# A horniness, illness relationship?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-horniness-illness-relationship/291251
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [February 21, 2005, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-horniness-illness-relationship/291251 "2005-02-21T22:53:43Z")
**Posts on this page:** 18
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)
#### Post date: [February 21, 2005, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-horniness-illness-relationship/291251/1 "2005-02-21T22:53:43Z")
The other day I was, as they used to say on _Happy Days_, “feeling frisky” and after my wife and I consumated our relationship very pasionately, she asked me if I were coming down with a cold or something.
She said she asked this since after a number of years with me, she has noticed that I get “especialy” horny just before I come down with a bad cold, the flu or similar malady.
Well, over the weekend it hit with full force. I am still pretty shakey. Is there any substance to my wife’s suggestion? I thought about googling the subject, but have no idea what to put on the subject line that wouldn’t get very weird porn sites.
So I throw it up to you—actually “throwing up” things still is not a pleasant image, how about, “would you please enter into the discussion?”
TV
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### Author:  [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)
#### Post date: [February 21, 2005, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-horniness-illness-relationship/291251/2 "2005-02-21T23:09:13Z")
I have a similar reaction. Don’t know if it is common or not, but I tend to be horny when I have a cold.
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### Author:  [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)
#### Post date: [February 22, 2005, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-horniness-illness-relationship/291251/3 "2005-02-22T07:41:33Z")
I wonder if it has something to do with the elevated temperature or possibly weakend brain cells that seem to come with illness.
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### Author:  [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)
#### Post date: [February 22, 2005, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-horniness-illness-relationship/291251/4 "2005-02-22T08:42:56Z")
It could be that this is (anthropomorphosizing (sp?))a clever ploy on the part of the virus - viral strains that (by subtly altering your brain/body chemistry) make you want to hug and kiss people are more likely to propagate than viral strains that make you want to shut yourself away in the cupboard under the stairs.
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### Author:  [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)
#### Post date: [February 22, 2005, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-horniness-illness-relationship/291251/5 "2005-02-22T16:04:22Z")
I have the same reaction, but it’s not just when I have a cold. A good hangover has the exact same effect - is that wierd?
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### Author:  [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)
#### Post date: [February 22, 2005, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-horniness-illness-relationship/291251/6 "2005-02-22T16:54:14Z")
Could this supposed relationship have something to do with congestion? (WAG disclaimer)
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### Author:  [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)
#### Post date: [February 22, 2005, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-horniness-illness-relationship/291251/7 "2005-02-22T17:30:03Z")
> [@TV time](#):
>
> She said she asked this since after a number of years with me, she has noticed that I get “especialy” horny just before I come down with a bad cold, the flu or similar malady.
Good thing you don’t have allergies!
:eek:
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### Author:  [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)
#### Post date: [February 22, 2005, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-horniness-illness-relationship/291251/8 "2005-02-22T17:52:50Z")
Let’s just check the medical book here. Ah. Obviously, when you’re congested, it’s due to an excess of phlegm, and so your body responds by wanting to release sperm, which is a form of phlegm.
\ Stupid 13th century medical books.
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### Author:  [@Jpeg\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jpeg_Jones)
#### Post date: [February 22, 2005, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-horniness-illness-relationship/291251/9 "2005-02-22T18:49:03Z")
Yes, I get horny when I’m sick too. I think it just has to do with being in bed and warm and resting and bored, your mind just starts to wander…
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### Author:  [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)
#### Post date: [February 22, 2005, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-horniness-illness-relationship/291251/10 "2005-02-22T19:26:23Z")
And the SI swimsuit issue is out… 😃
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### Author:  [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)
#### Post date: [February 22, 2005, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-horniness-illness-relationship/291251/11 "2005-02-22T19:52:46Z")
> [@zoid](#):
>
> I have the same reaction, but it’s not just when I have a cold. A good hangover has the exact same effect - is that wierd?
Exactly what I was going to say before I even opened the thread.
I have had others (ex-girlfriends) say the same thing.
There is definitely a connection between a supressed system and horniness.
Not sure what the connection is but I ain’t complaining.
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### Author:  [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)
#### Post date: [February 22, 2005, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-horniness-illness-relationship/291251/12 "2005-02-22T23:55:43Z")
As long as we’re WAG-ing, maybe your body recognizes the microbial invader, before symptoms begin to show up and you consciously recognize you’re sick, and reacts by saying, “Holy shit! I could be dead in two days! Better get to reproducin’.” 😃
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### Author:  [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)
#### Post date: [February 23, 2005, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-horniness-illness-relationship/291251/13 "2005-02-23T04:00:33Z")
I was thinking that an increasing temp mirrored the symptoms of arousal and … well, I don’t know, that’s why I asked.
At least it’s good to know I’m not the only one.
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### Author:  [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)
#### Post date: [February 23, 2005, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-horniness-illness-relationship/291251/14 "2005-02-23T04:09:17Z")
My own pet theory is that higher brain function tends to inhibit erection. Turn that down a bit and the inhibitions come off. It would explain why I get really horny when I’m half-asleep, slightly drunk or have a slight cold or fever.
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### Author:  [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)
#### Post date: [February 23, 2005, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-horniness-illness-relationship/291251/15 "2005-02-23T04:47:18Z")
> [@Mangetout](#):
>
> It could be that this is (anthropomorphosizing (sp?))…
Anthropomorphizing.
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### Author:  [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)
#### Post date: [February 23, 2005, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-horniness-illness-relationship/291251/16 "2005-02-23T04:50:01Z")
> [@zoid](#):
>
> I have the same reaction, but it’s not just when I have a cold. A good hangover has the exact same effect - is that wierd?
Not weird at all (or at least, you’re not alone). Hangovers make me horny as hell. During periods of prolonged sobriety, my wife is lucky to get a five times a week servicing. Throw an evil hangover into the picture though, and she’ll get nailed three times in one day.
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### Author:  [@Little\_Cloud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Cloud)
#### Post date: [February 23, 2005, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-horniness-illness-relationship/291251/17 "2005-02-23T07:09:23Z")
In my own limited research with the men I have known, depression seems to increase horniness. When the depression lifts, the level of horniness goes back to baseline. My theory on the OP would be that you don’t feel good when coming down with a cold and your body reacts to your low spirits by seeking behavior that will make you feel better. Get those endorphins going man!
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### Author:  [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)
#### Post date: [February 23, 2005, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-horniness-illness-relationship/291251/18 "2005-02-23T13:43:25Z")
> [@vetbridge](#):
>
> Could this supposed relationship have something to do with congestion? (WAG disclaimer)
Actually, one of the common side effects of Viagra is nasal congestion.