Stuffy nose? An orgasm can help, study suggests but theres a catch

This is snot a joke.When you’re sick, trading bodily fluids may not be the best idea — and certainly, having trouble breathing through your nose can make sex tricky.But if you’re all stuffed up and don’t have any decongestant spray on hand, scientists found that some in-between-the-sheets action could clear out your nostrils — with a small caveat.Orgasms don’t just feel good — they’ve also been shown to offer stress reduction, brain benefits and even reduced cancer risk.And according to a small study published in the Ear, Nose & Throat Journal, clearing nasal congestion can be added to the list.Researchers in Germany recruited 18 couples experiencing everyday stuffiness.Just how stuffed they were was measured with a self-reported ranking and a device called a rhinomanometer.

This was done before sex, after sex, and on a different day after using decongestant spray.They found that reaching climax cleared stuffy noses about as well as the decongestant spray… albeit for a limited time frame.The orgasmic effect lasted for an hour, but faded within three hours, while the medicine continued to reduce congestion by shrinking swollen blood vessels in the nose.Average airflow readings from the device rose to about 214 milliliters per second right after sex and to 249 milliliters after 30 minutes.Meanwhile, the nasal spray increased airflow by 235 milliliters right after use and then 287 milliliters 30 minutes later.However, three hours later, nasal breathing went back to the level it was at pre-sex.The effects also fluctuated based on how congested someone was beforehand, with participants who scored above 30 on the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) seeing significant improvements in breathing through their nose after sex.Those who scored lower on NOSE — indicating mild nasal obstruction — only saw small improvements.The study didn’t explain why sex might clear up a stuffy nose.However, the researchers suggested that arousal, excitemen...