Headaches linked with sexual activity are known as orgasmic or pre-orgasmic headaches. This is a rare type of headache and is brought on by, during or after sexual activity or arousal.
Such headaches associated with sexual activity are called “primary” as they are not caused by any other condition or disorder.
Sex or orgasm headaches are commonly described as bilateral (pain on both sides of the head) and mostly located at the back of the head. Primary headaches linked with sexual activity can at times be severely painful and last from 1 minute to 24 hours ( severely painful) or even up to 72 hours (mild pain).
Sex headaches are more common in males than in females. Primary sex or orgasm headaches are sub-classified into-
- Pre-orgasmic headache– A dull headache that usually feels like pressure pain appears during or after sexual activity and increases with mounting sexual excitement or arousal.
- Orgasmic headache– A sudden explosive headache followed by a severe throbbing pain in the head and occurs just before or at the moment of orgasm or sexual arousal.
Also Read: Why you should never avoid cleaning your intimates after Sex?
Table of Contents
How do sex headaches feel?
There are mainly two types of sex headaches- Orgasm headache and Sexual benign headache.
An orgasm headache feels like a sudden, severe, throbbing pain in the head before or during sexual release. On the other hand, sexual benign headaches start as a dull pain in the head or neck (or both) and build up as the individual becomes more sexually aroused, causing a painful headache.
Some people can experience both these headaches at the same time. In such a condition, the headaches usually last for several minutes. But sometimes, the headaches may continue for several hours or even up to 3 days.
How frequent are sex headaches?
Sex headaches can happen as a one-time headache or several times over a few months. About half of the people have sex headaches over a 6 months period. However, some studies have shown that up to 40% of sex headaches are chronic and can occur for more than 1 year.
Also Read: Causes and Symptoms of Dyspareunia or Pain during Sex
What causes sex or orgasm headaches?
Sex headaches can occur at any time during sexual activity. But, both types of headaches have different causes.
- An orgasm headache happens due to a spike in the blood pressure, which causes the blood vessels to dilate. Bodily movements worsen such headaches.
- A sexual benign headache occurs when an increase in sexual excitement leads to muscle contractions in the head and neck, which results in head pain.
Are you at risk of getting sex headaches?
Men and women with a history of migraine or frequent headaches are more likely to have sex headaches. Although, orgasm headaches are more common in men than women.
Also Read: What to do After Sex to Keep Your Vagina Healthy?
How to treat Sex Headaches?
Treatment for sex headaches depends on the cause and type of headache. Sex headaches usually aren’t a cause of concern, so taking a painkiller usually helps ease the symptoms. Consult your gynecologist on the type or dosage of pain-medicine you should take.
In some individuals, headaches during sex or orgasm may indicate a serious health problem. If the sex headache is accompanied by other problems such as a stiff neck or vomiting, it can indicate the following health problems-
- Stroke
- Tumor
- Brain hemorrhage
- Bleeding into the spinal fluid
- Aneurysm
- Inflammation
- Coronary heart disease
Prevention
People having a history of sex headaches are suggested to consult their doctors who may prescribe medications to help prevent such headaches. Apart from taking medication, there is nothing much one can do to prevent a sex headache.
Home Remedies
People having frequent or long sex headaches can get some relief by taking a beta-blocker such as propranol every day. Beta-blockers are often used for treating high blood pressure, migraines, and glaucoma. Make sure to consult your doctor before taking any medicine daily.
Some patients also get relief by taking indomethacin, an anti-inflammatory drug an hour before having intercourse. This medicine is also prescribed by many doctors to treat this problem. Some people also take a triptan, an anti-migraine drug, instead of indomethacin for sex headaches.
Other things to help prevent or reduce sex headaches are-
- Stop sexual activity when the headache begins.
- Take a more passive role during sexual activity.
- Massage your head and neck muscles before sex to relieve tension.
Source- NCBI research on “Headache associated with sexual activity: prognosis and treatment options ‘.
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