Coital headaches occur during or after sexual intercourse and can be caused by muscle twitching, an increase in blood pressure, or other physical factors. Family history of migraines, substance use, stress, and intense sensations during intercourse can also contribute. In some cases, coital headaches can be a symptom of a dangerous condition and require medical attention. Treatment may include medication to reduce the chance of recurrence.
Cephalalgia is a medical term for headache and coitus refers to sexual intercourse. When a person suffers from coital headache, therefore, they experience a headache during sex, typically at or near the point of orgasm. Causes range from muscle twitching of the head during intercourse to severe bleeding requiring medical attention. Often the headache does not come back, but some people may experience intermittent headaches over the course of several years.
Sexual intercourse uses both the body and the brain, and the difference in how a person acts and feels when they are close to orgasm can eventually trigger coital headaches. Physical causes of a headache include an increase in blood pressure, although this does not cause the headache by itself. Muscle twitching that occurs in the neck and head during intercourse during orgasm can also be a cause.
Some people with coital headaches have a family history of migraines, which appear to contribute to the likelihood of headaches during sex. Certain substances, such as marijuana or amphetamines, also appear to be triggers for headaches. If a patient is overweight or under a lot of stress, the chance of a sexual headache can also increase. Intense sensations during intercourse or even using a kneeling position can also be triggers for the condition.
Sometimes there is severe damage to the brain of people with coital headaches. When the blood vessels in the brain don’t work properly, in a condition known as arteriovenous malformation, headaches can occur. In some cases, the headache is due to a burst blood vessel leaking fluid into the space between the brain and the lining tissues, known as a subarachnoid hemorrhage. For this reason, doctors investigating the condition may need to arrange tests for the patient beyond just prescribing pain medication. Additional signs that a headache is a symptom of a dangerous condition include vision problems and vomiting.
Although many people find that a single headache does not recur over time, others experience headaches regularly over a period of years. Men tend to have more headaches than women, and coital headaches vary in intensity. They can produce a dull ache that gets worse with the duration of intercourse or it can be a sudden, explosive pain. When a doctor is satisfied that the headache has no sinister cause, drugs such as proponolol or indomethacin may be helpful in reducing the chance of recurrence.
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