow data.
Additionally, all participants reported experiencing an orgasm, so further research would be needed to determine if sex without climax could also garner the same results, or if an orgasm is necessary to relieve nasal congestion. For now, the study’s findings suggest that sex may be a temporary solution for individuals struggling with nasal congestion.
Olcay Cem Bulut and his team’s study provides new insights into the relationship between sex and nasal congestion. They observed that the effects of sex on nasal congestion are similar to those of nasal spray, but the study’s small sample size limits its ability to generalize the findings to the broader population.
