- How to recognize the symptoms
- How the treatment is done
- When to go to the doctor
- How to prevent headache caused by orgasm
The headache that arises during sexual intercourse is called orgastic headache, and although it affects men over the age of 30, who already suffer from migraines, women can also be affected.
Putting a washcloth wet in cold water on the back of the neck and lying comfortably in bed are natural strategies that help to combat the headache caused by sex.
It is not yet known exactly why this pain appears but the most accepted theory is that it happens because during intimate contact the muscles contract and the energy released during sex increases the width of blood vessels within the brain, which can cause changes severe conditions such as aneurysm or stroke, for example.
How to recognize the symptoms
The orgasmic headache arises especially during orgasm, but it can also appear a few moments before or after the climax. The pain comes on suddenly and mainly affects the back of the head and the nape of the neck, with a feeling of heaviness. Some people report that they feel very sleepy when this pain appears.
How the treatment is done
The treatment for headache that arises after sex is done with the use of painkillers such as paracetamol, but sleeping in a dark place also helps to rest and have a deeper and restorative sleep, and generally the person wakes up well and without pain. A cold compress on the back of the neck can also be effective in relieving discomfort.
Another non-pharmacological measure to prevent headache is to avoid having sex until the pain is gone, as there is a possibility of reoccurring.
Orgasmic headache is a rare disease and even affected people who have this condition only have 1 or 2 times in their lives. However, there are reports of people who have this type of headache in practically all sexual intercourse, in which case medical help should be sought to start treatment using drugs.
When to go to the doctor
The headache that arises during or shortly after sex usually subsides within a few minutes, but it can take up to 12 hours or even days. It is recommended to seek medical help when:
- Headache is very intense or arises frequently; Headache does not cease with painkillers, and does not improve with a good night's sleep or prevents sleep; Headache ends up generating a migraine, which manifests itself with pain intense located in another part of the head that is not the nape.
In this case, the doctor may order tests such as brain tomography to check if the blood vessels in the brain are normal or if there may be a rupture of an aneurysm or hemorrhagic stroke, for example.
How to prevent headache caused by orgasm
For those who suffer from this type of headache frequently, the best way to avoid this type of discomfort is to consult a neurologist to start treatment with migraine remedies. These remedies are generally used for a period of approximately 1 month, and prevent the onset of headache for a few months.
Other strategies that also contribute to the success of the treatment, and cure of orgastic headache, are good lifestyle habits such as sleeping and resting properly, exercising regularly and eating well, eating lean meats, eggs, dairy products, vegetables, vegetables, grains and cereals, reducing the consumption of industrialized, processed foods, rich in fat, sugar and food additives, avoiding smoking and drinking alcohol in excess.
