A Word About Sex Headaches

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

I generally avoid topics that have a predominantly sexual content. However, because I have, in recent times, come across a few men who have very bitterly complained of headaches following sexual activity, I consider it necessary to drop a few lines about this not-so-common yet commonly distressful condition.

Sex headaches are triggered by sexual activity and, in most affected people, specifically by orgasm. The nature of the headache varies from a dull ache in the head and neck that builds up as sexual excitement waxes on the one hand, to a sudden, severe (or even “explosive”) headache that occurs just before or during orgasm on the other. Whatever the nature of the headache, it tends to last from several minutes to several hours. The severity of the headaches and the thoroughness with which they disrupt and even distort what should otherwise be a very pleasurable sexual experience both contribute to the high level of anxiety displayed by those affected when they come to a health facility to seek help.

People who undergo these headaches may suffer several distressful episodes of the headache within a short time interval, punctuated by relatively long periods (several months) without any symptoms.

A sex headache can be provoked by any type of sexual activity that ultimately leads to orgasm; this means that in addition to the more common vaginal sex, activities like oral sex, anal sex, and masturbation can trigger sex headaches.

You are at risk of suffering from a sex headache if you are a man. You are also likely to suffer from this discomfort if you are already prone to attacks of migraine.

Although most sex headaches are ultimately harmless, some may be warning signs of an impending stroke or may result from a problem of the blood vessels in the head known as an intracranial aneurysm, an underlying heart-related condition known as coronary artery disease, and some kinds of infections.

If you have a sex headache, especially if it is occurring for the first time, you should make an appointment with your doctor. For that appointment to be fully beneficial to you, you need to have gleaned the following information about your sex headaches in order to pass it on to your doctor:

• -      When the sex headache first started
• -      Whether it comes before or during orgasm
• -      Whether it is continuous or intermittent
• -    Whether passive sexual encounters and/or less vigorous exertion during sex results in reduced intensity of the headaches

Your doctor will naturally want to check your blood pressure and do a number of tests that will alert him if the headaches are due to an on-going, more serious condition.

In the event that there is no serious underlying disease to be scared of, you may be diagnosed with coital cephalalgia; this is an "obahiagbonic" term that implies that for a short while, you will be given a few pills, as well as this piece of advice:

“Please take it easy when next you have your private moments with your lady (or partner). You may have to allow her play a more active role in bed; after all, what a man can do…”