Look at your allergy symptoms: sneezing, runny nose, congestion, itchy watery eyes and fatigue – feeling in the mood? I guess not. Although you may not be aware, allergy symptoms really take their toll on your sex life, with 83% of those polled in an Allergy and Asthma Proceedings study reporting this to be the case. As with any medical condition, it’s important to consult your doctor. Tell your GP about the changes you’ve experienced in your sexual activity, as you can then work together on ways to inject a little more va va voom into your bedroom. There are plenty of avenues that you can explore with your doctor and your partner, so ask yourself the following questions:
1. Could you use a little help to fight fatigue? Whether you get them on prescription or over-the-counter, non-drowsy medications can help to guard your wellbeing against fatigue.
2. Are you suffering from an allergy? An allergist can test you for – as you might guess – allergies, while health food shops can test for intolerance. Identifying the culprit is an important step, as it is only then that you can create your plan of action.
3. How is your environmental wellness? Allergens that thrive in your home and grow in the soil can make everything worse, so limit your exposure to dust mites, pollen, mould and pet dander.
4. What’s today’s pollen count? If you monitor daily pollen counts in your area, you can guard your wellness against them on days that they’re particularly high. This means shutting your windows and turning off the air conditioner.
5. Does your dog need to sleep at the end of your bed? You or your partner may like to have your furry little friend on or even in your bed, but your pet may be playing havoc with your sex life if you have a pet dander allergy or intolerance. You don’t need to get rid of your pooch, just keep him or her off the bed or – even better – out of the bedroom altogether.
6. Is everything squeaky clean between the sheets? They call it getting down and dirty, but this doesn’t mean your bed has to follow suit! If you regularly replace your pillows, and wash your bedding in hot water, you can keep your boudoir as allergen-free as possible and promote a dust mite-free sex life.
7. Are you inviting pollen round for tea? Just because you expose yourself to pollen outdoors, you don’t have to bring it into the bedroom. Leaving your clothes at the front door helps to ensure that you’re not tracking it in the house and, who knows? It could be a sexy starter if you strip and hit the shower together.
8. Are you prepared for the big event? Although planning and preparation aren’t the sexiest things you can think about, neither is an allergy-ridden sex life. Take care of your sexual health by taking allergy medicine a good half an hour before getting down to it. It’s not the end of the world if it’s not exactly 30 minutes in advance, but planning ahead in this way helps you to make sure your allergy medications are raring to go when you are.
9. Are you (and your partner) educated? Education and communication is key here, as a lot of people don’t even realise that their allergies (or their partner’s) are getting in the way of their sex life. You need to understand your wellness, and how everything is connected. If you and your partner are aware of the issue, it makes it so much easier to solve together.
