Headaches that occur during sex, while masturbating, during orgasm, or right after engaging in any sexual behavior could be a sign of an underlying health condition. It's important to seek medical advice if these headaches become frequent or severe.
1. Causes of Headaches During Sex
Any type of sexual activity that leads to orgasm can trigger a sexual headache. In most cases, these headaches occur and then completely resolve.
The cause of headaches during sex is due to: in a state of excessive anxiety and emotional stress, the function of blood vessel expansion and contraction in the brain is disturbed, even the muscles in the blood vessel walls become tense, causing a temporary reduction in blood supply to the brain, resulting in headaches.
However, it is also necessary to be wary of some causes of headaches that are triggered by the exertion during intercourse, such as:
Aneurysms in the brain. These aneurysms are congenital, due to weak blood vessel walls that expand, often located at the base of the skull, and when ruptured, they cause very dangerous subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Arteriovenous malformations of the brain.
The second type of cause is cerebral arteriovenous malformations. Cerebral arteriovenous malformations occur when arteries connect directly to veins without a capillary system, hence the name arteriovenous fistula. This connection forms a tangle of blood vessels, which bulge, have thin walls, and are very prone to rupture, causing local bleeding.
The third type of cause is the rupture of arteries supplying blood to the brain due to atherosclerosis. This type is also very dangerous because it can cause bleeding right in the blood vessel wall, external bleeding, or create a blood clot that blocks the cerebral blood vessel.
In people with hypertension, exertion during sex can also increase blood pressure, causing severe headaches, and patients may have a stroke during intercourse.
There are many risk factors for sexual headaches such as:
Male sexuality. Men are more likely to experience sexual headaches.
Having past medical history of migraines. Having migraines increases the risk of sexual headaches.
2. Symptoms of Sexual Headaches
The most common symptom is headache, which may be accompanied by:
- A dull ache in the neck that increases with sexual arousal.
- A sudden, severe, throbbing headache that occurs just before or at the time of orgasm.
- Most sexual headaches last at least a few minutes. Some may last for several hours or even 2-3 days.
Many people experience persistent sexual headaches for several months, after which the headaches may disappear within a year or longer. Nearly half of people with sexual headaches have to "live with" this syndrome for about 6 months. For some people, sexual headaches may only occur once in a lifetime.
3. Treatment for Sexual Headaches
Diagnostic methods for sexual headaches may include:
- Brain imaging: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), and computed tomography angiography (CTA). These tests show the blood vessels that carry blood to the brain and neck.
- Angiography: Your doctor may also order a cerebral angiogram, a test that can show the arteries in the neck and brain.
- Lumbar puncture: In this procedure, a doctor removes a small amount of fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. The fluid sample can show bleeding or infection.
In some cases, a sexual headache may occur for the first time and may also be your last. Some sexual headaches may improve quickly, so the pain goes away before pain medication is needed.
If you have a history of sexual headaches and no underlying cause, your doctor may recommend taking preventive medication regularly. These medications may include:
Daily medications: Beta-blockers such as propranolol (Inderal, Innopran XL) or metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol-XL). However, you should only use these medications if the headaches occur frequently or last a long time.
As-needed medications: Indomethacin (Indocin, Tivorbex), an anti-inflammatory drug, or one of the triptans, a group of migraine medications, can be taken an hour before intercourse to prevent headaches.
4. Preventing Sexual Headaches
The following lifestyle changes and home remedies can help you cope with sexual headaches:
When experiencing this condition, it is best to abstain from sexual activity until the pain completely subsides.
Occasionally, the pain may be due to certain positions or actions during intercourse, such as using the tongue and lips to stimulate the genitals or kneeling for intercourse. Therefore, avoid repeating these actions to reduce the recurrence of pain.
Sometimes, sexual headaches can be prevented by stopping intercourse before reaching orgasm. Taking a more passive role during sex can also be helpful.
Do not ignore sexual headaches. Consult a doctor immediately if you experience a headache during sex, especially if it occurs suddenly or is the first time you have experienced this type of headache.
