Are you suffering from a stuffy nose and runny eyes? Are the sniffles getting you down? Before you hit that medicine cupboard considering hitting something else instead. A medical study out of Cleveland says that having sex can provide temporary relief from nasal congestion!

According to otolaryngologist Michael Benninger, Chairman of Cleveland Clinic’s Head and Neck Institute, the effect of sexual activity has benefits for both men and women suffering with allergies.

“The relationship between sexual arousal, genitalia, and the nose are intimately linked,” explains Michael Benninger. “When you’re aroused, the blood vessels in your genitals dilate and the tissue swells, allowing for increased blood flow. But it turns out, that swelling happens above the belt too — including in the nose. Structures in your nasal passages called turbinates, which help filter the air you breathe, puff up. During sex, though, your body produces adrenaline, which constricts your blood vessels to reduce blood flow again, causing your turbinates to shrink. Since your nose is getting less blood flow, there’s less inflammation,” Dr. Benninger continues. “That means your nose can open up and it’s easier to breathe.”

Unfortunately though, when you’re suffering from allergies, sex is probably the last thing on your mind! Dr. Benninger says studies show that people with allergies have lower sex drives and have intercourse less frequently. “Nothing kills the mood like congestion”, he says. Plus, “people with allergies often don’t sleep as well and experience fatigue, which lessens sex drive.”

Some common question arising from the study were “will sex always relieve congestion” and “how long does relief last?”  Dr. Benninger says that sex will not always relieve congestion but certain positions will help.  “If you have sex lying on your back, you won’t experience the same level of congestion relief. In that position, you don’t benefit from the effects of gravity nearly as much. When you’re lying down, gravity can’t pull against your congestion as strongly,” he says. “That’s why people have trouble breathing when they lie down to go to sleep at night.”

As far as how long does the relief last, the doctor states anywhere between 45 minutes to an hour. “After orgasm your parasympathetic system — the one that conserves your energy and slows your heart rate — begins to take over. At that point, your nose will start to slowly return to normal. And you’ll feel the congestion begin to return,” he explains.

While sex is definitely not the only option for relieving symptoms, the doctor agrees it’s the most fun. “I don’t think other methods to relieve congestion are nearly as much fun as sexual activity,” he says. “Plus, sex doesn’t come with a lot of side effects.”

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