A cold snap, at the time of the hot snap! In some people, it happens that peak excitement triggers a curious reaction: runny nose, sneezing, and feeling of seasonal allergy. However, you clearly don’t have your partner in your sights… So what’s going on?
A real phenomenon, described by science
Far from being a simple coincidence, “honeymoon rhinitis” was described in a study published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. The researchers looked at people who sneezed repeatedly during sexual thoughts, during arousal or at the moment of orgasm.
Until then, this reaction remained poorly documented and often minimized, or even attributed to stress or imagination. However, the authors point out that “sneezing triggered by sexual thoughts or orgasm may be much more common than we think.”
In other words, it is neither a psychological phenomenon nor a whim of the body, but rather an involuntary physiological response. The symptoms resemble those of classic allergic rhinitis: stuffy nose, runny nose, sudden congestion and sneezing in bursts, without an identified allergen.
The parasympathetic nervous system which expresses itself
To understand this surprising reaction, we must look at the autonomic nervous system, which regulates the body’s automatic functions, such as breathing, circulation and secretions.
As Dr. Gérald Kierzek, emergency physician, explains, “Honeymoon rhinitis is a rare but well-documented disorder characterized by cold symptoms triggered specifically by sexual arousal, whether during intercourse or at the mere thought of it.”.
Sexual arousal strongly activates the parasympathetic nervous system, involved in relaxation mechanisms but also in the regulation of the nasal mucous membranes. The researchers evoke a kind of cross-stimulation: the activation linked to excitation “spills over” towards the nervous pathways responsible for nasal congestion and sneezing.
“Sexual arousal causes a rush of blood and a release of chemical mediators like acetylcholine, which activate the erectile tissues of the nose – similar to those of the genitals,” specifies Dr Gérald Kierzek. Result: swelling of the nasal turbinates, temporary obstruction and hypersecretion of mucus. From there to say that you have an orgasm in your nose…
A “cold” without viruses or allergies
This mechanism explains why symptoms appear suddenly, sometimes at the very moment of arousal or orgasm, without any sign of infection. Runny nose, repeated sneezing, feeling of stuffy nose… everything suggests a cold or a seasonal allergy, but without viruses or pollen involved.
According to Dr. Gérald Kierzek, the intense emotion and anxiety associated with the intimate situation can also amplify the physiological response. The parasympathetic system then further stimulates nasal secretions, reinforcing the feeling of “cold snap” in the heat of the moment.
Certain factors can accentuate this phenomenon. The doctor recalls in particular that “vasodilator medications, such as Viagra, can increase nasal congestion due to their effects on blood vessels“, which can make symptoms worse in some people.
Fortunately, not everyone is affected
Not all people develop honeymoon rhinitis. Researchers cite individual differences in the organization of nervous circuits. In some, the connections between the pathways involved in sexual arousal and those that control the nasal mucous membranes may be more sensitive.
Dr. Gérald Kierzek also emphasizes that this phenomenon affects men and women of all ages and could include a genetic component. It is part of a larger family of unusual reflexes: some people sneeze while looking at the sun, others after a heavy meal. “The common point remains an involuntary reflex reaction of the nervous system.”
Love won’t pass you by
If honeymoon rhinitis remains little known, it is mainly because it affects sexual intimacy. Many people do not dare to talk about it, thinking that they are the only ones experiencing this strange symptom when they take action.
However, specialists want to be reassuring: it is a benign and non-pathological phenomenon in the vast majority of cases. And if this happens to you and bothers you, remember: this is only a sign of excitement, which you cannot deny.