Winter often brings the usual cold symptoms — congestion, low energy, and that familiar struggle to breathe clearly. But alongside the usual remedies, research suggests a more unexpected source of relief: sexual pleasure. Studies indicate that orgasm and intimacy could play a role in easing stuffiness and supporting your body during cold season. Now that’s a tissue-strewn nightstand we can get behind. Consider this your cue to add the lube and vibes.
Pleasure: your built-in winter wellness tool.
Intimacy is often thought of as emotional or recreational, but it’s also a physiological event with many healthy benefits. Research shows that pleasure can influence your immune system.
One study found that people who had sex once or twice a week showed up to 30% higher levels of IgA, an antibody that plays a key role in protecting against colds and flu. A small but meaningful reminder that supporting your body can come in many forms.
The case for snotty sex (we said what we said).
Another recent study explored whether sexual climax could help people breathe more easily — specifically, through improved nasal airflow. And the findings were unexpectedly practical. Researchers noted that:
“the combination of sexual arousal, excitement, physical activity, and the climax at the end can possibly help to improve nasal breathing.”
In other words, that deep, clear breath you take after an orgasm may have a scientific explanation behind it.
What the study actually explored.
Eighteen couples measured their nasal breathing before and after sex — and again after using a nasal decongestant on a separate day. They self-rated their breathing and used a small device to measure airflow.
The main takeaway:
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Nasal breathing improved for about an hour after sex, in a way similar to the decongestant spray.
The medication offered longer-lasting relief, but pleasure delivered comparable short-term benefits. Researchers also noted that some participants struggled to operate the measuring device post-orgasm — which feels like a fair reflection of real life.
And while this study involved partnered sex, the underlying mechanism — arousal, movement, and climax — strongly suggests solo pleasure may have similar effects. After all, women are more likely to orgasm during masturbation than during partnered sex.
More pleasure, more breathing room.
So what does all this mean for your winter routine? Pleasure isn’t a cure for colds, but it can support your body in meaningful ways:
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helping your nervous system relax
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offering temporary relief from nasal stuffiness
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contributing to immune support
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reconnecting you with your body during a season that often feels draining
It’s a small, accessible ritual that’s as much about comfort as it is about care.
Your cold-weather fix.
When cold season settles in and the sniffles make their annual appearance, you have plenty of tools at your disposal: warm drinks, supplements, rest — and, if you choose, a moment of intimacy that’s backed by emerging research. Here's our sniffly prescription 😉
Solo or partnered, pleasure can be a simple, intuitive addition to your winter wellness routine. Because while cold symptoms may be unavoidable, supporting your body and feeling good in it is always within reach.
