Can Flying by Plane Affect Your Sex Life?

Did you ever hear wild tales about air travel? Like, planes dump toilet waste mid-flight, or you lose a third of your tan on the flight home? While many of these myths are just that—myths—there’s a more intriguing question to explore: Can flying by plane affect your sex life?

Marie Morice, clinical sexologist and founder of Lilith Your Life, explains it all. Studies have shown that air travel impacts our bodies in various ways. In-cabin air pressure mimics high altitudes, causing lower blood oxygen levels. Humidity levels in planes are often a dry 5-20%, compared to the ideal 40-70%, leading to dehydration and dry skin. Such conditions can dry our skin by 37% on long flights, making us itchy and uncomfortable.

Mild hypoxia, or oxygen depletion, can also mess with our minds, increasing anxiety and negative emotions. This, combined with dehydration and exhausted circadian rhythms, can leave anyone feeling stressed and tired—hardly in the mood for romance.

Flying can indirectly affect your sex life as well. Anxiety, claustrophobia, and stress lower testosterone levels, hampering libido and sexual function. So, staying hydrated, exercising before and after your flight, and avoiding too much caffeine or alcohol might just keep you feeling your best.