Orgasm Headaches After Sex (Male And Female)

What Are Orgasm Headaches?

Orgasm headaches are headaches that happen during or before orgasm. While females may experience orgasm headaches, men are actually more susceptible to experiencing sex headaches.

Orgasm headaches are also known as Headaches Associated with Sexual Activity, or sex headaches, in short. Another term for orgasm headache or sex headache is coitus cephalgia. Sex headaches can happen before or during sexual activity or arousal, which explains the name. In fact, any sexual arousal, including masturbation, can cause an orgasm headache, which is characterized by pain on both sides of the head.

It is important to distinguish orgasm headaches from other headache types, such as cluster headaches, tension headaches etc. Sex headaches are known as primary headaches, meaning there usually isnt an underlying condition.

Relationship Between Coitus Cephalgia and Migraine

Coitus cephalgia may be associated with underlying medical conditions such as migraines, cluster headaches, or vascular abnormalities. If an individual experiences recurrent or severe coitus cephalgia, it is recommended to consult with a healthcare professional for a proper evaluation and to rule out any underlying causes or potential complications.

What Is An Orgasm

According to the experts from Cleveland Clinic, an orgasm is “is the height or peak of sexual arousal when the body releases sexual tension and pressure.” You can achieve an orgasm through masturbation or sexual activities with your partner. By sexually stimulating your genitals, such as your penis, vagina or clitoris, you can achieve an orgasm.

What Happens During An Orgasm

During an orgasm, various physiological processes occur in your body. Sexual tension that has accumulated during the earlier stages of the sexual response cycle is suddenly released. Heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rate increase, while hormones are released into the bloodstream. The muscles in the genital and anal areas contract rhythmically, occurring approximately once per second for several seconds.

Does Orgasm Help With Headaches?

The good news is that orgasm can help with headaches! Statistics have shown that 60% of people who suffer from headaches experience after sex. So how does orgasm help with headaches?

Orgasm stimulates the production of comfort-associated hormones called endorphins. This explains why sex may provide you with relief from a migraine attack. Other neurotransmitters released during sex include serotonin and dopamine. This explains why sex helps with headaches.

Interestingly, orgasm and pain influences similar brain areas including the hypothalamus, cortex, hypothalamus etc. During a migraine attack, lower levels of serotonin and dopamine are released.

Enjoying sex for the orgasm is one thing, but for sex to also help with headaches? That’s the best win-win situation! The numbers don’t lie” One-third of men, and approximately 16% of women use sexual activities as a form of therapeutic tool.

Why Do I Experience A Sex Headache After Climax?

The lay term for climax is to “cum”. While the exact cause of sex headaches is not fully understood, it is believed to be related to the rapid increase in blood pressure and heart rate that occurs during sexual arousal and orgasm. This sudden spike in blood pressure can cause blood vessels in the head to dilate and subsequently trigger a headache after “cumming”. Increased blood pressure during climax may also mean that you may experience a headache after masturbation, and not necessarily after sexual intercourse. This doesn’t mean that masturbation causes headache per se, but understanding what happens during climax can help you better assess how you can avoid sex headaches.

However, if you are male and you experience a severe headache after ejaculation, you may want to consult a doctor.

Getting Headaches After Sex?

Unfortunately, not everyone experiences the benefits of an orgasm this way. 30% of people who suffer from migraine report having a worse headache after sex.

Sex headaches are also known as Headaches Associated With Sexual Activity. Even though sex headaches are relatively rare, sex headaches are 4 times more common in men than women. Also, sex headaches often strikes people in their early 40’s for the first time.

Sex headaches often feel like a pain at both sides of the head, at the back of the head. A typical sex headache may lack the usual migraine-associated symptoms, such as sensitivity to light, migraine aura etc.

Just to clarify: migraine is NOT just a headache! However, people who suffer from migraine may find that sex or orgasm may aggravate these attacks.

Sex headaches can start as a dull ache that increases with sexual excitement, or it can suddenly become severe, particularly around the time of climax or orgasm, which is the more worrisome form of orgasm headache.

