Why does my nose run when I perform oral sex on a man?

November 28, 2009 3:31 PM

Why does my nose run when I perform oral sex on a man? (NSFW details inside)

I'm a woman who really enjoys giving head to a man, but I've often found that I will get the sniffles if the session is prolonged, especially in the morning. I'm not usually a sniffly person and this doesn't seem to be associated with a cold or allergies. It's somewhat more likely if this a morning session, although it can happen any time during the day. It's a little annoying, but amusing, too, and we both giggle when I have to both wipe my face and blow my nose afterwards.

Am I a little congested and unaware of it until my breathing is constricted by a full mouth? If his cock is hitting various points in my mouth and throat, is it sometimes triggering an associated nerve that makes my nose run? Any other ideas?

posted by anonymous to Health & Fitness (14 answers total)

Hmm. Are you doing it with him lying flat on the bed? Having your head facing downward combined with the head motions - for a long time - may just be the cause. Perhaps you should try having him sit upright on the bed, or on the edge of the bed, and thus keep your head upright while you do it? Or does the runny nose happen in any position?
posted by blackcatcuriouser at 3:45 PM on November 28, 2009 [1 favorite]

I suspect it's a issue of producing increased saliva and it running out of your nose based on the tilt of your head. I personally tend to get sniffly when I exercise- so it could be increased sweat production as well.
posted by emilyd22222 at 3:48 PM on November 28, 2009

Um, if there's gagging involved, that could lead to watery eyes and I suppose a runny nose, by extension. You didn't mention any discomfort though, so that's just a guess.
posted by afabulousbeing at 3:51 PM on November 28, 2009

It might be the flush of blood to your head that comes from a mixture of arousal and vigorous head movement. Sometimes people get the sniffles when they blush, and this may be comparable.
posted by Astro Zombie at 4:02 PM on November 28, 2009

It's not just you -- almost every woman I've been with got a runny nose from oral sex sometimes. I always figured it was a combination of the head position (pun unintended) and the occasional bit of gagging. I've never noticed any difference in the time of day.
posted by Forktine at 4:13 PM on November 28, 2009 [1 favorite]

My theory is the suction starts to dislodge snot. I can't do it at all when I've got any sort of allergy-related post-nasal drip because I'm quickly choking on snot. :(
posted by Jacqueline at 5:33 PM on November 28, 2009

You're not breathing through your nose.
posted by beerbajay at 5:49 PM on November 28, 2009

I'd like to know as well. Data point: I'm a guy, and my nose runs when I go down on a woman. No gagging involved, but usually need some tissues afterwards.
posted by Ghidorah at 5:59 PM on November 28, 2009

I find that playing the trumpet (not a euphemism, the actual musical instrument) tends to get any sinus or nasal congestion moving, even if I did not realize it was there. Which involves actual blowing, unlike oral sex, but I think that when you create any kind of pressure with your sinuses it tends to free stuff up, suction, blowing, whathaveyou.
posted by idiopath at 6:09 PM on November 28, 2009 [1 favorite]

Well, beerbajay says it's because you're not breathing through your nose, but I think it's precisely because you ARE. I find that after brushing my teeth in the mornings my nose is a wee bit runny, and I think it's because I've been breathing solely through my nose for those two minutes. And that dislodges the mucus and everything. I don't think this happens at non-morning times. I'm guessing that one breathes primarily through one's mouth during sleep, so stuff gets accumulated in one's nose, for lack of breathing through it/flushing it out. Then, one brushes one's teeth, or does some other oral activity, and all of a sudden one breathes through one's nose, and out comes the goodness.
posted by frankly mister at 7:21 PM on November 28, 2009

I've heard that a cure for congested sinuses is to push the tongue against the roof of the mouth hard & repeatedly; perhaps the penis-thing is doing the same thing & pushing up against your palate, dislodging mucus.
posted by opossumnus at 11:12 PM on November 28, 2009

opossumnus: "I've heard that a cure for congested sinuses is to push the tongue against the roof of the mouth hard & repeatedly; perhaps the penis-thing is doing the same thing & pushing up against your palate, dislodging mucus."

On a related note, try using a neti pot regularly and see if the problem eases up?
posted by IndigoRain at 2:30 PM on November 29, 2009

Erectile tissue is erectile tissue - whether it's in your penis, your sinuses, your clitoris, your nose, your labia, etc.

I ALWAYS get a stuffy nose to one degree or another when I'm aroused - and most of my partners do as well. But they only made the connection when I pointed it out.
posted by DandyRandy at 10:14 AM on November 30, 2009 [1 favorite]

Oops - forgot to add that the common factor is mucous membranes.
posted by DandyRandy at 10:15 AM on November 30, 2009