How Long Do Sex Headaches Last?

Sex headaches can last from one minute to 24 hours if it’s a severe pain. If the pain is moderate or mild, sex headaches can last up to 72 hours.

Thunderclap Sex Headaches

Sex thunderclap headaches, also known as orgasmic thunderclap headaches, are a type of severe headache that occur suddenly during or immediately after sexual activity, particularly during orgasm or sexual intercourse. These headaches are characterized by an intense, explosive pain that reaches its peak within seconds. The name “thunderclap” reflects the sudden and severe nature of these headaches. While the exact cause of sex thunderclap headaches is not fully understood, they are believed to be related to rapid increases in blood pressure and heart rate during sexual arousal and orgasm. The sudden spike in blood pressure can lead to the dilation of blood vessels in the brain, resulting in the onset of an intense headache.

Although most cases of post-coital thunderclap headaches are benign, it is crucial to seek immediate medical attention to rule out potentially serious underlying causes such as subarachnoid hemorrhage, arterial dissection, or other vascular abnormalities. Diagnostic tests, such as imaging studies, may be necessary to ensure an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

The good news is that post-coital thunderclap headaches can go away quite quickly and don’t last for a very long time.

Are Sex Headaches Dangerous?

Although typically benign, sex headache may be indicative of a more serious underlying condition, such as a problem with the blood vessels in the brain. Therefore, individuals who experience a sudden and severe onset of sex headache should seek emergency medical attention, particularly if it is their first time experiencing it or if it is the most severe headache they have ever had. Sex headache can be a symptom of aneurysm, dissection, or spasm of an artery, which is also known as Reversible Cerebral Vasoconstriction Syndrome (RCVS).

If imaging confirms that the blood vessels are normal, the sex headache is considered benign or non-harmful. Fortunately, there are effective treatment options available, such as taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs 30 minutes before engaging in sexual activity.

Additionally, sex headache typically resolves on its own within six months for half of the individuals who experience it. Some people may only have one episode in their lifetime.

How To Stop Sex Headaches?

Here are some of the sex headache treatments your doctor may prescribe:

• Daily medications: Beta blockers for migraine, such as propranolol (Inderal, Innopran XL) or metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol-XL) can help stop sex headaches. This is used to treat high blood pressure, coronary artery disease and migraine. However, you should only use this to treat sex headaches if you have frequent or prolonged attacks. Calcium channel blockers, such as verapamil hydrochloride (Calan SR) — which is also used to treat high blood pressure — may be an option.
• Other medications: Indomethacin, an anti-inflammatory, or one of the triptans, a class of anti-migraine medications, can be taken an hour before sex to prevent headaches.
• Avoid other potential “triggers”: You might want to make sure you avoid certain migraine trigger foods, such as caffeine etc.

For some people, sexual arousal may actually help with headaches. While this doesn’t apply for everyone, masturbation or sexual intercourse may help relieve headaches.

Why Does My Vagina Hurt After Sex?

Experiencing pain in the vagina after sexual intercourse, also known as dyspareunia, can have various causes. Your vagina may hurt or sting due to insufficient lubrication, which can lead to friction and discomfort during penetration. This can occur due to inadequate arousal or insufficient natural lubrication.

Your vagina may also hurt after sex due to vaginal dryness. Vaginal dryness can be influenced by factors such as hormonal changes, certain medications, stress, or inadequate foreplay. Additionally, certain medical conditions like vaginismus (involuntary muscle contractions), infections, endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, or even scar tissue from previous surgeries can contribute to post-sexual pain. Psychological factors, such as anxiety, relationship issues, or past traumatic experiences, can also impact sexual comfort and cause pain. It’s important to communicate openly with a healthcare professional to identify the underlying cause of post-sexual pain and receive appropriate treatment or guidance tailored to the specific situation. With lack of lubrication and psychological factors affecting you, your vulva may feel heavy after sex. Feeling pain in your private areas after sex can be challenging but trying alternatives, like lubrication can help relieve pain in your private areas after sex.